Want more value from a digital transformation? Make sure your IT partner has these 5 traits.

From rising consumer expectations to the global pandemic and the move to hybrid work, the nature of business has changed. To remain relevant, companies are embracing cloud and using the capabilities of modern adaptive networks to offer more mobile, flexible and efficient service.
But this kind of digital transformation requires more than engaging a service provider to deploy a cloud solution and keep it running. You need a partner with strong capabilities, including the ability to steer your business through transition without disruption, the knowledge to advise on which technology services could optimise your business, and the expertise to make your IT reliable.
So how can you get more value from your IT partner? Here are five traits to look for:

Can they put experts on your team?

With today’s IT skills shortfall, many businesses don’t have the in-house team to manage the day-to-day demands of IT — especially when it comes to foundational technologies for digital transformation. This is where Telstra Partners can add value by bringing deep knowledge and practical skills in Telstra Adaptive Networks and Adaptive Mobility, gained through our rigorous accreditation program. Not only can they advise which services are best for your business, they can help simplify your ongoing IT management. That way, your business benefits from continuity of service delivered by local Australian professionals who use their experience and knowledge of Telstra technologies to monitor and optimise IT services to meet your needs. Plus, with industry-leading Net Promoter Satisfaction scores, you can expect great service from committed, experienced professionals.

Can they provide secure, reliable service?

Security breaches don’t honour the 9-5 working week. You need proactive network monitoring and remediation 24/7, along with additional security protections for employee devices and cloud services to help safeguard your data, your people and your business. If a partner can’t offer these services, you risk increasing downtime, losing team productivity and even damaging your relationship with customers and clients. As well as offering multi-layered security services, Telstra Adaptive Networks are backed by the reliability of Telstra’s ISO-certified key IP network solutions, which support SASE with multi-layer protection and 24/7 cyber monitoring, detection and defence. Adaptive Networks can also help you improve your company’s security policies and business continuity with a wide choice of access, connectivity and redundancy options.

Is it a scalable offering?

Every business has its ups and downs. To help you manage this, you need a partner who can adjust IT services and support to suit your changing needs – adding capability to cope with a new opportunity, a mobile team, or sudden spike in demand. Telstra Partners offer simple scalability through our Adaptive Networks and Adaptive Mobility services that can be adjusted in line with your business, creating a future-proof choice.

Do you get flexible choices?

The best technology partners will never ask you to commit to services you don’t need. Telstra Partners offer flexible Telstra services, such as cost-efficient mobile data sharing and no-lock-in mobility plans, which allow you to pay only for the services you need — and alter them if things change. This flexibility extends to Telstra Adaptive Networks. You can choose and adjust networks, clouds, control platforms and access (fixed, wireless and fibre) to suit the dynamics of your business performance, security and location needs.

Does it feel like a collaborative partnership?

Working collaboratively as a team delivers more than a command-and-control model. Make sure your partner takes time to understand your longer-term vision and immediate requirements through a mutual discovery phase. Be open to a team relationship where goals and roles are shared. To add value to your planning, Telstra Accredited Partners use their knowledge of Telstra’s evolution roadmap for technologies like 5G, edge computing and SASE, so that you can plan a transformation journey where IT projects build on each other to continue to create real value.