You have identified a need within your company and are looking for technology help. Where do you turn? There are multiple options available to you, each with their own benefits. Depending on your business goals and long term plan, here are three ways companies can get the technology help that they need: strategic partnerships, custom software development and Software as a Service.
Strategic Technology Partnerships
Strategic partnerships are useful when two businesses want to expand their service offerings. This could include expanding their reach within a current market or partnering across markets. Agreements can range from referral partnerships to joint ventures with the goal of growing both businesses.
One example of a cross-industry partnership is Starbucks and Barnes & Noble. Customers browsing for books may stop to get a cup of coffee, while the coffee shop may increase their likelihood to stay. Extending the length of their visit increases customers’ chances of making a purchase at the bookstore. This natural pairing benefits both companies.
In the world of technology, Apple and IBM have joined forces through a strategic technology partnership to combine IBM services into Apple devices and products.
The key to a successful technology partnership is leveraging the expertise of both partners and providing greater value than the individual businesses could provide on their own.
Is your business looking to offer services that have a technology or data storage and analytics component? A strategic technology partnership with a development company could be just what you need to scale or expand the scope of your business.
Working with a Software Development Company
If your company would like to offer an ongoing solution to your customers, hiring a development partner could be the way to go. Perhaps you have a vision for a service that requires the development of custom software. Alternatively, you may need a back-end system or require cloud integrations to streamline your processes and effectively manage your data.
Development partners can craft the technology and software solutions that you require, providing the expertise and experience necessary so that your business can focus on what you do best. Even if your team has the technical prowess required for such a project, it is often worth investing in external software development to protect your employee’s time and continue running your business operations.
Implementing Software as a Service (SaaS)
Software as a Service is a beneficial solution for businesses looking for tools and resources to solve specific problems. SaaS tools and platforms cannot be tailored from the ground up in the same way as custom software. However, the benefit of utilizing an existing structure is a great solution for many businesses and there is still a great deal of customization that can occur.
SaaS refers to existing software that is cloud based — or hosted in the cloud — and licensed to businesses for their personal use. There are multiple benefits of SaaS solutions, including web-based services for ease-of-access, limiting the hardware required and offloading maintenance, support and the responsibilities of keeping software up to date.
7T offers a SaaS platform, Sertics, for data governance and data lake creation. With Sertics, business users can organize and manage their data without the need for data scientists. The platform also integrates with leading data visualization platforms, Tableau and PowerBI to empower data analytics.
Software Consulting Services and Collaborate Software Development
If your business is unsure of what software solution is best for your needs, 7T offers software consulting services to help you identify opportunities that technology and software can offer.
Once you identify your solution, our Foundation Program will help you develop a digital transformation product strategy. Our team will guide you through the initial stages of the software development process to set your project up for success. To work with a collaborative, hands-on development team, connect with 7T today.
