Dozens of technology companies today—even ones as renowned as Microsoft—tout do-it-yourself (DIY) software and low-code/no-code setups. These solutions certainly do make it easy for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) to capitalize on powerful technology previously only accessible and affordable for enterprises.
But with the DIY approach comes a level of risk for an SMB. Presumably, a low-code/no-code technology means you don’t need to have the expertise on staff to implement it or maintain it. Without any know-how, SMBs can get into a pickle where their software is configured incorrectly, they’re not maximizing their investment in it, or worse—it’s causing security problems. For these reasons and more, it’s valuable for SMBs to consider using a technology partner for many types of software implementation.
Here are the main reasons SMBs benefit from leveraging a technology consultant for software migrations and implementations.
You’ll Avoid Costs Down the Road
The chief concern for any SMB when it comes to technology is cost, so naturally, hiring a third party to help with a purported “DIY” solution might seem to make no sense. But DIY-ing software for business, no matter how small the organization, can result in implementation mistakes that require hiring a fix-it party down the road anyway. Often, the costs of bringing on an expert to undo early-on mistakes can outweigh the costs of hiring a technology consultant at the beginning of the project.
You’ll Maximize Your Investment in Your Solution
Even with DIY technologies and low-code/no-code solutions, there is an amount of configuration you’ll miss out on if you don’t know how to tailor the tool to your business processes. A technology partner brings a breadth of experience to your business and applies best practices to help you solve problems through tech solutions. They are able to take these DIY products and ensure they are configured so they fill gaps in your business, resolve issues holding you back, and are the best fit for your organization.
Up-level Your Teams’ Skills
Working with a technology partner—even for implementing tools that seem like they shouldn’t require help—can significantly boost your teams’ knowledge and abilities about how to use and troubleshoot your tools. SMB teams especially rarely have the time to “read the manual” when it comes to new solutions, so many organizations end up DIY-ing implementation and then never truly understanding all the ins and outs of the technology. A partner can train your team on how to get the best use out of your tools, and they can also guide you to self-address issues.
The Best—and Fastest—Support
In the event that you can’t self-address an issue, your technology partner remains at the ready to help. The right partner will have spent a significant amount of time up front in your relationship getting to know your business, so they can help you fix problems with the right context. For SMBs, any downtime can be disastrous, so accessing a support line to call where a human will actually pick up is crucial. Having a partner on call also allows you to tap such a resource without needing to hire an employee to manage your technology—something many businesses end up having to do, even with DIY solutions.
Point Alliance Is Your Guide for SMB Technology
At Point Alliance, we’ve been helping SMBs maximize their technology investments for decades. As a Microsoft-certified cloud solutions provider, we have deep expertise in advising and guiding SMBs to the right technology, ensuring it’s implemented correctly, and providing support for its lifecycle. We are happy to help you make the right decision about technology for your business, even if it’s advertised as DIY. Get in touch today to speak to an expert.
