As the number of technology solutions in the marketplace continues to grow exponentially, tech agnostic consulting becomes a major factor in designing your tech stack. Tech agnostic consultants evaluate technology solutions objectively, based on their individual merits, rather than being influenced by external factors such as personal preferences, financial incentives, or relationships with vendors. The goal is to provide clients with solutions that are customised to meet their unique needs and objectives.
The main benefit of tech agnostic consulting is that it provides unbiased advice and guidance to clients, free from any preference or bias towards a specific technology or vendor. Clients receive recommendations based on the actual value and effectiveness of the solution, advice that is in their best interest, rather than being influenced by the consultant’s personal preferences or external factors. In contrast, consultants who favour specific technologies or vendors may push clients towards solutions that are not the best fit for their organisation, or that may be more expensive than necessary.
Biases can form within when selecting a tech stack. Conflicts of interest, such as existing relationships with vendors or financial incentives can affect the recommendations delivered by your consultant, as too can the over investment your consulting company can put into a solution within their own organisation. A company that pushes a particular solution may be doing so because they have over committed resources to that product. If an organisation had a team of specialised developers sitting underutilised, that company has created its own incentive to push a solution that maximises their investment in that team.
To avoid biases or preferences when selecting a tech stack, there are several strategies that can be implemented. Firstly, it’s important to define the requirements and objectives clearly before evaluating technology solutions. This helps to focus on the features and capabilities that are most important to the organisation. Second, it is important to evaluate multiple technology solutions before making a final decision to get a more comprehensive view of the options available.
Third, creating an evaluation framework that outlines the criteria used to evaluate each technology solution ensures that the evaluation is objective and consistent. The evaluation framework should consider factors such as scalability, maintenance, and support, as well as the potential for the solution to meet the organisation’s evolving needs over time. The framework should also consider the costs associated with each solution, to ensure that the solution is cost-effective and within the organisation’s budget.
Seeking input from a diverse range of stakeholders when evaluating technology solutions can help to ensure that the evaluation is comprehensive and considers a range of perspectives. Stakeholders may include IT staff, business leaders, and end-users. Each stakeholder group may have different priorities and concerns, so it is important to consider all perspectives when evaluating technology solutions.
Finally, documenting the evaluation process and decisions and communicating them to all relevant stakeholders ensures that the decision-making process is transparent and accountable. This can help to build trust and confidence in the decision-making process and ensure that all stakeholders are aligned and supportive of the selected technology solution.
Tech agnostic consulting is a valuable approach that provides customised, unbiased advice and guidance to clients, helping them to make informed decisions about which technology solutions are best suited for their project’s needs. By following the strategies outlined above, organisations can avoid biases or preferences when selecting their tech stack and make informed decisions that will benefit them in the long run. Tech agnostic consulting is likely to become even more important as organisations continue to rely on technology to drive their business forward.
While Newpath is a preferred supplier of several platforms, we also have a broad range of experience in a wide range of solutions. When we approach a project, we evaluate our advice to provide solutions that will help our clients reach their goals. Being tech agnostic is why no Newpath project is quite like another. Reach out if you would like to discuss how Newpath can help your organisation take an idea and make it a reality.
