In Part 2 of this 4-part series on hiring a technology consulting partner, we covered how to evaluate if a consultancy is the right fit for your needs. Now, in Part 3, we’ll dive into how to get the most out of your consulting project.
So, you’ve chosen a tech partner, signed the contract, and you’re all in. Congrats! Now, how do you make sure this doesn’t turn into one of those disaster stories you hear at industry conferences—the ones where companies burn through months of time and thousands of dollars, only to be left with a half-finished project and a lot of head-scratching?
Making sure your consulting project succeeds is even more important for growing businesses because let’s face it—you’ve got more to lose. Fortunately, there are some tried and true things you can do to make sure your project is successful and definitely doesn’t leave you worse off.
Follow these tips, and you’ll be well on your way to a successful partnership with no fires to put out.
To kick things off, you and your consulting partner need to get crystal clear on your goals. It’s not just about “building an app” or “launching a product.” You should work together to sort out, prioritize, and refine your objectives. The more precise your goals, the more aligned your project will be with what really matters for your business.
A good consultancy will ask lots of questions to dig deeper into what you’re aiming to achieve. Here are some examples of questions to consider:
Once you’ve nailed down your goals, you’ll have a clearer roadmap for your project. Your consultancy can then guide you in selecting the right technology, whether it’s building a mobile app, a web app, or integrating with existing systems. They can also help you figure out whether it’s best to create the product in-house or outsource parts of the solution based on cost and efficiency.
Once you and your consulting partner are aligned on your goals, the next step is to build a roadmap. This plan will outline the steps you’ll take, the resources you’ll need, and the timelines for each phase. You should also define your success metrics—whether that’s revenue targets, user engagement, or something else.
Make sure your consultancy is upfront about the timing and costs involved. A good partner will conduct a scoping exercise to estimate the time and budget needed to achieve your goals. This plan will give you a clear path forward, whether you already have an internal tech team or need your consultancy to handle everything.
Once the planning is done, it’s time to get hands-on with development and testing. Work in short, iterative cycles, with frequent check-ins throughout the project. You should expect regular updates from the consultancy on project health, progress, and budget, ensuring everything stays on track.
An important part of this phase is having access to a test environment where you can interact with the product. If your consulting team says something is complete, but you can’t test it, it’s not really done! Avoid waiting until the product is live to test—it’s crucial to get your hands on it early and often.
No matter how well you plan, things can shift during a project. That’s why building a solid project plan that accounts for any potential changes is important. Even if priorities or resources shift, having a detailed plan will help keep everything on course.
Make sure your project has a designated internal sponsor who’s available at all times to work with the consultancy. This person will ensure that your business goals stay aligned with the project. Consistency is also vital—avoid frequent leadership changes, which can lead to shifting goals and slow progress.
Finally, regular check-ins with your consulting partner are essential. These meetings will help you evaluate progress, make sure the project is hitting its goals, and adjust as needed.
By following these best practices—defining clear goals, building a solid roadmap, testing iteratively, and staying on track—you’ll get the most out of your consulting project. Stay tuned for Part 4, where we’ll explore when it makes sense to hire a CTO instead of engaging a consultancy. Check out the full whitepaper later this month for a more detailed look.
Check out Part 4: When the CTO is the Right Choice to conclude the series, where we highlight factors that indicate it's time to hire a CTO.
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