When businesses who outsource look for partners to drive the product development efforts, they often look for companies that are larger in size.  The perception is that these larger companies have the resources, infrastructure, and manpower to support the project.  Recently, we were invited to participate in a process where several companies were invited, most larger, contract manufacturing firms, and one boutique company, Resolution.  We were the selected partner for the project, and when we asked why they felt Resolution was the better choice against these much larger organizations, their responses were enlightening.

The customer shared that the other businesses’ size became a limiting factor, not an asset, in certain key areas:

Direct access to the engineers: A critical component for the company was the access to the actual engineers performing the work.  They saw that as a valuable way to provide direct input and feedback without having to navigate layers or having instructions “lost in translation”.  With the larger companies, direct access to the engineers required navigation of these layers.  For this company, that added risk to the project.

Being a “number” vs. a Customer: The impression this company received when interacting with the larger businesses was that they would be just another customer. The customer saw this as an added risk and limitation of the larger company that their project would be given the attention it needed.

Clear staffing: The larger companies struggled to commit to a consistent point of contact, name the players who would be involved, or ensure access to those players. The customer saw this as something that could delay the project, particularly if teams shifted.

With Resolution, the customer had access to the CEO, Engineers, and Quality teams and have peace of mind that they would remain consistent throughout the process.

For many businesses, both large and small, their new product can make or break the business.  They need a product development partner that can understand their business and project needs not only during the sales cycle but more importantly during the project.  In addition, the partner should have access to complementary resources such as industrial design firms and contract manufacturers to engage at the right point in the process.

Resolution believes strongly in this best of breed model for product development.  Each step in the process, from concept to design,  to development,  to manufacturing requires a unique set of skills. No matter how large the company, it is likely they will fall short in one area.  In the best of breed model, the company brings the right resources at the right time, lowering risk.

It is that best of breed model that makes a boutique product development firm like Resolution able to respond quickly to customer needs and successfully bring products to market. Check out our services page for more info.