When it comes to business, bigger is not always better.
When you’re choosing a company to work alongside you for your next project or program, it can be tempting to go with the big name, the familiar name, the name that everyone in your company knows.
Big means best, right? And they’ll be a safe bet? After all, as the saying goes, “Nobody gets fired for hiring IBM”.
While it’s true that big companies like IBM have a lot to offer in the marketplace, it’s also true that a smaller business could actually be a better fit for your requirements. Big budgets don’t always equal the best customer experience, and while it can feel comfortable to go with a well-known option, a smaller, more agile business could achieve better outcomes.
Let’s take a look at a few of the ways that a small business could be your best hire.
A small business has the personal edge
Whereas it can be easy to get lost in the customer service journey of a large company, a small business can offer the personal touch. A dedicated point of contact, familiarization with their customer’s unique circumstances, and an ability to think outside the box to solve problems are all benefits which a smaller company can bring.
The result of this personalized approach is a friction-free relationship between companies, where solutions to issues are found quickly and without fuss.
A small business is flexible and responsive
While a large business can look like it covers all the bases when it comes to delivery, it can sometimes be difficult to renegotiate the terms of a relationship if the requirements of your project or program change.
A smaller business can flex to changing conditions much more quickly than a larger one because the internal structure is likely to be more agile. A lean company is also able to change focus much more easily, and therefore a smaller team can be more sensitive to market conditions.
The benefit of this flexibility is a business partner that’s focused on delivering a solution that’s right for the customer, rather than just following a standardized, one-size-fits-all approach.
A small business finds it easier to innovate
Big names need to focus on consistency to maintain their brand, whereas smaller companies can afford to be more innovative with their approach.
In a company with less staff and a flatter management structure, it’s easier to reach accessible experts than it is in larger companies where teams operate in silos. Once you strip out the need for a bureaucratic chain of command to manage large numbers of staff and programs, you’re more able to tap into resources such as expert developers who can design effective, efficient solutions.
A small business can grow with you
One of the most significant advantages of building a relationship with a small business is the fact that they can grow with you over the longer-term, rather than just providing one product or service and then moving on.
Big companies are great at helping customers purchase their latest piece of software, but that could be where the relationship ends. In contrast, a small business is likely to offer you a solution and not just a product. They can continue working alongside you to address challenges for as long as you and your growing business need them to.
A small business builds expertise in their field
One of the main benefits of hiring a small business is the expertise and knowledge that they can offer, whether that be geographic or industry-specific.
Where a large company may be a jack of all trades but master of none, a smaller one is more able to become specialized in particular aspects of their work. Sometimes that might mean having local connections to an area and building a strong, ethical, local supplier network, or sometimes that means having experience in a particular industry or solving a specific type of problem.
Either way, the benefit to the customer is a supplier who understands their unique context and can offer a tailored and appropriate solution with that knowledge in mind.
Choosing a small business for your next hire could be your best business decision
Bigger is not always better. Choosing to hire a smaller business can give you access to knowledgeable and responsive staff who offer excellent customer service.
At DRMcNatty, we pride ourselves on delivering these small-business benefits to customers of any size and complexity. Drop us a line today to find out how we can provide you with the project controls solution you need to make your company move.
