In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, choosing the right digital consultancy is crucial for organisations looking to embark on a digital transformation journey. A successful partnership goes beyond mere transactional relationships; it’s all about collaboration, mutual respect, and shared goals. Based on our experiences and insights, here are some actionable steps to ensure your organisation gets the best out of its relationship with a digital consultancy.

1. Think Partnership, Not Supplier

One of the most critical aspects of a successful digital transformation is viewing your consultancy as a partner, not just a supplier. A partnership implies a shared commitment to the journey and outcomes. Here’s how to foster this:

• Adopt a “one team” mentality: Ensure that both internal and external teams work seamlessly together, with no “us vs. them” mentality. At CreateFuture, we take a ‘leave your badges at the door’ approach.
• Align on goals: Clearly define the goals of the partnership and ensure they are understood and shared by both parties right from the get-go.
• Trust and openness: Encourage open communication and trust, allowing for honest discussions about challenges and opportunities.

2. Embrace Hybrid Teams

Bringing together diverse teams from different departments can be a powerful way to drive transformation. However, this requires careful management to ensure cohesion:

• Integrate teams from different functions: Consider including members from commercial, creative, marketing, and technology teams in transformation projects. Each may have a unique viewpoint that contributes to the solution you’re trying to achieve.
• Leverage the consultancy’s expertise: Use the consultancy’s experience to bridge knowledge gaps, such as transitioning from print to digital design.
• Foster collaboration: Encourage cross-functional teams to work together closely, using the consultancy as a facilitator for better understanding and cooperation.

3. Value Face-to-Face Interaction

In an increasingly digital world, face-to-face interaction remains invaluable, particularly in the context of digital transformation:

• Encourage in-person meetings: Whenever possible, schedule regular face-to-face meetings to strengthen relationships and foster collaboration.
• Utilise hybrid working models: While remote work is here to stay, balance it with in-person sessions to spark creativity and problem-solving.
• Understand the business context: Have your consultancy’s team experience your business environment firsthand to gain a deeper understanding of your challenges and goals.

4. Prioritise Expertise Over Cost

When selecting a consultancy, the temptation might be to opt for the lowest cost. However, expertise and proven experience should be your guiding criteria:

• Look for a proven track record: Ensure the consultancy has demonstrable experience with the technologies and challenges you’re facing.
• Choose depth over breadth: Opt for a consultancy that specialises in the specific areas you need rather than one that claims to do it all.
• Invest in quality: It’s often better to work with a smaller team of deep experts at a higher cost than to compromise on quality for a lower rate.

5. Foster Ongoing Communication

Effective communication is the backbone of any successful partnership. This is especially true in digital transformation, where clarity and alignment are crucial:

• Regular check-ins: Establish a cadence for regular updates and strategy meetings to ensure both sides are aligned.
• Transparency: Be open about your expectations and challenges, and expect the same from your consultancy.
• Future-focused discussions: Use regular meetings not just for current project updates but also to discuss long-term goals and strategies.

6. Support Long-Term Capability Building

A great consultancy doesn’t just deliver a project and walk away; they help build internal capabilities that ensure long-term success:

• Focus on capability building: Work with your consultancy to develop internal skills and knowledge throughout the project.
• Plan for the future: Consider how your organisation will continue to support and evolve the technology post-implementation.
• Co-create a support model: Design a support model that ensures continuity and addresses the needs of different markets and time zones.

7. Ensure Cultural and Strategic Fit

Finally, the cultural and strategic fit between your organisation and the consultancy is critical to success:

• Assess cultural compatibility: Choose a consultancy whose values align with yours and whose people you can trust and collaborate with easily.
• Look for mutual respect: Ensure that both parties respect each other’s expertise and are willing to learn and adapt.
• Long-term relationship: Think beyond the current project; choose a consultancy that you can see yourself working with over the long term.

At CreateFuture, we believe collaboration is key to realising successful digital transformations. We’re always looking to foster the above approaches in every project we deliver—ensuring we’re fully aligned and fully cognisant of client aspirations, thoughts, and feelings. That way we can ensure the best outcomes for clients and their customers.