Part 4: Five Simple Steps to Your Cloud-Based Future
Throughout our “Looking Up to the Cloud” article series, we’ve shared top reasons organizations are moving to cloud-based solutions for identity management, credential issuance, visitor management and more. In this final article, we will go beyond “what” and “why,” and dive into “how.”
“Upgrading or adding new technology can seem daunting,” says Danny Smith, Co-Owner and Executive Vice President, ColorID. “But with our consultative approach, and especially with the latest cloud-based solutions, it doesn’t have to be. It’s not as heavy a lift as you might think.”
Five Steps to the Cloud
At ColorID, we have developed a five-step process to understand our customers’ needs, identify the right solution and deliver a successful roll-out:
Step 1: Discussion
We begin by listening. In the discussion stage, we meet with our clients to fully understand the challenges they are facing and goals they wish to accomplish.
“Sometimes the discussion begins with the customer calling us. Other times they reach out online following a webinar. Sometimes they attend one of our Identity Summits,” explains Smith. “No matter how the discussion originates, at this stage we are focused on challenges and goals, not selling products. That’s an important part of who we are, and it sets us up for a stronger partnership with our customers.”
Step 2: Consultation
In the consultation stage, we review the client’s challenges and goals, and identify the right solution to fit their needs. At ColorID, our broad portfolio gives us the flexibility to customize a solution for each customer.
“We don’t do ‘cookie cutter,’” laughs Smith. “We have a broad portfolio and an extensive list of partners. That means we can truly partner with our customers to find the right fit for their unique needs.”
Step 3: Inventory Infrastructure
With needs established and a solution approved, we now set out to understand the customer’s current state on a much more detailed level. Depending on the project, the inventory may include:
Oftentimes, in this step we meet with key stakeholders (card office, access control, housing, athletics, lock shop, etc.) to ensure buy-in and compatibility. Whether this happens in person or remotely, the ColorID team walks the customer through the process to fully understand the landscape across the entire organization.
Step 4: Deployment
When it’s time to deploy the solution, Smith sums up a typical customer deployment experience in one word:
“Easy.”
Deployment processes and scopes vary by project, but they can be as simple as shipping hardware and partnering with the IT department to set up the right connections with other campus systems. Since our cloud-based solutions support a wide range of technologies that can be implemented in phases (e.g., Bluetooth mobile credentials and readers), deployment is often easier than our customers have experienced with other campus systems.
“When people think of deploying new technologies like identity management or credential issuance solutions, they tend to anticipate a heavy lift,” comments Smith. “But we act as an extension of our clients’ teams, and we have their backs every step of the way. Sure, there is work to be done, but many of these systems are deployed in a matter of days.”
Step 5: Post Deployment and Beyond
After the system is deployed, ColorID is always available to answer questions, troubleshoot issues and support future needs. This ongoing partnership comes naturally to our team thanks to our consultative approach beginning in the earliest discussion phases.
“It’s really important to us to be quick to respond to our customers,” says Smith. “We’re big enough to have a team of experts readily available to you, but we’re small enough to bypass the bureaucracies common in larger companies. If you have a question or enhancement request, you don’t have to open a ticket. You can call me, call your account manager, call the product manager. That open partnership is core to who we are.”
Looking Up to the Cloud Has Never Been Easier
The world is changing. As businesses and technologies evolve to keep up, your partners should, too. At ColorID, we have the experience, broad portfolio and strong partnerships to help you navigate the changes and tailor your technology to meet your needs.
It’s time to look up — away from our old routines and toward new possibilities. With ColorID’s portfolio of cloud-based solutions, it’s never been easier to bring these flexible solutions to your organization. Start today at colorid.com.
ColorID is a leading supplier of high-quality identification products and services for higher education, healthcare and other organizations around the world. Learn more at www.colorid.com.
“Upgrading or adding new technology can seem daunting,” says Danny Smith, Co-Owner and Executive Vice President, ColorID. “But with our consultative approach, and especially with the latest cloud-based solutions, it doesn’t have to be. It’s not as heavy a lift as you might think.”
Five Steps to the Cloud
At ColorID, we have developed a five-step process to understand our customers’ needs, identify the right solution and deliver a successful roll-out:
Step 1: Discussion
We begin by listening. In the discussion stage, we meet with our clients to fully understand the challenges they are facing and goals they wish to accomplish.
“Sometimes the discussion begins with the customer calling us. Other times they reach out online following a webinar. Sometimes they attend one of our Identity Summits,” explains Smith. “No matter how the discussion originates, at this stage we are focused on challenges and goals, not selling products. That’s an important part of who we are, and it sets us up for a stronger partnership with our customers.”
Step 2: Consultation
In the consultation stage, we review the client’s challenges and goals, and identify the right solution to fit their needs. At ColorID, our broad portfolio gives us the flexibility to customize a solution for each customer.
“We don’t do ‘cookie cutter,’” laughs Smith. “We have a broad portfolio and an extensive list of partners. That means we can truly partner with our customers to find the right fit for their unique needs.”
Step 3: Inventory Infrastructure
With needs established and a solution approved, we now set out to understand the customer’s current state on a much more detailed level. Depending on the project, the inventory may include:
- Quantity, type and location of credential readers
- Software systems and interface methods
- Printer types and provisioning methods in connected systems
- Current and desired capabilities (e.g., support for mobile credentials)
- Likes and dislikes about current technology
Oftentimes, in this step we meet with key stakeholders (card office, access control, housing, athletics, lock shop, etc.) to ensure buy-in and compatibility. Whether this happens in person or remotely, the ColorID team walks the customer through the process to fully understand the landscape across the entire organization.
Step 4: Deployment
When it’s time to deploy the solution, Smith sums up a typical customer deployment experience in one word:
“Easy.”
Deployment processes and scopes vary by project, but they can be as simple as shipping hardware and partnering with the IT department to set up the right connections with other campus systems. Since our cloud-based solutions support a wide range of technologies that can be implemented in phases (e.g., Bluetooth mobile credentials and readers), deployment is often easier than our customers have experienced with other campus systems.
“When people think of deploying new technologies like identity management or credential issuance solutions, they tend to anticipate a heavy lift,” comments Smith. “But we act as an extension of our clients’ teams, and we have their backs every step of the way. Sure, there is work to be done, but many of these systems are deployed in a matter of days.”
Step 5: Post Deployment and Beyond
After the system is deployed, ColorID is always available to answer questions, troubleshoot issues and support future needs. This ongoing partnership comes naturally to our team thanks to our consultative approach beginning in the earliest discussion phases.
“It’s really important to us to be quick to respond to our customers,” says Smith. “We’re big enough to have a team of experts readily available to you, but we’re small enough to bypass the bureaucracies common in larger companies. If you have a question or enhancement request, you don’t have to open a ticket. You can call me, call your account manager, call the product manager. That open partnership is core to who we are.”
Looking Up to the Cloud Has Never Been Easier
The world is changing. As businesses and technologies evolve to keep up, your partners should, too. At ColorID, we have the experience, broad portfolio and strong partnerships to help you navigate the changes and tailor your technology to meet your needs.
It’s time to look up — away from our old routines and toward new possibilities. With ColorID’s portfolio of cloud-based solutions, it’s never been easier to bring these flexible solutions to your organization. Start today at colorid.com.
ColorID is a leading supplier of high-quality identification products and services for higher education, healthcare and other organizations around the world. Learn more at www.colorid.com.
Start your Cloud-Based Project today with ColorID:
|
|
|
|
CONNECT WITH COLORID
|
|
|
© ColorID, LLC - 2023 | All Rights Reserved