What is an IT Consultant and Why Do I Need One? 

Have you thought about hiring a consultant but have no idea what they do or why you need one? 

Hiring a consultant can seem like a daunting or confusing task, especially if you don’t understand why your business needs one. 

IT consultants, however, can do a lot for your company. Here’s what an IT consulting firm can do for you and how Equinox can help. 

What is an IT Consultant?  

An IT consultant helps companies achieve their business goals or solve a business problem. They advise companies on using their existing technology to the fullest or help them decide what new technologies to invest in. 

IT consultants are trained professionals who know how all these things work together, which makes them indispensable if you want help getting started on any kind of project involving computers or software programs. Here at Equinox, we specialise in Unit4 ERP software.  

An IT consultant can help you to: 

  • Determine the best way to use technology in your business. 
  • Improve your productivity by using the right tools at the right time, so you don’t waste time on things that don’t matter. 
  • Reduce costs by making sure that you aren’t paying for services you don’t need (or want). 

We have been involved with implementations and upgrades to businesses globally, including Europe and North America, so there should be no geographical barriers to being able to work with your business, wherever you are. 

An IT consultant can work with a range of companies, from small businesses to large corporations.  

What Does an IT Consultant Do?  

IT consultants help companies identify technology problems and implement solutions.  

They often coordinate their efforts with internal IT staff on a wide range of projects, including: 

  • Assessing cybersecurity threats 
  • Maintaining and repairing existing infrastructure 
  • Designing and implementing new systems 
  • Analysing the current IT system to identify problems. 
  • Creating a technology budget 

Depending on the nature and scope of the project, the consultant may work with the company on short-term single projects or long-term, multi-phase projects. 

For example, a company may hire an IT consultant to design a network or migrate an existing system to a new platform. Other times, the company may ask the consultant to advise the CEO on a long-term technology plan and oversee its implementation over a year or even several years. 

What Are the Examples of IT Consultancy Services?  

Here are the IT consultancy services we offer here at Equinox:  

  • Implementation & Upgrade: Our implementation and upgrade solutions are designed specifically for the needs of your organisation. From design of specific modules to an entire reimplementation of your system, all managed by our experienced team. 
  • Development: At Equinox we offer a bespoke customised development service for your system. All businesses operate differently which means that our customised service gives you a tailor- made solution focused on improving and developing your business efficiently. 
  • System Reviews: As your business grows and develops, your system will need to also. As a developing business, your system will require reviewing to ensure you have all the features you need. Our system reviews offer suggestions on ways to keep your system up to date and improve your business going forward. 
  • Training: We provide bespoke, professionally filmed training videos and presentations that are available to download and keep on your on-intranet systems providing remote guidance at any time. 

Do IT Consultants Work Externally or Internally?  

Both! IT consultants can work with companies on a project basis, or they may be employed by the company on a permanent basis and work within a team. 

Some businesses prefer to hire an external consultant to give them objective advice and provide recommendations based on industry best practices. It’s also a great way to free up your internal resources so that they can focus on other business-critical tasks.  

The advantage of this approach is that it can be less expensive than hiring full-time employees who may not be needed after the project is completed, or if you need a change of perspective from time to time.  

Why Do I Need an IT Consultant?    

It is best to hire technology consultants when you want to upgrade your technology infrastructure or plan to implement a new solution from scratch.  

In cases like these, they can help you to choose the right tech stack, design system architecture, and implement tools that would benefit your business workflows. 

Here are the top 3 reasons why you should consider hiring an IT consultant:   

  1. A consultant brings expertise. Consultants don’t become experts in their fields overnight! It takes several projects or years of effort to obtain the level of knowledge that most consultants have. In that time, most consultants have seen or heard everything, from best practices to pitfalls. If they haven’t heard of an issue or need, they will probably have some good ideas on how to address it.  
  1. A consultant can supplement the staff. Sometimes, businesses discover they can save thousands of pounds a week by hiring consultants when they are needed rather than hiring full-time employees.  
  1. Consultants can be long-lasting professional partners. Hiring a consultant doesn’t have to be a short-term commitment. Depending on the type of project, you may find that you need continued help after completion. If you work with a consultant, especially as a mentor, you can build a trusting relationship with that expert. When you have issues or questions, you already know who to ask! If you have future projects in the same category, your consultant already knows your business concerns.  

At Equinox Consulting, we like to think of our consultants as part of your internal team externally. We get INVOLVED in your business.  

Here at Equinox, we endeavour to integrate with your team and other external members to learn about your company and work fully with your team to create bespoke development solutions.  

Enable your Digital Future with Equinox    

So, there you have it! A brief overview of what an IT consultant does. If you’re interested in our IT consulting services,contact us today. We’re here to provide comprehensive support for your organisation.    

With over 7+ years of experience and a team of highly skilled consultants, we offer a range of services to help your business grow and thrive.   

We offer fast service and competitive prices to help your business systems remain up-to-date and applicable.