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In the contemporary, dynamic business environment, the emphasis is prevailing towards automation of processes, and improvement of operations and services. As you may wish to deploy IT services for your organization, streamline Human Capital Management, or enhance customer service, ServiceNow – a range of products designed to meet the business objectives will come to your aid.

It can be overwhelming to pick a ServiceNow partner since many are available in the market. With so many companies providing services of various kinds, how do you pick the most appropriate one for your organization? This blog will outline the crucial aspects to consider when looking for the Ideal ServiceNow Partner for Your Business. Furthermore, make sure you choose a partner who will match your objectives, provide quality works and assist you as you navigate through the ServiceNow system. At the end of this, you would know what is  ServiceNow and why it is important to carefully look for the right ServiceNow partner for your organization. This knowledge will assist you in prudent judgment and thus enhance the prospects of your ServiceNow implementation working out beginning to the end.

What is ServiceNow Platform?

ServiceNow is a cloud-based enterprise service management platform that facilitates the optimization and automation of different business processes. Initially focused on the Supply Chain’s IT Service Management (ITSM) system, Service Now has broadened its services to encompass several other organizational functions.

What makes ServiceNow the right fit for your company?

ServiceNow is one of the best solutions for any business looking to optimize its processes and improve the level of services rendered. It has numerous modules and features tailored for particular areas of the business. Whether it is running IT operations, managing human resources, or providing customer services, every one of these areas is resolved by the ServiceNow platform.

Reporting and analytics within the ServiceNow platform allow you to achieve a good understanding of your operations. With dashboards, performance indicators, and reports you can manage, control, and eliminate the bottlenecks as well as assess the quality of progress. The self-service portlets, Knowledge Management, and workflow automation of the platform facilitate the experience of internal as well as external clients.

10 Points to Consider When You Select the Ideal ServiceNow Partner for Your Business

The appropriate selection of a ServiceNow partner is paramount in ensuring that the ServiceNow platform is effectively steadfast within the business context and processes. A good partner not only provides technological know-how but there is also a cognitive understanding of the business processes and goals seeking for the solution. Enumerate ten points you should keep in mind while searching for ServiceNow partner:

1. Choose a partner who understands your business need

First it involves taking a long hard look at one’s own business before selecting the appropriate ServiceNow partner. What makes your business tick, and what central issues are you hoping to alleviate with ServiceNow? Is it the management of incidents and changes that are majorly IT service management (ITSM) functions that drive your focus? Or is it the IT operations management (ITOM) whose core goals focus on monitoring and automating devices that drive your focus. You could also want a bespoke workflow created to resolve a particular aggravating issue in your firm. It is, therefore, necessary to state these needs clearly from the beginning, as it will help your partner’s search.

Finding the perfect ServiceNow partner is more than just technicalus; it’s about the possibility of finding a business advisor capable of understanding how such a partner can bring the desired results to life. Once you adhere to these steps, you will be on the path of successful deployment of ServiceNow system which lays the foundation for effectiveness and expansion for an extended period.

2. Reputation and experience are a must

Once your requirements are well defined, start looking up possible ServiceNow partners. Make sure to find a partner who has been in the business for long enough to understand properly the ServiceNow ecosystem. For this, you can ask how many years do they have as ServiceNow partner. An experienced partner is more likely to understand better the different aspects of the platform and how best to employ it’s resources. This is especially  for other partners operating in the same market. A partner who understands the challenges and best practices of its own industry is able to adapt ServiceNow implementation to suit its exact needs. Tell me about their experience working in your field and how they helped other companies like yours.

Inquire about their project portfolio. How many successful ServiceNow implementations have they completed? Start asking for these case studies as well and include those where they have worked with similar industries and projects to what you aim to achieve. This can be useful in understanding what they do and how well they do it. Also remember to ask about the certifications of the partner’s team that are relevant for the SNow modules (ITSM, ITOM and others ) you have selected. This is essential as certified people ensure effective implementation of the system and its benefits to the utmost.

3. Level of Knowledge & Expertise

Experience and certifications are vital measures of ServiceNow partner’s qualifications, however these are not the only stakeholders involved. Dig into the partner’s team’s knowledge and expertise. Do they have specialists on the particular ServiceNow modules that your requirements depend on (ITSM, ITOM, etc.)? Request for technical documents if applicable, such as whitepapers or presentations prepared by them.

Check if the partner invests in continuous training and development of their team to enable them embrace new features, updates, and best practices of the platform. With different training, it is important to assess how well the partner can resolve challenges and come up with solutions. This is critical so as for them to be able to fine-tune the platform to your specific needs. This will serve as an assurance for you of the partner’s ability to strive for improvement.

Confirm that the ServiceNow team consists of properly qualified individuals who have extensive experience with the ServiceNow solution and the particular modules used in your implementation. Choosing a partner like MLE Systems with considerable expertise and knowledge ensures that you are able to use the platform appropriately for maximum successes and higher returns on investments. You will undertake the attainment of your business objectives thanks to their greater experience and understanding of ServiceNow modules.

4. Check References and Reviews

To add to the credibility of a potential ServiceNow partner, checking references and reviews is still the best way to go in a bid to find the perfect partner for your business. Available references, especially those who have worked on similar projects, will always give an objective view of the partners working abilities. It is also advisable to contact this references to tell more on how reliable and knowledgeable the partner is, such like in projects like this one, and most especially, how they treat their clients.

It helps subsequently to hear others opinions and read reviews to seek out adequate service providers whose values coincide to the core values of the business and which provide high quality service so as to facilitate successful and continue working ServiceNow implementation. Reviews are also very important to check among other things when choosing the ServiceNow partner as they highlight their level of professionalism and how they go about their work. These are helpful in understanding the partners history. Seek out reviews that discern such characteristics as the partners approach to management, communication and technical skills.

5. Evaluate Their Cost Structure

While choosing a ServiceNow partner, analyzing the cost structure of the partner is equally important. It is about finding that partner who can offer the best value for money especially for small companies who have a budgetary constraint.  Prior to engaging with such associates, draw up an estimate for your ServiceNow implementation. The estimate should cover all the expenses that are likely to be incurred. Drawing a budget limit allows you to confine the discussions only to relevant partners and helps to avoid going beyond financial limits.

ServiceNow partners implement several pricing models depending on client needs. Some may charge a flat rate for a certain clear cut project while some may charge based on the number of hours worked or on a retainer basis for continued support. It is very important to realize these different structures and how appropriate they are with respect to your project scope and duration. Also remember to request potential partners to provide you with estimates. Such estimates should include breakdown of all costs, such costs as cost per service rendered, cost of man hours and any other costs that may arise.

6. Commitment to Project & Client Success

When it comes to finding the right ServiceNow consultancy or partner, the most important aspect is the dedication of the partner towards project execution and success of the client. Getting hold of a committed partner is a kin to winning a lottery and is a great plus for you and your business in scaling up and achieving milestones. When searching for a partner, look for a partner who considers your victory theirs as well. This is the time to ascertain and check if they show sincere readiness to fulfill specific appetite of your business and go beyond its expectations. The best kind of vendor would already be thinking ten steps ahead and would act as a true business partner and advisor in maximizing the benefits of using ServiceNow for your organization.

Furthermore, Focus on finding a partner who has a proven record of completing ServiceNow projects within the deadlines and budget while delighting the clients. They should be able to provide you with some case studies or references who can prove their worth in executing the kind of projects you are undertaking. Such stories are helpful in understanding how the partner is capable of getting results from the things they are promising to do.

7. Evaluate the services they offer

Selecting the best ServiceNow partner can mean the difference between the success or failure of your initiatives. State your goals with regards to ServiceNow. Are you purchasing ServiceNow for ITSM, work process automation, or improvement of the employee’s self-service? It will help you to understand the objectives and services that are needed to support them. In order to understand what services you need, you need to review the existing workflows, and understand in what aspects ServiceNow can help with the improvement of the existing processes. This will enable you to understand which particular services would be critical for effective implementation.

Upon completion of the requirements analysis, look at the services the partner offers. Which services are provided to you are all the services that you require? Look for the ServiceNow partners with a wide range of such portfolio that satisfies your needs. In such a way, narrowing down on the services and expertise of the ServiceNow partner, you make sure they have what it takes to implement ServiceNow in your organization.

8. Provide good support

When picking a ServiceNow partner that is supportive round the clock, you can breathe freely knowing that there is a team that is always at your beck and call. The need for efficient support on a continuous basis is another reason for considering a ServiceNow ensuring effective Partner. He makes every effort to go beyond solving every issue raised by your team in particular and the business in general. He empowers the team and enhances the business by the best ServiceNow solutions which, are utilized to the fullest. ServiceNow is the backbone of many business processes and operations. Any downtime can cause the loss of valuable productive time and revenues.

For instance, a partner with 24/7 support would mean that in cases of a ServiceNow related problem, qualified ServiceNow individuals will always be available to assess and provide solutions to the problem thus ensuring that the problem does not interfere with the operations of the business for long. Seek for a partner who provides support on a preventive basis, provides clear understanding to problems and ways to use ServiceNow effectively. This could include assisting you to pinpoint certain tasks and processes in order to automate them or even identifying some strategies of increasing efficiency.

9. Assess Their company culture

It is easier to work with a ServiceNow partner if there is a good culture match with the company. Consider engaging a partner who shares similar beliefs if they are determined to develop, provide excellent customer service, or work in a team. When there are shared those values, it is easier to build productive relations between the parties and therefore more outcomes can be achieved quickly. In this regard, monitor very closely how the potential partner’s staff interacts with you during the evaluation. Do they return phone calls, act professionally and with energy? Their behavior and the way they express themselves may give you some pointers of the type of culture that you are likely to encounter when dealing with the partner.

 In addition, by supporting a company with a vivid corporate spirit, like MLESystems, as a ServiceNow partner, one gets a focused and dedicated team who values teamwork and excellent delivery. It deepens the partnership since it enables you to meet your strategic goals and seek the full return on your ServiceNow investment.

10. Communication and collaboration skills

Success in the delivery of any project is premised on effective communication. When taking the right ServiceNow partner, pay attention to their communication style and the frequency of their communication. Look also into if and how do they give out new project directives from time to time, if and how do they respond to problems without waiting to be asked, and if and how possible are they to respond to your enquiries during the entire period of engagement. Communication between parties must be frank and honest in order to encourage princesses’ cooperation in meeting the project’s well-defined objectives.

Establish that the partner has appropriate personnel for your team to contact and that you get answers to your queries in a timely manner. Ensuring that such channels exist, be it through physical or electronic means, like making phone calls, sending emails or perhaps having a collaboration platform, helps in addressing emerging issues in a timely manner and creating a team atmosphere.

Conclusion

ServiceNow is not just another ITSM tool; it is a complete solution aimed at solving various business problems. Its wide range of features, high level of automation, and ease of use make it very useful for any organization that wishes to improve its operations and service delivery. Be it an organization that wishes to enhance the efficiency of its IT department, improve its HR procedures, or widen its customer base, ServiceNow has got all the necessary tools and support. Careful thought and extensive research are needed when selecting the right ServiceNow partner.