The Advantages of Being Certified

Have you ever wondered if it is really necessary to hire a certified consultant when you have access to other resources; resources that come with possibly lengthy experience and cheaper rates?

Let me clarify to pardon the risk of misinterpretation - I do not believe that having cheaper rates always means the service will be subpar. I also do not believe that having extensive experience necessarily equates to having extensive knowledge. The best way to handle a question such as this is to think about the derived results not just for the now but for the future.

I am proud to be the most recently certified consultant on my team for the products Lexis Nexis Time Matters and Gavel and Gown’s Amicus Attorney. I am now fortunately included in the team of 3 Time Matters and 5 Amicus Attorney consultants. I have never been one quick to judge but based off of previous experience I can confidently say that having a lengthy line of experience and not being certified in something you provide support on is not sufficient. When you think of an independent consultant that has worked for a couple years compared to a certified independent consultant with equal or lesser years of experience, what do you think are some of the advantages that a certified independent consultant (CIC) can bring to you?

Let me share some of these advantages with you. As you may already know, it is our responsibility as certified consultants to constantly be involved and up to date with the latest news about our products. We unfailingly participate in regular CIC conference calls and receive newsletters. We have access to searchable web site listings, dedicated technical support, forums, knowledge bases, development testing, and many others. With certified consultants you are guaranteed individuals who possess that competitive advantage; the ability to adjudicate the best solutions at all times for our clients. We are enabled to build and improve existing and new businesses for solo practitioners up to large firms. With the constant upgrading of technology it is almost impossible to fix problems or provide optimal solutions solely based on experience. A certified consultant’s access to the vast wealth of knowledge and available help applied through continual certification will always ensure an upper hand over those who may be uncertified.

Bearing that in mind you may now be inclined towards a certified consultant, you may also be faced with the decision of choosing a solo CIC or a company that has several CICs like us here at ellwood associates. I cannot vouch for any other company but working at ellwood alongside a strong certified team of educated and experienced individuals allows me to say with assurance that I do not think the task of choosing is a difficult one.

Our company as a whole or as a unit covers every aspect of an operation of starting a brand new business or firm to helping users effectively and efficiently benefit from our solutions. We take care of your technical infrastructure, the software needed to run your business, and your cases (the product of your firm). With this said our ability to provide the best solutions at a rapid pace is significantly high. We have many clients that use the programs we support and there are numerous instances where we have been able to solve problems without delay. Where this differentiates us is when you compare the time that a solo CIC might require to achieve the same results when needing to tackle the timely method of getting in touch and explaining the situation to different tiers of technical support.

A CIC might receive a question from a client that does not directly relate to the product he/she supports. How fast are they really able to provide even a satisfactory response? As a team here at ellwood associates we produce our own knowledge base and have all the accessories of being certified. We are dedicated to excellent customer service and satisfaction and would want nothing less for a client than them to know that they are working with the best and can trust the quality of service they are investing in.

Have you ever wondered if it is really necessary to hire a certified consultant when you have access to other resources; resources that come with possibly lengthy experience and cheaper rates?