Enabling local councils to get the most from their web agency
We’ve worked with a number of local councils over the years. We’ve come to recognise the common challenges they face when it comes to selecting an agency to partner with (or in any IT purchase, really). Here are the key ones that come up:
- A fear of change
- A fear that new things lead to increased workload
- A fear that there’ll be a huge cost involved
Here are some things to look for when considering a technology provider:
Experience, expertise and reassurance
It’s not just about having technical expertise. It’s about having experience in applying it. As much as you’d want a tech provider to have done similar work to the project you’re coming to them with, you’ll want them to have done some different things, too.
That variety leads to a broader understanding of how to apply expertise, and this should come out in the solutions proposed by the tech provider. You should feel reassured by the fact the tech provider can see more than one way to achieve your end goal and that they have the confidence to provide guidance as to which one they feel would be best.
It’s about consulting and collaborating.
This is certainly an approach that has served us well, and why we have a diverse range of clients, using the different aspects of our service. We love a new challenge because it means we get to devise a tailored solution.
Clients get to know how we think, because honesty is one of our values. If we recommend a technology choice, clients know why. If we disagree on a font selection, they know why. Everything about us is transparent. There’s no need to fear change when you’re being consulted along the way.
Flexibility
This is as much about the tech provider as the technology itself. Not every local authority works the same way. Humans are involved, so variances are inevitable. You need a provider who works with you.
We’ve already mentioned our approach to creating tailored solutions. This is why we’ve selected to work with technology like Drupal and Amazon Web Services (AWS), but also the way we approach our processes. They have enough standardisation to produce consistency, whilst affording freedom to adapt to our clients.
Don’t just buy for now
Websites can be built very cheaply, and this is surely tempting with a tight budget. You may solve your immediate needs, but does it have the potential for future development? Nothing stands still, so it’s important to consider the impact of short term success — can it be sustained? Will a short term investment decision lead you into a corner?
The technology’s adaptability, and how well it plays with others (integrations and interoperability) are key considerations. It’s important to remember that technology is a tool to support your business processes — it shouldn’t define them.
We’ve mentioned how we’re able to tailor solutions to our clients based on our technology choices. We believe in developing relationships with our clients, to provide ongoing support, to keep the technology up to date and secure (big topic!).
We want to be seen as partners, not just a supplier.
If you’ve got a project you’d like to talk to us about, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
