Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Overcoming The Challenges Of Modern IT Purchasing

By Joseph B. Kappernick


Technology sourcing and purchasing are constantly evolving functions that impact all aspects of an organization. The pressure to keep technology current, along with rapidly changing trends, forces IT professionals to be prepared for anything the future of IT might bring.

So, what types of technologies are trending now? According to a Forrester report entitled, "The Top 10 Technology Trends Enterprise Architects Should Watch: 2012 To 2014," business intelligence, mobile applications, and application platforms are the top three. Also high on the list are cloud computing, application integration and data governance. IT professionals need to be aware of these trends and figure out which ones they will implement and how.

Unfortunately, new technology is often accompanied by confusion, inconsistent prices and inexperience. To combat these forces and make smart IT purchasing decisions, companies need to understand the following:

Pricing must be transparent

Many IT buyers simply don't have the benchmarking data available to know if they are paying a fair price for new technology. Luckily, third-party pricing experts are ready to provide this data so that you don't overpay for your next big IT purchase.

You need to know your vendors

Understanding new technology is a complicated thing. The myriad of available vendors offering to provide you with these new products can be even more daunting if you are unfamiliar with the vendors and their track records. A third-party expert can reduce your risk and help you make better IT purchasing decisions because they have the vendor-specific knowledge and experience to guide you.

Simplicity is crucial

IT buyers face new challenges every day as technology evolves and the marketplace becomes more complicated and uncertain. But, it is not necessary for them to struggle through all these complexities alone. Acquiring outside bench marking and vendor-specific contracting expertise will enable companies to make confident IT decisions with much less financial risk. They will provide the data and guidance to choose the right vendor and avoid paying too much.




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