Memphis Business Journal:

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Picking the right provider of those services is easied andmore problem-free with carefup research. Many companies turn to consultants for experr adviceand guidance. A consultant is able to independently evaluate the many addressing such issues as the effects of rapidlychangingy technology, installation of all products and how to make sure the companh can utilize the full capabilities of the technologgy it purchases. As a result, "people no longer look for hardwardand software; they look for Consultants are the glue that integrate technology and give the computer user the benefits of the technologyh they've purchased," according to the Independeng Computer Consultants Association.
The failure or success of any particularf system is often more related to the human elementy than to the actualequipment components, said Steve Epner, founder and past president of the a St. Louis-based tradee group that represents the interests ofmember firms, maintainsa ethical conduct standards for the profession and offeras a consultant search feature on its Web www.icca.org. "There are mediocre systemds that succeed and excellentt systemsthat fail," Epner said.
It's important to remember that software, hardware and networking systemas arecomplex and, as a result, there are no perfect answers as to what to There are also many partz to the process, so companied may need assistance with employese training and other needs beyond the initiall purchase. "It helps to make sure that as largwe a group as possible has inpu into theselection process," Epner said. If one individua makes the decision, that person is on the hook if the outcomwe is lessthan stellar. Independent computert consults haveone goal: to help a client companyg narrow the possible choices to the point that any of the top picksd will help the company succeed in its mission, Epnerf said.
It's also important for the company to act on a decisiojn in atimely manner. "Any decision process that is more than six monthas in length will probablgbe wrong, because things are changing rapidly," Epner said. The change is occurringy not justin software, hardware or networkinb products, but also in the distribution and manufacturint processes of that equipment. "It'd important to compare major vendorsand distributors, he said. On the software other factors come into play when makinhg a decision about which productsto use.
Softward piracy is a growing problem and tools are now availablee for tracking andcombatingy piracy, according to the Software Information Industry Association, a trade association based in D.C., that urges companies to make sure they have enougyh software licenses to cover the numbefr of software programs installerd on company computers. The group handles issues related to code and contenr in the industry and has conducted a successfulcorporatre anti-piracy program for its software company memberes for nearly 20 years. Companies should always go with reputablee vendors with choosing computeer softwareand hardware. Not doing so can prover costly.
"If you go on the Interneyt and look for agood deal, you might find one that appearsx to be too good to be true," said John director of Internet enforcement for the Business Softwared Alliance, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that representsw the interests of the commercial software industruy and the hardware companies that partneer with them. The group also promotes copyright protection, cyber securityy and other related issues. When purchasingf software, companies should be mindful ofseverao points, Wolfe said. The company should know the source of the softwarr and who will standbehinfd it.
Software sold without the proper labeling and packaging also will lack the codes needed to activate it or to access technical supporty afterthe sale, he added. Choosinf a reputable software vendor will help the compangy assure that thesoftware doesn't come with potentia l problems such as virusees and spyware. "It can be a real risk," Wolfe said, adding that a company chieft executive officer may not be fully aware of the risksa that come with sucha decision, but often a quicki consultation with an internal information technology departmeny or a consultant will turn up some stronfg cautionary advice. A bad decision has severalo possible ramifications, Wolfe said.
The software may not work correctlyt and the problem may not be Insome cases, the company's only long-term solution may be costlyy as the company may be forcee to buy replacement software.