How to Integrate IT Consulting Support Into Your Business

The services of a consultant aren’t free, so use your time with them as efficiently as possible. Too often, companies hire a consultant and don’t think about the onboarding process or what their workload may be until the advisor’s first day. This leads to organizations scrambling to get everything together and delaying when the consultant can get to work.  

In order to avoid wasting time, it’s a good idea to plan ahead. Consider everything your consultant will need to perform their job without restrictions. This may include: 

• Any information pertaining to the job
• A list of people they may want or need to contact 
• A set of business tools like a laptop, phone, email addresses, etc.

Relationships play a big role in business, especially when it comes to consultants. They need to meet with the key team members of the project. Doing this after their first day can be a waste of time. It’s best to fit in a quick meeting before they start so they can become acquainted with the team. This makes integration seamless and allows the advisor to hit the ground running.

An IT consultant may be an expert in IT support, but they aren’t mind readers. Keep in mind that this is likely their first experience with your company. They will need to know information like:

• How decisions are made
• What the hierarchy of your organization is and how to navigate it
• Any jargon or other internal language your team uses
• What priorities guide your strategies

In this aspect, think of them as a new employee who is learning their way. Having the necessary context for how your business works will speed up the integration process and prevent confusion.