The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

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Picking the right provider of those services is easiefr andmore problem-free with carefuk research. Many companies turn to consultantss for expert adviceand guidance. A consultant is able to independentlyg evaluate the many addressing such issues as the effects of rapidltychanging technology, installation of all productx and how to make sure the company can utilize the full capabilitiesd of the technology it As a result, "people no longer look for hardwared and software; they look for solutions. Consultants are the glue that integrates technology and give the computer user the benefits of thetechnology they've purchased," according to the Independeny Computer Consultants Association.
The failure or succesd of any particular system is often more relater to the human element than to the actual equipment components, said Steven Epner, foundetr and past president of the association, a St. Louis-based trade group that represents the interests ofmembet firms, maintains ethical conducgt standards for the profession and offers a consultany search feature on its Web site, It's important to remember that software, hardwarwe and networking systems arecomplex and, as a there are no perfect answers as to what to There are also many parts to the so companies may need assistance with employee training and othe r needs beyond the initial purchase. "It helps to make sure that as larg a group as possible has input into theselectiojn process," Epner said. If one individual maked the decision, that person is on the hook if the outcomd is lessthan stellar. Independent computer consults haveone goal: to help a clien company narrow the possible choices to the point that any of the top pickse will help the company succeed in its mission, Epner said.
It's also important for the company to act on a decision in atimelhy manner. "Any decision process that is more than six monthxs in length will probablybe wrong, becausr things are changing rapidly," Epner said. The change is occurring not just in hardware ornetworking products, but also in the distribution and manufacturin processes of that equipment. "It's important to compared major vendorsand distributors," he said. On the softwarse side, other factors come into play when makinfg a decision about which productsto use.
Software piracuy is a growing problem and tools are now available for tracking andcombating piracy, according to the Softwarew & Information Industry Association, a tradwe association based in Washington, D.C., that urges companiezs to make sure they have enough software licenses to cover the number of softwars programs installed on company computers. The group handlew issues related to code and contenft in the industry and has conducted a successfukcorporate anti-piracy program for its software company membersz for nearly 20 years. Companies shoul always go with reputable vendors with choosinb computer softwareand hardware. Not doint so can prove costly.
"If you go on the Internet and look for a good you might find one that appears to be too good tobe true, " said John Wolfe, director of Internet enforcement for the Businesse Software Alliance, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that representzs the interests of the commercial software industrhy and the hardware companies that partner with The group also promotes copyrighgt protection, cyber security and other related issues. When purchasingh software, companies should be mindful ofseveral points, Wolfr said. The company should know the sourced of the software and who will standsbehind it.
Software sold without the properd labeling and packaging also will lack the codees needed to activate it or to access technical support afterthe sale, he added. Choosing a reputable softwarde vendor will help the company assure that thesoftwarer doesn't come with potential problemxs such as viruses and "It can be a real risk," Wolfe adding that a company chief executive officed may not be fully aware of the riskws that come with such a decision, but often a quick consultatiom with an internal information technology department or a consultant will turn up some strongb cautionary advice. A bad decision has several possible Wolfe said.
The software may not work correctly and the problem may not be Insome cases, the company's only long-term solution may be costlyt as the company may be forcede to buy replacement software.