Tagged: business consulting

Sismai Vazquez

Sismai Vazquez Details How COVID-19 Has Influenced Consulting

Sismai Vazquez

The COVID-19 health crisis has indubitably had a profound impact on multiple sectors, with consulting being no exception. Sismai Vazquez has remained attuned to the trends that serve to define her industry, and she notes that there are a wide range of changes spurred by the pandemic that influence consultants, their clients, and the way in which they traverse the consulting sector to see results. Here, Sismai Vazquez includes a few ways that COVID-19 continues to influence consulting.

One way that COVID-19 continues to have an influence on consulting is the way in which business’s tighter budgets impacts their consulting choices. Cost cutting has proven to be critical for many businesses that are not performing extraordinarily well in the current climate, and companies are continuing to search for ways that they can stretch their dollars without sacrificing quality work. Consulting can be notoriously pricey, Sismai Vazquez notes, and this is especially the case when it comes to more established firms with reputations that precede them. Sismai Vazquez recognizes that some companies are realizing amidst the pandemic that not all professional services need to cost an arm and a leg to see successful results and, therefore, many are looking into partnerships with smaller firms and independent consultants to avoid high markups. This realization can be great news for quality service providers operating at a small to mid-range level. Of course, this comes with the caveat that independent consultants and boutique firms may face strong competition from their peers to secure clients that are currently shopping.

Another way in which COVID-19 is impacting the consulting space is that the landscape is placing a strong emphasis on specialization to ensure that businesses stay on track. Larger consulting firms can come with connections and prestige, but Sismai Vazquez acknowledges that some may offer only general experience that may or may not be fully applicable to one’s current needs. As such, firms of all sizes are looking for ways to market their specializations and benefits that they can offer companies. Meanwhile, businesses are sourcing consultants that specialize in areas that are of interest to them. Sismai Vazquez believes that there are several potential reasons for this shift in the consulting sector, with one being that companies that have survived this long may be intimately aware of their business’s strengths and weaknesses. While businesses were once hiring consultants to assist with issues that they could not quite put their finger on themselves, companies are now very cognizant of what they want a consultant to provide- and that there is not the time to coach and onboard firms not attuned to their needs.

Sismai Vazquez acknowledges that remote work is not new, especially for consultants and other professionals that regularly utilize digital tools. Still, it is certainly a novel experience that many individuals across industries are working from home at the same time. The shift to working remotely of course has many touted benefits including that completing work from home can do wonders for keeping consultants safe as they advise clients. On the other hand, the shift necessitates that consultants remain mindful of what they have at their disposal and keep up with the pace of what was expected of them inside offices. As such, Sismai Vazquez notes that consultants in the current landscape need to be ensure that they are doing all that they can to facilitate functional relationships with their clients. Utilizing communication channels to check in with clientele, keeping a pulse on their trajectory, and offering streamlined advice pertinent to the realities of the company can be more difficult online vs in-person, however it is very important to give these facets the attention they need.

Sismai Roman Vazquez

Sismai Roman Vazquez Discusses Signs That Your Business May Need a Consultant

Sismai Roman Vazquez

One of the hardest aspects of business development is maintaining a level of objectivity and holding the ability to tell when you are progressing at a great pace and when your business can use additional support in order to reach your marketing goals. Sismai Roman Vazquez and other business consulting professionals often note that what separates great businesses from mediocre ones is that great businesses can tell what areas they are flourishing in and which categories in which they are underperforming and work to fix potential marketing issues while maintaining what is currently working. Because many companies do not know tell-tale signs that they need a business consultant, Sismai Roman Vazquez provides three ways to tell that your business may need outside consulting assistance.

Your Business is Not Progressing as You Would Like: Many businesses may see success for a few years before starting to plateau despite all their best efforts to continue progressing and expanding. If you see that your business is starting to level-off rather than progress, or your business is progressing but at a pace you and management do not agree with, a consultant may be a worthwhile addition to your team. Sismai Roman Vazquez notes that a great consultant has had the experience working with businesses that have not seen the progression they would like recently and has plans for many of the potential reasons for this happening in their back pocket. The outside perspective that a consultant offers is key to identifying barriers for your business’s continued success and pointing you towards a path that can lead to growth.

Your Business is Not Keeping Up with Competition: Competition is omnipresent in our lives, and it is no surprise to anyone in business that there will always be companies with similar offerings making their own efforts to solidify themselves in the space. This creates a problem, however, if your business is to wind up in a situation where a new business or rapidly expanding one is accelerating at a rate that will eclipse yours. If you find that you are struggling to keep up with competition within your industry, it may be a sign that additional support is needed to assist with identifying key reasons this may be the case. Business consultants that are experienced have likely worked with businesses and individuals that are in direct competition within your market and, while they may not be able to tell you all of the reasons that companies are outperforming, they have insight that can help put your business back on track and up to speed with industry powerhouses. Often, the issues that separate your business from ones currently performing more optimally are simple and easily identifiable through an outsider’s lens but almost impossible for individuals within the business to recognize due to lack of distance from it all.

Your Business Does Not Have Extra Time: If your business is running a tight ship, even if there are capable and dedicated members of your team, it can be tough logistically to have the time to dedicate to details outside of the scope of normal operations. Businesses that do not have employees with significant excess time are prime candidates for hiring business consultants, as a consultant can be a pair of extra hands for dealing with step-by-step goal setting and problem identification. Sismai Roman Vazquez acknowledges that this additional help means that a capable consultant can often free up time for administration to work towards rectifying issues impeding the business’s progress. This can also do wonders for the day to day operations of the business, ensuring that time is spent efficiently amongst employees and that no one is burning themselves out trying to work with an antiquated or inefficient system.

Sismai Vazquez recognizes that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of reasons that a company may want to hire a consultant to rectify some of their infrastructural issues and improve their chances of success. Many businesses put off searching because they are put off by the incurred costs of professional services, but Vazquez speaks to the variety of consulting offerings that can be found at small, mid-sized, and larger firms. To this point, if you realize that your business may perform more optimally with a bit of professional help, Sismai Vazquez encourages you to look into offerings that fit your specifications and budget well before it is too late.