Packaged IT solutions
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Seems like this is going on circles
But just wanted to make it clear one more time.Package- email, file sharing- this is not changing. Let's say this is ideal for a very small startup of 5 user company. Company A or B if 5 users, this is the base package.
Under this package solutions can change according to the factors like budget, features etc. eg: Email- Google apps OR part of a hosted Zimbra setup with their domain configured.
File sharing- Dropbox/Box or owncloud if self hosted- may be too much for small team but just mentioning as examples.Does it still sound wrong?
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The only thing that sounds wrong is calling it a package when nothing is packaged. LOL. You keep saying package but then saying "that can change." All you are actually saying, then, is that you'll offer what's needed on a customer by customer basis - which is all anyone who doesn't do packages does.
I'm not sure what you are imagining, but you really at the end aren't asking anything. Basically you are asking if IT consulting makes sense and yes, yes it does.
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totally understand. Just thinking about if I go full time as consultant and rather than listing all products/techs offered, thought of doing it in a different way easy to understand for the customer, which again is already been asked by my existing clients. -
Hi @Ambarishrh
I did similar based packages to support like you, I now offer nothing as a package because I don't want to be the one size fits all provider. I want to tailor everything to the client.
When you offer "Packages" you limit yourself and the customer to the options.
Customer A looks at the packages, does not see what he wants, moves onto another provider.
Customer B looks at the packages, does not understand why you are more expensive than other provider for the same/less features, so moves on.Both of these customers could be yours if you can have the discussion with them.
http://mangolassi.it/topic/4928/my-new-company-dara-it
I found this thread fairly difficult, I was very attached to "my baby" as I'd spent time planning it and working out all the neat little packages but the biggest asset to my business will never be pre-set packages, there are countless providers out there doing the same thing, if you want to distinguish yourself don't try to copy mass market with packages.
And on another note, office 365 would be a competitor in packaged services, what will you do to match or beat them? Why would you be better than Microsoft as a provider?
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@Breffni-Potter Thanks a lot for the feedback. I am at the planning phase too and checking on different options too.
Reg Office 365- Its not about beating that. Some clients might be more inclined to products like google apps/a self hosted mail service like Zimbra. Had zimbra community edition configured for a client in house who didn't wanted to spend on monthly fee for O365 or similar solution on per user basis. Apart from that the maintenance are patches and spam control as per requirements, but haven't had much issues in the past year.
This is just one case, could be more users who are inclined to a simplified cloud based solution too, but just wanted to share the req on other types of solutions as well. -
I'm perhaps in the minority here, but I like the idea of flexible packages. You start with a basic package, which businesses can understand, then tweak it slightly to fit. It's a bit like cars. BMW do a 1 series a 3 series and a 5 series and they are a fixed price, but once you've picked the model that suits you best, you start tweaking it with things like leather seats instead of cloth, better audio, a sunroof, etc etc. This sounds the same, which makes sense to me.
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@Breffni-Potter said:
I found this thread fairly difficult, I was very attached to "my baby" as I'd spent time planning it and working out all the neat little packages but the biggest asset to my business will never be pre-set packages, there are countless providers out there doing the same thing, if you want to distinguish yourself don't try to copy mass market with packages.
Tons of vendors do packages, not custom solutions. It's a very common way to go because it can be tested as a complete solution and priced reliably.
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@scottalanmiller said:
Tons of vendors do packages, not custom solutions. It's a very common way to go because it can be tested as a complete solution and priced reliably.
True, but are you a vendor or a consultant would be my question.
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@Breffni-Potter said:
@scottalanmiller said:
Tons of vendors do packages, not custom solutions. It's a very common way to go because it can be tested as a complete solution and priced reliably.
True, but are you a vendor or a consultant would be my question.
Consultant means not-packaged. The term package implies that you don't need consulting (one could argue that consulting was built into the package - someone consulted on what a good package would be before making it.)
But when you go to McDonald's and get a pre-packaged combo mean (package) you don't think of the cashier or the fry guy as a consultant, they aren't making recommendations based on your needs, they are just providing a package.
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But, in the fast food example, a lot of chefs and research went into getting the formula down as to how to make tasty food, cheap, that could be replicated easily.
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I think my main point to @Ambarishrh was - Do you want to be another packaged supplier competing on the same feature-set and price?
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I would love to provide solutions as per clients requirements. The resturant example makes me want to think that I want to be the chef not the billing guy!
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Yeah, but at Burger King (at least in the UK), you can customise your package. So I get the cheeseburger meal but ask for it without gherkins.
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@Carnival-Boy said:
Yeah, but at Burger King (at least in the UK), you can customise your package. So I get the cheeseburger meal but ask for it without gherkins.
They lost a lawsuit in the US and were not allowed to claim "your way" anymore because they were actually limited to the packages that they offered (although some were unlisted.) They used to refuse to customize and some vegetarian group sued them for claiming it was your way when even something simple like leaving off ingredients wasn't an option. US courts agreed, now they are the very definition of "packaged" meals (at least in the US.)
Maybe they like UK customers more and actually allow you to customize.
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That being said, I've had many local Burger Kings break the rules and customize for me. But they were officially not allowed to.
