Building a business from the ground up is no small task. But with a little technical know-how, a pinch of luck, and a lot of hard work, Better Technology Consulting is truly here to stay. In today’s blog post, we’d like to explain a little about where we came from – and exactly how our past helps us stay focused on our future.  

Better Technology Consulting (BTC) is the brainchild of a technology geek who spent years as both a City trader and management consultant.  After getting bored of the "intangible" solutions that many consultancies were selling with little measurable impact, he soon realised that he could leverage his experience and channel it into developing real solutions for a huge range of companies, particularly by streamlining and automating processes through smart use of technology.

Smart. Simple. Focused.

So how exactly does BTC set itself apart from the pack? Well, we like to think there are multiple answers to that question, but there’s one that’s at the heart of every project – and that’s client-focus.

We don’t mean simply looking at what a business needs strategically in the long-term, but also looking at a more granular level by engaging with the users themselves. It’s amazing how quickly core issues can be identified when we see them first-hand.

Here’s a good example of this: one of our national clients had a few problems with a shared MS Excel spreadsheet that its sales teams were using. Put simply, there were too many people trying to use it at once, which made it slow, unstable and a pain to use.   The client suggested that we upgrade it to an MS Access-based database, however we knew that meant that each salesperson (who could be based anywhere) would need to be using a computer with MS Access installed in order to update their sales.  

After we spoke to the end-users themselves, it became apparent that the ideal solution would be something that could be updated from anywhere, and not require any new software.  Alongside that, a few extra requests cropped up, such as in-built reporting. 

Our solution? To develop a bespoke web-based application that could be accessed from anywhere with a connection to the client’s VPN (for security) and would grow with the team. A separate section on the website would host the in-built reporting and breakdowns and that was updated in real-time, every time a user entered information.  It didn’t take long for our client to accept our proposal and hop on board.

“Start small, and work with agility”

There’s an inherent risk with any software project that what you plan for might not be what you really need. Rather than waiting until the testing phase to discover potential pitfalls, here at BTC we do things a little differently. (And, dare we say it, better).

As part of our standard practice, we get involved in the design process as early as possible. This allows us to crystallise the essence of the project up-front. We start with a small team to keep initial costs down, then quickly create a working prototype of our proposed solution. This part is essential, because if everything goes right, the bulk of the budget can then be dedicated to something we already know will work.

Smart stuff, eh? At BTC, we use the well-known Agile methodology, meaning we develop in bite-sized chunks with time set aside for testing and feedback. This gives clients directional control of development, and keeps everyone on-target every step of the way.

Laying the groundwork for the road ahead

At BTC, we’re not satisfied until we’re sure our software is being used to its full potential. The best app in the world won’t do anyone any good if nobody uses it, which is why we focus on user adoption from an early stage.   We have a number of tools in our toolkit that we use to drive adoption early on, including a focus on the direct benefit to the user, documentation, training videos, and live demos.

We lay the groundwork from the start to ensure that the road ahead is smooth for both the software and the people who are actually using it every day. Even better, our unique design philosophy means that the software we deliver can be expanded and upgraded should the need arise.

It’s all part and parcel of the BTC philosophy, and it’s just one of the reasons that we’re the perfect choice for business software solutions.

The BTC team is always interested in what the community has to say, so please feel free to share, like, or let us know what you think in the comments below. Want to know even more about BTC? Don’t hesitate to check out the rest of our website or get in touch for a quick chat about your project.