Concert Technologies Logo   Accelerating the Speed of Technology Rollouts
 
 

Mr. Rollout in
Multi-Tier Contractor vs. Centralized Single-Tier

August 2008

Question

Mr. Rollout,

I often find myself having to compromise between Project Costs and Service Quality. How do I get the lowest cost for my project while maintaining the highest level of Quality of Service for my nationwide or global technology rollouts?

Mr. Rollout Says

Great question! It is often difficult to balance low project costs with a high quality of guaranteed service especially when dealing with technology rollouts on a nationwide or global scale.

If you are dealing with multi-site rollouts that take several months or longer to complete, it is wise to first understand the Technology Rollout System being implemented by the potential rollout vendor. By doing so, you will assure your cost structure can be maintained throughout the entire rollout cycle. Our White Paper being released next month will provide an in-depth view of the Technology Rollout System for the first time ever.
Request our White Paper now



What You Should Look For
Experience and having a proven Technology Rollout System that is able to rapidly deliver rollouts with a consistent level of Quality of Service is a critical factor that must be evaluated as part of your technology implementation cost structure.

In a nutshell, a Technology Rollout System is a comprehensive multi-technology deployment service  with defined processes and procedures that is designed to meet varying project requirements in an ever-changing technology industry. It is comprised of four parts: Process Structure, Rollout Services Model, Internal Resources and Partnerships.

I have witnessed competitive bids where companies have been selected primarily based on cost to find out the companies have no Technology Rollout System in place to provide:

  • Redundancy of field technicians
  • Direct lines of communication with field force
  • Rapid response time and professional service to resolve site issues
  • Billing systems that deliver invoices timely and accurately

The list can go on and on, but let's move forward to some tips that can help you choose a technology rollout company today.

6 Tips for Lowering Costs & Maintaining the Highest Level of Service Quality

  1. Know What to Expect from a Technology Rollout System
    Companies inexperienced and searching for nationwide and global technology rollout companies tend to trivialize what is needed to implement a technology solution in the field. This leads to an underestimation of the importance of a proven, comprehensive Technology Rollout System.

  2. Employ a Centralized Single-Tier Process Structure
    The Centralized Single-Tier Process Structure is designed specifically to minimize the number of subcontractors involved (think fewer $$$) which increasing communication efficiency, response time, and minimizes overall implementation time (single truck roll for multiple services).
    Learn more about the Centralized Single-Tier Process Structure

  3. Ask Questions
    1. What is the company's process structure that supports their Technology Rollout System?
    2. How do they guarantee not to exceed one subcontractor (without which will increase communication lag and project costs)?
    3. What is their guarantee of Quality of Service beyond just their sales pitch? This should be built into their process structure through technician redundancy, standards, etc.

  4. Rollout Categorization
    Categorizing your technology rollouts by size and requirements allows you to clearly communicate what you need from a technology rollout company.
     
    Our white paper coming out next month will address this in greater detail. Be among the first to receive our white paper as soon as it's released! Sign Up Now

  5. Pilot Sites
    If your project timeframe allows, have the technology rollout company install several pilot sites as a sample workload to confirm and/or define typical project requirements and iron out any pricing differences between initial quote and actual implementation costs

  6. Ensure Billing Accuracy & Timeliness
    Make sure invoices are sent by the technology rollout company within several days of the completion of each site to see that there are no discrepancies in cost structure. The longer the delay, the greater the risk of billing issues.

Return to Mr. Rollout Comics

 
Home About Us Careers Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy
CONCERT TECHNOLOGIES INC., 44845 Falcon Place, Suite 106, Dulles, Virginia 20166, Phone: 703-796-5400, Fax: 703-796-1898  |  copyright © 2008 Concert Technologies