How do you work with Vendors on a client’s behalf?
A change of guard with the vendor or constant restructuring can cause havoc. Just when you work out who to speak with, to solve a problem, they aren’t there any more or their job title has changed due to a merger or acquisition. When your edge relies on intimate technical support from individuals who work for vendors it is very uncomfortable when you no longer appear as knowledgeable and technically astute as you used to be, when your key contact disappears.
Even though the obvious solution is to learn everything there is to know about a particular technology, vertical or range of components, technology is forever updating, and no-one ever thinks to call you when something changes or a new technology feature is released! So, what is the fix? The simple fix is having working relationships at both the technical level and corporate level of organisations. Staying in touch and working together regularly supports and encourages a better than nothing strategy, however, structuring and measuring how organisations communicate ensures there is predictability no matter who moves on and what the subject matter of the moment happens to be. If both parties are vested in it working, it’s like a marriage. If either party wavers it doesn’t matter which one it is, the information will be sporadic and the joint effort outcome will be compromised. The moral of the story is to have a plan, share and review that plan regularly and spend quality time together. This gives meaning to working through hiccups and challenges that surface all the time!
OEM Partner: “I would Highly Recommend Parasyn, completed the project above and beyond expectations. [Parasyn] added considerable value by recommending best practice. We are likely to introduce this at other plants”.