I had a conversation with a colleague yesterday and he was commenting on the quality of work their IT contractor provided. Mind you, this is a huge government contract with a big consulting firm and the consultant couldn’t tell him how to link up the instant message contact names to their email addresses. As a small business I rely on technical ability daily and getting duped by vendors is a common hazard. Vendors will give you a good pitch only to come onto the project and not have the technical skills required addressing the problem. How do you qualify a vendor and how should you measure vendor quality?

Take the time to have a conversation
By the time a vendor is called to most businesses the problem needs to be solved immediately. This is one of the most costly mistakes your business can make. Look for vendors before you need them and get all of the housekeeping items out of the way. Check their references and credentials and then talk to the ones you like the best. Talking to a potential vendor will highlight knowledge, ability and how tuned into your needs as a client they are. Taking this extra time in the beginning will save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

Read the entire article at http://www.examiner.com/small-business-insights-in-national/do-your-vendors-over-promise-and-under-deliver

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