South East Technological University (SETU) has launched a new digital resource to support micro-enterprises in the region. ‘Elevate’ is an online platform that provides entrepreneurs with easy access to practical business assessments that help identify strengths and areas for development across a range of enterprise competencies.
The platform offers free online tools to evaluate digital readiness, sustainability practices, and innovation capacity, and to support succession planning. These tools enable businesses to identify growth opportunities and take clear steps towards development.
A key feature of Elevate is a set of interactive diagnostic tools that help business owners assess and challenge their operations. After completing a short series of questions, users receive a tailored report with recommendations to support future planning and sustainable growth. Each assessment takes only a few minutes to complete and focuses on strategic themes that can be further supported by SETU’s business support team.
The initiative is part of SETU – TU RISE (Technological University Research and Innovation Supporting Enterprise), which is strengthening research capacity and deepening engagement with enterprises across the south east. Elevate complements the activities of SETU’s recently launched Rural Innovation Hubs in Hacketstown, Urlingford, Rosslare Harbour and Dungarvan, giving business owners the opportunity to engage with the university in their locality or online.
Commenting on the new initiative, Brian Ogilvie, Head of Entrepreneurship and Rural Engagement, said, “As part of SETU’s wider activities to foster entrepreneurship and business engagement, Elevate reinforces our commitment to the business community, particularly those in rural locations.”
Ian Campbell, Business Development Manager at SETU, added, “Alongside our four new rural innovation hubs across the region, Elevate provides an accessible pathway for business owners to engage with the university’s supports, including our Technology Gateways. It offers valuable insights to inform decision-making and future planning.”
Visit elevate.setu.ie to begin your business’s journey with SETU.
Most businesses nowadays utilize cloud support for various functions, be it to handle operations, improve efficiency, or stay competitive. Among the many options available, Amazon Web Services (AWS) leads the pack of cloud platforms.
AWS offers tools for everything from data storage to machine learning. However, maximizing its potential may require expert guidance, making the selection of the right AWS partner a critical decision. And that’s what this guide is for! Read on to learn how to pick the right one.
Define Your Cloud Objectives
The first step is identifying what you want to accomplish with AWS. Do you need to cut costs, improve scalability, or enhance performance? Defining clear objectives makes it easier to align with a partner. You should also think about industry-specific requirements. For example, healthcare companies often prioritize compliance with HIPAA regulations, while retailers may focus on robust e-commerce capabilities.
Look at your existing IT infrastructure and what you’ll need in the future. An AWS partner should help you transition seamlessly and ensure new solutions integrate with your current systems and tools. You might need a partner with expertise in handling database migrations, building serverless applications, or optimizing workloads. Clarify your technical needs to avoid mismatched expectations later.
Want to specifically find an AWS Premier partner, for instance? Your cloud objectives will do the trick. These will lead you to a partner that meshes well with your business. They’ll provide solutions such as budget monitoring and accounts management. They also combine advanced technology and human intelligence, which are necessary in the current business landscape.
Research Potential AWS Partners
As one of the most popular cloud providers, AWS earned over USD$90 billion in 2023. It’s quite large as well; AWS got more than a third of the whole cloud computing market as of 2024’s first quarter. So, you can expect it to have a vast network of partners, each offering various services. But which one’s best for your business? That’s where research comes in. (1) (2)
AWS organizes its partners into tiers like Select, Advanced, and Premier. These categories indicate varying levels of expertise, certifications, and experience. Use the AWS Partner Network portal to search for partners specializing in areas relevant to your goals, such as migration, data analytics, or security.
Many AWS partners hold certifications in specific competencies, such as DevOps or machine learning. Look for those with experience directly tied to your objectives. If you’re moving legacy systems to the cloud, a partner with migration competency could be an ideal fit.
Case studies provide real-world insights into how a partner handles projects. Focus on examples involving businesses similar to yours, as they often highlight whether a partner understands your industry and its unique challenges. Testimonials from other clients can also reveal their responsiveness and problem-solving abilities.
Evaluate Technical Expertise
Even when you’ve narrowed your choices, you’ll still be left with a considerable number. AWS, after all, has millions of partners globally. To reduce the pool further, look for a strong AWS partner that employs certified professionals who demonstrate expertise in AWS services. Credentials like AWS Certified Solutions Architect or AWS Certified DevOps Engineer indicate technical depth.
Ask about the partner’s experience with the AWS tools you’ll rely on. Whether you need Amazon EC2 for scalable computing, RDS for databases, or Lambda for serverless applications, their familiarity with specific services matters.
Also, you’d want to avoid surprises down the line. Make sure your chosen partner has a proven approach to designing secure, efficient, cost-effective cloud architectures.
Assess Support and Communication
Support availability varies among AWS partners. Some offer 24/7 assistance, while others operate during standard business hours. Keep that in mind during your search. Review each one’s service level agreements (SLAs) for response times and ensure they align with your needs.
Your AWS partner should communicate clearly and transparently. Look for someone who explains technical concepts in plain terms and takes time to educate your team. Strong communication fosters collaboration and reduces misunderstandings.
Examine Cultural Fit
Much like hiring new team members into your business, you must select an AWS partner that shares your company’s values. The right partner can improve the working relationship. You’ll benefit from mutual respect and aligned goals, which are crucial for long-term success.
The partner’s team should complement yours in terms of working style. Ask how they handle feedback and conflict to ensure smooth collaboration. Over time, a partner who feels like an extension of your team will be easier to work with.
Financial Considerations
AWS gains at least 50 new partners daily. Each offers different pricing models, such as hourly rates, fixed fees, or subscription plans. Make sure you choose one that aligns with your budget. Be upfront about costs to avoid hidden fees, such as charges for training or additional support. (3)
The price alone shouldn’t dictate your choice. Evaluate the value the partner brings in terms of expertise, efficiency, and long-term benefits. Investing in the right AWS partner could lead to smoother operations and better results.
Conduct Interviews and Demos
Discussions with potential partners allow you to clarify your objectives. You can also ask about their project management style and approach to challenges. These discussions reveal whether their methods suit your business.
Demos let you see how their solutions address your needs. Plus, these showcase a partner’s confidence in their skills and give you a clearer picture of what to expect.
Make a Decision
Create a comparison chart that highlights each partner’s strengths and weaknesses based on your criteria, such as expertise, support, and pricing. Seeing the data side-by-side simplifies decision-making.
Professionalism and reliability often become apparent during initial interactions. If a partner feels right based on these initial meetings (plus your research), they’re likely a strong choice.
Reach out to previous clients to confirm your impressions. Ask about their experience working with the partner, focusing on areas like problem-solving and responsiveness. This final step often provides valuable clarity.
Wrapping Up
Choosing the right AWS partner impacts the success of your cloud strategy. Taking time to evaluate your needs, research options, and assess potential partners ensures the best match. A well-chosen partner becomes a trusted ally, helping you achieve cloud objectives efficiently and effectively.
With thorough planning and careful selection, your AWS partnership could yield long-term gains, streamlined operations, and improved business outcomes.
If you want to start a business that sells physical products, you need to find a supplier or a custom manufacturing partner. A custom manufacturing partner is a company that engineers and produces products for clients. These companies and their clients design products together, so finding the right custom manufacturing partner is important. A large amount of collaboration is guaranteed, so it’s important to find a partner you can work comfortably with. This post will tell you about the qualities you need to look for in a custom manufacturing partner.
Tailored Manufacturing
You need to find a manufacturing partner that’s able to manufacture products that are tailored to your needs and specifications. According to this manufacturer, exceptional quality and adaptable production are also important. Something to note about tailored manufacturing is that while many companies claim to offer it, not all do. You need to be confident that the products your partner produces for you are entirely unique and not just slightly altered versions of products they either sell themselves or produce for other companies. Having your own unique products is important in business, as otherwise, nobody is going to want to buy them.
Quality Products
Quality products are arguably just as important as tailored manufacturing. No matter what type of product you are selling, it needs to be made out of sturdy, reliable, high-quality materials. Consumers have a lot of choices today. If the things you are selling are not worth the money you are charging for them, consumers will have no trouble finding an alternative company to buy from. There is no shortage of businesses in the modern world. No matter what your niche is, there will be somebody else selling the same thing as you. High-quality products are therefore very important and can make you stand out.
Responsive Support
You never know what kind of problems you are going to encounter in business. If you have issues with your business’s products, you need to be able to get in touch with your supplier or manufacturing partner and resolve them immediately. However, if the company you buy your products from does not have responsive customer support, they are not going to be able to help you. You therefore need to make sure that your business partner is one with a supportive customer service desk that is able to respond to and resolve queries quickly and efficiently.
Delivery Times
Finally, try to find a customer manufacturing partner who is able to produce products quickly and get them shipped out to you in a timely manner. The last thing you need is for your supplier to have slow turnaround and delivery times. When you first get in touch with a customer manufacturer, make sure that you ask them about how long it takes them to produce products and get them shipped out to their customers. If your chosen partner’s warehouse or factory is in close proximity to your business, you can pick things up yourself rather than paying for delivery.
Custom manufacturing partners save you the hassle of having to produce products in-house. Use the guidance given here to find a partner that’s right for you. Make sure that in addition to following this post’s advice, you take a look at your chosen manufacturer’s reviews. Their reviews will tell you a lot about them.
