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How to Work Successfully with External Suppliers: A Guide for Digital Projects

Team of digital professionals having a project meeting

At withdigital, we understand that every client we work with is unique. Whether you’re a tech-savvy guru or someone who struggles to set up a new email account, we tailor our working relationship to suit your needs. Sometimes, you might have your own team of designers, creatives, technical managers, or advisors. Great! We’re more than happy to collaborate with them. Other times, we might need to wear all those hats ourselves – and we’re up for the challenge. Here are my top tips for getting the most out of a technical project, no matter who you’re working with:

1. Know Your Team’s Strengths

Before bringing in external help, it’s essential to understand the skills within your own team. Who’s the best person to handle the relationship with the external team? Identify your in-house experts and their limitations. This will help you determine the gaps that need filling and who will be the main point of contact.

2. Identify Your Problems (But Leave the Solutions to Us)

You don’t need to have all the answers before engaging external help. What’s more important is having a clear understanding of the problems you’re facing. Unless you have the technical or creative capabilities in-house, or some specific technical or business reasons, one of the benefits of hiring professionals is to pick their brains and let them suggest solutions you might not have considered.

3. Define Success and Red Lines

It’s crucial to establish what success looks like for your project. How will you know if the project has worked? What are the non-negotiables or “red lines” that cannot be crossed? Clear goals and boundaries will help both your team and the external suppliers stay aligned and focused.

4. Leave Egos at the Door

Once the project kicks off, it’s time for everyone to leave their egos at the door. This isn’t about who comes up with the best ideas or who points out the most problems. It’s about working together towards the common goal of getting the most out of the project. Collaboration and openness to new ideas are key to success.

5. Celebrate the Wins

Finally, don’t forget to celebrate the successes, no matter how small. Whether it’s launching a new feature or solving a particularly tricky problem, take the time to acknowledge and celebrate these milestones together. It boosts morale and keeps everyone motivated for the next challenge.

By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to a successful collaboration with your external suppliers. Remember, at withdigital, we’re here to work with you to make your life easier and your projects more successful. So, let’s get to work and make some magic happen! Give us a call on 01926 330135 or send us a message to kickstart your digital project.

Rich Bishop

Rich started writing software from the age of nine. He turned it into a business at 16, and has now been working with SMEs and larger businesses in the UK and overseas for the last 17 years. He also sits on the Council of BCS (the Chartered institute for IT) and is the Chair of the Industry Committee of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists – where he works with both organisations to set the future direction of leadership in the IT, digital and cyber sectors.

Rich hasn’t always just been in software though. He has run business in retail, food, accounting, financial advice, education and broadcasting. He’s also campaigned for the small business community through roles with the FSB (Federation of Small Businesses), and now sits on committees of the CBI (Confederation of British Industry). He is also a Fellow of the RSA (Royal Society of Art, Manufactures and Commerce), and is a Freeman of the City of London.

The primary aim of Rich’s work, through his company withdigital, is to improve efficiency and productivity in businesses so they get the most out of the resources they have. Somewhat counterproductive to his own business, more times than not Rich will talk businesses out of expensive software builds – favouring using tools already out there, and sometimes that they already have. Through this, he also acts as CTO for start-ups. The aim of Rich’s work is to utilise technology and digital skills to do everything computers possibly can – freeing the humans from monotonous daily tasks and allowing them to do what they do best.

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