There is a robust network of partners who can run our implementation and provide post go-live support

Description

Third party consulting businesses, such as value-added resellers or system integrators, who can oversee the software's installation, setup, and ongoing maintenance. They have specific subject matter expertise that matters to the buyer.

Example Use Case

Scenario: A global retail company is planning to transition from their legacy financial system to a state-of-the-art CPM software. They need not only technical assistance for the implementation but also continued support post go-live, to ensure successful user adoption and to address any technical hiccups.

Solution: The company contracts a certified partner of the CPM software vendor, who not only has extensive experience in implementing the software but also offers services like user training, customization, and post-go-live technical support. They work hand in hand with the finance team throughout the transition, ensuring a seamless software implementation while cultivating in-house expertise for sustained support.

Considerations

Implementation consultancies come in many sizes, from the one person shop all the way through large, publicly traded systems integrators. Most are introduced to the buyer by the sales team from the software vendor, who usually makes the selection based on pre-existing relationships and success with other similar projects. Selecting the implementation provider is almost as important as selecting the CPM tool in the first place.

If the consultant is introduced at the beginning of the sales process (to do a demo, proof of concept, provide expertise etc), make it clear to the sales representative that you'll be looking at multiple implementation providers. You can usually find them on the vendors website or ask your ShortlistMatch advisor.

As a rule of thumb, the best consultants are the smaller companies with an energetic entrepreneur at the helm. They're usually highly experienced in CPM and have a vested interest in your success. It is also less likely that you'll experience turnover on the implementation team.

Questions to Ask a Vendor

• Partner Ecosystem: How extensive is your network of implementation partners? Are they geographically distributed and industry-specific?
• Partner Certification: What sort of certifications and qualifications does your partner network have? How do you evaluate their performance?
• Post Go-Live Support: What type of support services do your partners provide after the system goes live? Is it any different than what we get from you directly?
• Social Proof: What do most of your customers do? Work with you, or work with a third party? Why?