For most complex projects, hiring external expertise to supplement your internal know-how is a sensible course of action. Designing and building data centers is no exception, but it is essential to make the right choice of partner.
When so much is at stake, it is tempting to seek comfort in the name and size of the consulting firm, rather than the specific skills, agility and experience of the team members who will be working on the project. Often, the bigger brands will lead with an ‘industry name’ who will have a minimal role on the project, leaving the bulk of the work to junior hires lacking in the requisite experience and understandably defaulting to a ‘one-size-fits-all approach’ to data center design, which may or may not be appropriate.
Smaller, boutique firms, on the other hand, are able to mobilise a highly effective team, with a blend of senior and support resource providing a more customized solution. This bespoke service which is usually Partner led and tightly-knit by familiarity, is more in tune with the specific needs and requirements of each individual client and project.
Choosing a boutique consulting firm for data center design can therefore be a sound, cost-effective decision for your project and has the added benefit of promoting growth and knowledge acquisition in the industry.
Opting for such firm does not mean any degradation in quality, quite the opposite. Like large consulting firms, boutique companies prioritize having and implementing processes that ensure high standards of work, including HSE, security, and environmental management systems, in addition to obtaining the required certifications.
This approach ensures that the work meets the highest standards, making it an essential factor to consider when selecting a consulting team.