Initiating an Ivalua implementation is a big deal. It might be frustrating when you are trying to find an Ivalua consultant that will be able to give you the support that you need during your digital transformation because there are so many to choose from, but you don’t have any idea of who it is that you are asking to come into your business and help you with a task as sensitive as financial management.
Some of the issues that allowing a complete stranger to have access to your sensitive information could be:
- Security issues
- Privacy issues
- Competency issues
There is no reason to skimp on security or safety when it comes to the foundation of your business, it is always best to know exactly who it is that you are allowing access to your company’s sensitive information.
Thorough Background Checks
One way to learn more about the person that you are considering hiring for help is to either do your own extensive background check on the person through your company’s resources or make sure that hire your consultant through a trusted agency that only hires people that have been fully-vetted and are qualified to work as consultants.
However you feel about having background checks on potential workers, the truth is that understanding the background of an individual can greatly reduce the risks of hiring people. Once you see that they have a clear background it can bring you one step closer to trusting them. However, if you discover that they have a history of criminal activity, you can drop them out of your options immediately.
Competency and Level of Skill
If you are going to take the advice of somebody and allow them to guide your business through the implementation of a powerful software platform, they must be able to do the job you are hiring them for. There is no room for a person that will falter or fail when things get tough.
One way to make sure that the person that you are hiring knows what they are doing is to make sure that they are certified consultants through the Ivalua company. If Ivualua vouches for their competency in their own product, it is a good indication that they are equipped with the knowledge and skills it takes to successfully lead you through the installation and administration process.
Ask For References
Wherever you are considering hiring your consultant through, make sure that there are plenty of other people and clients that have good things to say about them. It is fairly easy to get a good understanding of a person’s work ethic through the words of past clients.
If you are hiring your consultant through the Ivalua channels there is a good possibility that there will be plenty of references for them, and other available consultants so be sure to read what references say about them and see what other clients have experienced while working with that individual.
Ask Questions
The bottom line is that if you don’t ask the sensitive questions that are nagging you, then you will never get the answers. Ask those questions, and don’t be shy about it.
- How do I know you are capable?
- Where have you worked before?
- What are your skills?
- Why should we trust you?
- Are you a convicted felon?
Whatever it is that is bothering you, on a professional level, ask the person and see what they say. It is not recommended that you ask personal questions that are not relevant to what kind of service they will bring to the table when they work for you, but the questions that will let you know whether or not you have the right person for the job are always necessary.
The truth is that they will not mind these types of questions if they have nothing to have and can offer you a great service.
Understand Your Own Needs
On the other side of the coin, it is important to know what you need, and what you want to accomplish. The only way that you can find the right person for the job is if you know what you want, and what you expect out of them.
Take the time to have a meeting with the decision makers of your company and create a list of the things that you feel are important and what you hope to gain by hiring a consultant.
Once you have discovered exactly what you need and what you want to accomplish as a result of hiring your consultant you will be better able to convey your needs to them in a way that is clear and concise. If they understand what you want, and they are qualified to help you accomplish your goals you might have yourself a good match, mostly because you understand what you need.
Meet With Potential Candidates
When you hire a consultant you will probably spend a lot of time with them as they get to know your business and contemplate a plan that will be best for you and the needs of your company. The way that they act and the way that you can communicate with them will make all of the difference in the world.
One of the best things you can do is take the time to meet with any of your potential candidates and see if they are a good match for your company. Is this the kind of person you could stand spending a lot of time around?
Just because you don’t like somebody does not mean that they are not good at what they do. However, if you are going to trust this person to guide your business through tough decisions and huge changes it is a good idea to be able to get along with them.
Regardless of how many people you have to interview it is critical that you find a great one that can not only think well enough to help you when you need it most but also have the kind of personality that matches what you expect.
Search for Online Reviews
The way things work on the world wide web it is suspicious if you find a professional that claims to be really good at what they do that does not have any type of online reviews. Somewhere, somehow, there has to be something about them online, or they just don’t get around enough.
One of the things about people in this day of technology is that they have a voice and they can use it online whenever they want without having to suffer any consequences. If they can trash talk somebody online, they probably will
In the same breath, if somebody is so thrilled about the service that they got, they could be inclined to leave good reviews because the service that they got was so great it inspired them to share their joy with everybody else.
In any event, search for online reviews and take an honest look at them. Sometimes people will just say mean things because they are grumpy or in a bad mood, so take the bad reviews with a grain of salt. However, if you see a bunch of reviews that say the same bad things over and over again it might be a good indication that the person is not a good fit for what you require.
Conclusion
In the end, the only way to find a consultant that is a perfect match for you and your company is to look around and not give up until you find the one that is right. What might be bad for you could be great for another company. It all breaks down into a matter of perspective. Whatever you are looking for is exactly what you need, so make sure that you get it.