Charting Your Course on the Technology Road Map, Part 2
July 25, 2024Comments
In Part 1 of this two-part series, we introduced developing a technology roadmap and shared insights on how to get started. We defined what a technology roadmap is and discussed how to develop the map by understanding what technology options are available and how they can impact your business, and then dug into how to prioritize your investments to determine a phased approach to implementation–because you can’t get everything at once.
Here we continue to outline best practices for establishing a technology roadmap, including vendor selection, technology implementation, measures of success and key things to consider.
Picking Your Partner
Once you understand the type of technology you want to invest in, it is time to pick your technology vendor. This is an important step in the process and should not be taken lightly. Shops can experience significant benefits–reduced training time and the number of repair components needed, increased flexibility–by standardizing their equipment throughout their facility. So, you want to identify a partner that understands your technology roadmap and can help you achieve your milestones. Beyond technology expertise, quality and cost, following are a few other factors to consider when selecting your technology partner:
- Customization and flexibility: Determine the vendor's ability to customize its technology to fit your specific manufacturing needs. Flexibility in adapting to your requirements is crucial for seamless integration into your processes.
- Scalability: Consider the scalability of the technology offered by the vendor. Ensure it can accommodate your current production volume as well as future growth without significant disruptions or additional investments.
- Support and maintenance: Evaluate the vendor's support, training and maintenance services. This includes factors such as response time, availability of technical support, and maintenance agreements to keep the technology running efficiently.
- Compatibility and integration: Assess how well the vendor's technology integrates with your existing systems and processes. Compatibility with other software or hardware components is essential for seamless operations.
- Security and data privacy: Ensure that the vendor's technology meets your security and data-privacy requirements. This is particularly important when dealing with sensitive information or proprietary processes.
Don’t be afraid to ask for case studies or references so you can see for yourself if the vendor has successfully implemented similar equipment. Carefully consider all of these factors and select a partner that best fits your requirements and can contribute to your current and future success.
