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We were born to be different.
Working in leading edge technology, running countless global projects for many big players, we helped companies use technology to improve their lives.
Then we realised that so many small businesses are struggling with technology, because the gap between the dizzy heights of what technology can do, & the relatively humble needs of what technology, for them, should do, creating a world of overwhelm & confusion.
Technology is not difficult. Too often, however, too many people in the world of technology make it appear difficult.
We’re here to stop that.
We believe that true experts make anything complicated look easy. The technology in your business should be your on-hand expert to make life simpler for you, & it should not look and feel complicated.
Technology are tools. Nothing more! They should be there to enable what you do, to make your business easier. Selecting the right technology & the right team, should be simple. Don’t be sold on what you don’t need.
Simply put, if it’s made too complicated, it’s the wrong choice.
Our mission is to understand our clients’ needs, & help make the right technology accessible, to make it easier to focus on what they do best.
Speaking your Language
We help you get the most important element right – The Requirements.
Stay in your Comfort Zone
Why do we say that Requirements Specifications are so important?
The biggest cause of technology projects failures, the biggest frustrations, & the biggest regrets all point to one clear thing.
If the requirements are not clearly defined, this creates the opportunity for ambiguity, abuse, & corner cutting to creep in
Terminology: You know how irritating it is for a ‘techie’ company to use lots of acronyms, abbreviations, & industry specific words.
We have experience across countless industry sectors, running numerous large projects & programmes (budgets up to £330M)
We have also learned never to assume.
8 Clear Rules for Great Results
Rule 1: Clarify what is Grey with 4 legs.
Everyone may have a different understanding of something ‘grey with 4 legs’. It may be clear in your head what you mean by the above, but suppliers are not a mind-readers, & they risk delivering against a different meaning.
Some may be thinking of a table. Other may take that it means an elephant, a mouse, or perhaps a chair. If something as simple as “grey with 4 legs” can cause so much confusion, imagine the chaos without a prescriptive technical specification!
We specialise in making sure that everyones definitions are aligned. Clarity. Clarity. Clarity.
Rule 2: Don’t be sold on what you don’t need.
In over 30 years of writing specifications, sadly, far too many include requirements that the company simply does not need, is a distraction from the business model, or is of no use for a very long time, by which time the technology requirements may well be different. If you want to stay ahead of your competitors, or access the right market, stick to what you need in the short-mid term, with a view to migrate in the long term.
Make sure that your requirements are flexible and can be expanded to accommodate changes in direction as a key part of getting the requirements right.
Liking everything on the menu doesn’t mean you need to eat it all.
We advise our simple rule. Prepare for the future. Plan for today.
Rule 3: Be realistic about whether you actually need something grey with 4 legs.
Often, when we are determined to make progress, we often don’t really consider whether what we are determined to receive is actually what we need. Often, an objective eye, not afraid to question can save a company from a costly mistake.
We specialise in trying to understand if what you want is actually what your business needs, or if there are alternatives which are better, more costs effective, or more future-proof.
Rule 4: Use Experts.
Rather than learn how to do ‘everything’, engage the right expertise to set it up properly, & make it easy for you or your staff to use. The right experts will generally be quicker (through experience), more accurate, & frequently more cost effective. This often saves costly corrections in the future.
We know what we are good at, & have tried, tested, & trusted partners on hand, to leverage their expertise, helping you every step of the way.
Rule 5: Don’t just leave it all to the experts.
No-one can know your business like you do. No-one. (Please re-read if it’s not clear!)
Only you know your business, & the direction you wish to take it. You know what your company has to offer, far beyond its products & services. You know what motivates you & your business, your appetite for change, & how you want your business to evolve. How could anyone else truly see what you want your business to look like in quite the same way.
So don’t leave it to the experts to guess your vision. Just because they are experts in technology or marketing, for example, doesn’t mean they can run your business. So make sure what they offer SUPPORTS your business, by clearly defining what you truly need.
Rule 6: Define clear unambiguous acceptance criteria.
Every business needs to have a good idea of what they are being ‘paid’ for.
Unless everyone agrees these criteria, the goalposts could be moved, making it unfair on all sides.
By identifying & documenting the various interactions that take place, you can make sure that the journey of each audience ‘stakeholder’ (customer, prospect, supplier, compliance etc.) is correct. This makes the acceptance criteria become far more obvious, as it becomes clear what is an acceptable outcome for every interaction your audience, & an acceptable outcome for suppliers to strive for.
Don’t rely on luck. Make sure that the requirements are crystal clear.
Let us help you turn your ideas into reality, by first creating the blueprints for building your vision.
Rule No.7: Keep your options open. Be technology agnostic
Don’t be sold on a particular technology product. Focus on what the technology can do for you. We believe in getting the requirements right, and then fitting the product options.
You generally buy clothes to fit you, and don’t make a habit of buying clothes, & then trying to fit yourself into them. Don’t make the same mistake with technology.
Make sure that your requirements are clear before you choose your solution.
Rule No.8: Don’t Jump the Gun. Ready, Aim, & then Fire
Too often we see clients trying to run before they are ready. Too often they are so desperate to get the first mover advantage that they create something that’s not quite right, & hindered they soon get overtaken.
Remember to work out the target, aim, and then go. Jumping the gun only means costly course corrections along the way, creating headaches, like trying to install the foundations at the same time as trying to build the house above it, or like learning to ski while already accelerating down a mountain.
Specifications are all about creating the right foundation, & documenting the blueprints, making the build process go swiftly, easily.
We specialise in understanding your needs, evaluating options, & defining & planning the right approach to get you there. This makes the technology part far easier, & more cost effective, leveraging & managing our expert network when the time comes.
We believe that communication is the most important route to success. We believe in making sure that we understand each other, & avoid mis-interpretations. The foundation of this is making sure we speak simply, clearly, & effectively.
Stay in your Comfort Zone
We know what it is like to be outside of your comfort zone. And we also know that you didn’t get into your business just to learn about technology!
Whether you want something simple, like web hosting, web design or SEO services, or something more complicated like a detailed bespoke app, or custom CRM solution, contact us to help you get it right.
Why become a technology expert, when you can reach out to us, & let us help you focus on what you do best.
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