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Solutions Architect

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Are you looking for a solutions architect? Solutions Architects work in many verticals, but primarily support technology-based businesses that sell to other businesses (B2B). Companies looking to hire this type of consultant may be in marketing, sales, IT, SaaS, security, or other complex businesses that require a capable communicator.

“17 percent of large IT projects go so badly that they can threaten the very existence of the company” and “On average, large IT projects run 45 percent over budget and 7 percent over time, while delivering 56 percent less value than predicted”

McKinsey & Company in conjunction with the University of Oxford 2012

Solutions Architects focus on reducing unnecessary waste and increasing the number of sales in a given period. They can also boost client satisfaction ratings by improving processes and communication procedures throughout the organization.

Should You Hire A Solutions Architect?

Many organizations face the challenge of aligning development, product, and customer management, with their sales team’s objectives. It is hard to break down complex product and service features into easy-to-understand visuals. Professionals must be able to overlay this hard skill with soft skills like using language that speaks to people of all backgrounds and levels of interest. A study by Planview found the following results when reviewing 100 job postings for solutions architects:

  • 97% must “develop a roadmap to align business and IT strategy for the future success of the organization”
  • 83% must “provide guidance to individual project teams, the architecture team, and other business units”
  • 82% must “research, architect, and drive the implementation of new IT solution projects”
  • 79% must “assess new projects, software, and/or strategies with cost/benefit analyses”
  • 77% must “make judgment calls”
  • 75% must “translate business priorities/opportunities into IT strategy/solutions”
  • 70% must “establish standard enterprise architecture policies, guidelines, securities, and processes across the organization”
  • 70% must “influence the entire enterprise including “implementing improvement projects”
  • 67% want someone to “research and offer recommendations relevant to enterprise infrastructure technologies and trends”
  • 65% of employers want the EA to work closely with business leaders, business stakeholders, and IT leaders to help shape the vision and priorities for enterprise architecture programs

What Does A Solutions Architect Do?

Solutions Architects enable growth by ensuring a clean transition to new technology, helping a company run operations more efficiently. Many companies use these consultants when they move to new CRMs such as Salesforce, Marketing Automation like Pardot, Hubspot, or Marketo, Use CMS’s like WordPress or Magento, and advertising like Google Ads.

A Solutions Architect reduces complexity. “As organizations experience organic and inorganic growth, IT landscapes can become unmanageable, fast. This results in duplicate systems, inconsistent data, and the reliance on patchwork integrations. Enterprise architects can tackle overcomplexity head-on by providing a roadmap for streamlining IT environments, which directly contributes to reducing costs.” – Leanix.net

Responsibilities of a Solutions Architect

  1. Thoroughly review the technology environment.
  2. Match enterprise features with customer needs.
  3. Analyze and document requirements.
  4. Set up processes to be followed by stakeholders.
  5. Customize a personalized solution prototype.
  6. Lead technology selection recommendations.
  7. Navigate solution development as a liaison with an understanding of customer needs.
  8. Lead communications with stakeholders to break down complexity.
  9. On-board and train stakeholders to make transitions seamless.
  10. Act as the pre/post sales technology guide.

Raise Performance by 100%

A McKinsey & Company study notes, “the appropriate experts can raise performance by as much as 100 percent through their judgment and ability to interpret data patterns” during these types of projects.

Drawing on expert help as needed, high performing teams orchestrate all technical aspects of the project, including IT architecture and infrastructure, functionality trade-offs, quality assurance, migration and rollout plans, and project scope. The right team will understand both business and technical concerns, which is why companies must assign a few high-performing and experienced experts for the length of the program. We estimate that the appropriate experts can raise performance by as much as 100 percent through their judgment and ability to interpret data patterns.”

McKinsey & Company

BrandGrow consults with companies that are looking to grow while reducing waste and risk. Large technical projects can be a disaster if they are not handled properly. Contact us today to see if we are a good fit for your project.

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