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Tariffs, trade wars, stock market turbulence, layoffs, and even the rumblings of health epidemics are making the market feel like a pinball knocked around in all directions. Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, said there’s a 50/50 chance of a recession. Not surprisingly, business leaders are taking a “wait-and-see” approach to growth, which puts pressure on IT to hold steady yet strong.
That can be particularly challenging as an IT leader. There’s an expectation that IT innovates, streamlines workflows, protects assets, and maintains compliance without exhausting budgets.
With all this uncertainty and a limited margin of error, it can be tempting to implement point solutions to close gaps during an economic holding pattern. Yet there are some shortcomings to this approach that hinder scalability and resilience in the long run.
Here’s why it’s time you might need to rethink your kneejerk approach and use platform partners during this volatility.
What’s the Difference, Anyway?
Before we get too deep, let’s define our terminology:
- A point solution is a standalone and specialized tool designed to solve one specific challenge or use case. It delivers exceptional value within its narrow emphasis.
- A partner solution is built to integrate and unify various functions across your environment. It makes workflows and operations more efficient now and in the long run.
Both solution types have their value, but the unpredictability of the current market makes one approach more advantageous. It just might be the one you think.
Why Platform Partners Deliver More Value in Volatile Times
Contrary to popular belief, point solutions aren’t an essential stop gap during difficult times. Rather than offering a small investment that can maintain progress and momentum, this approach tends to sacrifice the big picture for niche capability. Even if a specialized tool can enhance core business functions, it’s less likely to promote general adaptability. They’re a luxury for when you’re on steady ground.
Partner solutions help you weather the storm because they’re built with resilience and scalability in mind. They’re not just a product—they’re an experience and relationship wrapped up together. Best of all, they offer these solutions:
Holistic Thinking
Point solution vendors tend to be hyper-focused on one component rather than the whole functionality. It’s like having an all-inclusive experience in one corner of the hotel but self-care service in the rest.
On the other hand, the right partner platform will extend that level of quality across all your implementations. Let’s say you are exploring a new artificial intelligence transcription tool for your healthcare facility. Not only will the right partner uncover the project’s scope, but also:
- Spot obstacles in the larger ecosystem
- Determine long-term Phase X implementations
- Provide strategic guidance to elevate the ROI
Plus, IT solutions partners typically have a larger bench of QA, cybersecurity, and go-live support talent to maximize the ongoing benefits of any implementation.
Greater Interoperability
Speaking of integrating platforms, partner solutions are better at maximizing the value across your entire IT ecosystem and tech stack. They often possess a wider range of in-house experts who can connect the full spectrum of tools used across your organization.
For example, we’ve built internal expertise across a variety of popular enterprise platforms:
- AWS
- Azure
- Salesforce
- SAP
- ServiceNow
- Snowflake
- WorkForce Solutions
- And more
With our diverse assortment of experts, we can assemble IT support teams that fit your software needs, finding solutions that streamline workflows and interoperability. The result? Systems that talk to each other and a team that knows how to get them to speak the same language from day one.
Improved Agility
Challenging times require enterprises to turn on a dime and move full steam in a better direction. Partner solutions offer that agility.
Where a point solution is focused on delivering fixed features within a rigid SOW, partner solutions are far more amenable to change. Their focus is the durability of your partnership and will pivot or scale with your new goals.
Because of the ongoing nature of your business relationship, a solutions partner is more likely to proactively advise you on new technologies and tools that can satisfy your evolving goals. Since they’re also providing that level of advisement to other enterprises, they can tell you how IT strategies are maturing.
Choosing Partnership Over Convenience
We understand the appeal of point solutions in tough times. They’re quick to implement, promise urgent fixes, and come with a fixed budget. That said, short-term convenience can prevent long-term interoperability, adaptability, and cost-savings.
Yes, partner solutions require more upfront investments in time and budget, but this results in greater alignment with your needs, challenges, and success. That’s especially true when the road ahead is filled with potholes, detours, and plenty of dead ends.
So, if you’re reevaluating your tech stack or looking for ways to stretch your budget further, start by asking: Is this vendor solving a problem, or helping us build a better, more resilient business?
In volatile times, you don’t just need software. You need a partner. You’ll be stronger together because of it.
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