An IT consultant is a professional who possesses the following skills:

• Consulting skills.
• Translation from technology to business and vice versa.
• Effective communication skills.
• Technical and content IT skills.
• Effective IT management skills.
• Business insights.
• Leadership skills.
• You can also expect the IT consultant to be specially trained to do this.

General IT adviser
In addition, IT consulting generally involves advising and guiding the client in assessing the scope of the IT needs of the business and developing processes to apply information technologies in a way that benefits the business. An IT consultant is also likely to provide services that involve monitoring and managing the client's computer systems to ensure that the IT system is functioning properly and securely.

In addition to IT consulting, IT consultants usually provide their clients with the estimation, management and implementation of IT systems. This practice is called "outsourcing".

Business intelligence consultant
Information technology consulting is a specific branch of consulting that deals with: information technology† Various software is also used to improve business processes. There is also a specific consultancy role related to business intelligence (BI). This involves the use of databases to create overviews that show information about the company. A well-known example is economic ratios. The BI consultant therefore prepares, evaluates and advises us based on BI results.

Choosing an IT consultant
Many organisations feel that they are not getting what they expected from an external IT consultant.However, to work effectively with an IT consultant, you need to define the objective, communicate the objective, involve the right people and document the contract.

Describe the work we want to do and be clear about what we expect from the consultancy process. Consultants are not magicians, the results must be realistic.

1. Identify the objectives you want to achieve with your IT consultant
   We need to honestly ask ourselves why we need an external consultant. Is this their area of expertise?
   
   For example, to save time?Or about organisational change?Do we want an objective/independent view?Are we trying to overcome political obstacles?And so on.
   Describe the work we want to do and be clear about what we expect from the consultancy process. Consultants are not magicians, the results must be realistic.
   
   Be clear about the expected benefits to our organisation's purpose and mission if you are commissioning a business strategy. However, the staff wish list is less important.
   Identify the timeframe, fee, areas of expertise, scope, barriers and any constraints, such as privacy, data protection or confidentiality issues related to the project.
   
   Clarify your own role, which key players are involved? So how do we free up their time to work with the IT consultant?
   

2. Involve others in the organisation to agree on the objectives of the project
   Consult with relevant stakeholders such as staff, managers, users/customers/members about the nature of the improvement or problem.
   
   Identify specific needs for the type of expertise that is expected from the consultant.For example, does this apply to business systems?Or developer?Staff capacity?Organisational change?Capability problem?
   
3. Select up to three consultants and ask them to submit written proposals
   
   Only ask IT consultants to quote for the work to be done. This is not always easy because sometimes we are not sure what we need.
   All the main consultants asked will refer us to another consultant if the project is clearly beyond their capacity, experience and/or expertise.
   Potential consultants are usually happy to send us basic information about themselves and discuss our needs with us.This is free of charge because it helps them to define the scope of the project and determine the nature of the project.
   
   The consultant needs to understand the issues in our sector and how they can be taken into account in the project.
   
   Ask potential IT consultants to submit written proposals, including:
   - Understanding the problem.
   - A summary of the work to be done.
   - The name and background experience of the person(s) who will perform the work.
   - Examples and case studies of previous work.
   - A statement on resale of assignments or issues that may affect the bias or independence of their proposals.
   - References (preferably from peers).
   - Other support for the consulting firm.
   - Work plan and any reports or documentation, for example, that will be provided and in what form.
   - Any professional organisation with which it is recognised or registered.
   - Fees, costs and payment schedules.
   - Any information requested from us, such as: our time, other employees' time, their access to additional information.

4. Meet with the IT consultant(s) who will do the work and make sure the chemistry is right
   Successful consulting requires good will and a good, honest relationship. Therefore, get to know the consultant(s) doing the work and brief them well based on the written assignment and the background information you think they need.
   
   Choose the consultant(s) we believe has the best qualifications and experience and with whom we feel comfortable and honest to work.
   
   Use any other suggestions you receive to refine, modify and discuss the assignment.
   
   Discuss your chosen proposal with the potential IT consultant before making a final decision. If you are not satisfied with certain aspects of the proposal, do not feel pressured to accept them. Keep in contact with the consultant until you can fully agree on the proposal and this will be included in the contract.
   
   We expect them to use our language and not use terms that mystify the process for us.
   
5. Ask for references from your chosen IT consultant(s) and follow up
   
   Ask the selected consultant for names or written references of previous industry clients to verify the IT consultant(s) suitability for the engagement.
   
6. Review and agree to the contract in writing before starting the project
   
   Be clear about what happens if the terms of the contract need to be amended during the project. Make clear what the obligations are if the project contract is terminated. It is also best if the person who signed up to your organisation has significant influence and interest in the 'next step'.

Compare IT consultants
Essentially, an IT consultant is someone who is well versed in our ideas about business and information technologies and systems. Therefore, he or she can help us implement such systems for the benefit of our own company.

The IT consultant will visit us and you will often establish a personal relationship during a project.However, it is important to know that not all IT consultants are created equal.There are also huge differences in hourly rates. To avoid problems, you should therefore check beforehand that the consultant can handle the task. If you're thinking of hiring an IT consultant, don't forget to check the quality of his or her work first with other buyers in the industry.