Podcast: Clear Peak’s Strategy is to Start With Targeted Projects

June 15, 2009

Listen to a chat with Clear Peak’s Brad Cowdrey:

As if economic times haven’t changed, many analysts and investors are continuing to dole out the same advice: buy hardware, new software or implement new systems as a solution for technical, financial and operational problems. It’s a frustrating recommendation for cost-conscious IT departments under the budget microscope. Instead of this “buy-it-to-fix-it” approach, companies can often avoid major capital expenditures by working smarter with what they’ve got. A trusted BI counselor can help companies navigate today’s highly complex technology landscape and engineer solutions to create value.

An audit to evaluate existing systems, people and processes is an important first step in re-engineering value. This allows decision-makers to re-purpose, optimize and re-deploy current hardware, software and systems. An analysis of day-to-day operations to identify opportunities for efficiency and effectiveness should be part of this audit.

Additionally, hardware and software vendors may not be eager to reveal this fact, but the economic environment puts IT departments in the driver’s seat. Vendors are quite willing to re-negotiate existing contracts providing companies with long-term savings. Existing software can also be re-leveraged to extract additional value by getting creative with the use of existing licenses.

A knowledgeable advisor can bring a fresh perspective to an IT audit and make create recommendations to re-engineer value. One with strong vendor contacts and negotiation skills can offer companies immediate ROI by arranging more favorable contract terms.

Brad Cowdrey, senior partner and founder of Clear Peak – a management, technology and IT consultancy in Denver.

Posted by Carl · Filed Under Interviews