What is CTOaaS?
This is a fractional technology service that allows companies to procure short bursts of technology talent either one time or on a continued repetitive basis, for instance, 8 hours twice a month or 8 hours a month. This allows a company to either have or enhance current technical talent for a variety of functions.
Procurement and Identification of Options
RFI/RFP/RFQ cycles often involve sourcing products and services. Fractional technical services allow those searches and potential suppliers to be identified, interviewed, and bids to be leveled looking outside the company’s current supply chain. Vendors will generally recommend solutions for which they currently supply, or in the case of using manufacturers, only within their own in-house product lines. Limiting spheres of input can stifle competition and lead to higher pricing, perhaps decreased functionality, and certainly fewer options. Procurement doesn’t always understand IT needs. Disinterested third-party services solve all of the above without a long-term, expensive commitment.
Short Term or Burst Staff Augmentation
In everyday business and during “out of the norm” projects, many companies find themselves in need of short bursts of talent to keep projects on track, or to simply relieve current staff of overtime hour requirements. There are many reasons that can lead a company to need just a few hours a month. Perhaps the company hasn’t quite gotten to the point of needing another full-time person, or the need for additional manpower is temporary. In either case, bringing in fractional services means that a company has the consistency of talent from one block of hours to the next. This means that they do not have to hire multiple people for multiple tasks often necessitating in repeated hours just to bring new people up to speed.
Design Resources and Fulfillment Project Management
Companies that are growing out of acquisition or are performing multi-site rollouts can benefit from a single design resource to assure consistency and help contain scope creep. Even if the company works to use onsite/in region manpower, there are tangible benefits to have a single point of contact acting as the designer and owner representative. For designs, this assures consistency from site to site so that nuances in drawings don’t have to be reinterpreted and as-built drawings have uniform appearance and information. During implementation, a single owner’s representative provides a level of protection against onsite personnel and suppliers changing the project, vendor, or scope deviating from the actual project. It also assures that local workers maintain consistency site to site which will decrease troubleshooting times and help maximize discounts with project vendors. This service is a great help when on staff project managers simply can’t be everywhere at once. The balance of company oversight to in region talent can maximize travel cost savings while balancing the ability to negotiate fair wages and the most cost-effective local suppliers for project specified materials.
Fill In Temporary Talent
Companies that have multi-site rollouts or larger projects might need assigned resources to cover vacations, maternity/paternity leave, unexpected absences, or to help get projects on track. By utilizing fractional services, you can be assured that standby talent is preemptively up to speed to fill in when needed. With multiple year’s experience throughout our team, even last minute fill ins will require minimal instruction to get up and running. If we can’t staff your project, there is a great chance we have a partner with the expertise you need. We are happy to make referrals.
What if I’m a Smaller Company?
Perfect! We are happy to work with small companies and feel that these companies deserve the same quality of service as the big guys without exorbitant price tags. In fact, our retainer based services allow you to hire someone a couple days a month. Companies starting out may not have the need for a full time technology officer, but still need technology planning, strategic planning, and the occasional technology resource to help them grow into the company they want to be. We are delighted to be that service to help you grow. We can represent you and accompany you to meetings involving your growth.
Cost Benefits
Outside of the benefits listed above, the most important thing to note about CTOaaS is that the service is not designed to compete with large project conglomerates. Our goal is to provide that leg up only where and when needed in short bursts of hours. We have other resources for larger projects.
