Hire a Partner, Not a Vendor.

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Monday, 26 February 2024

3 min read

by Hardy Sidhu

Most companies go wrong when hiring an external project team, resulting in mediocre results, more communication lines, and a lack of future product ownership.

Crafting triumphant products demands more than proficiency; it necessitates a team culture fueled by passion and a shared vision. Opting for a partner over a vendor ensures not a blind hope for success, but a steadfast alliance fortified by expertise and support.

At F3, we shatter the paradigm – no clients, only partners. Our selection process and unwavering commitment have spawned enduring partnerships, propelling us and our collaborators towards sustained success.

A vendor produces; a partner will help steer the ship with you.

How we collaborate and work with our partners:

Resourcing designers who know & live the industry

We don't simply put anyone free on a project like other vendors; we hand-pick our talent accordingly for projects based on sectors.

We reject the notion that someone without a genuine passion for the industry can match the output of a true enthusiast. For example, an automotive brand hiring a vendor who places a designer on the project without a license or love for cars will never produce the same loved output that a designer who is a car lover will.

We've seen this mistake happen too often in multiple sectors, and we have made sure not to be a victim for our and our partners' sake. Everyone resourced onto a specific partnership has a connection to the industry and a real-world understanding of the user behaviours.

Hardy gambling whilst researching the gaming scene

Embedded anywhere mentality.

Amidst the Zoom fatigue that plagues the business world, we break free. Anticipating the chaos of double meetings, we prioritize in-person collaboration.

A term we now call 'The F3 House' has become a staple, allowing us to set up base in any city and work in an office with teams, invite teams over for collaboration, etc. This was greatly appreciated when our partner was snowed in during the winter months, and we had a house to invite everyone to so we could continue jamming and delivering.

**Give a sh*t about where you spend money**.

In the world of business, it's not just about money; it's about return on investment. We transcend the narrow focus on invoices, guiding our partners to allocate resources judiciously. Our success is tethered to the ROI we promise, and we prioritize trust and honesty over mere financial gains. We're here to enhance your profitability, not deplete it.

You will never find imaginary executives billed or charged project managers to schedule meetings on the resource sheet, the team we provide is lean and empowered to be your supporting arm.

Put simply, building the right thing, the right way, at the right time.

Delivering on the vision, not the scope

When bringing a team into an organization, the team moulds as an in-house team, and one aspect of that must be going beyond and over-delivering on the initial ask to deliver the promised impact. Sometimes, it may take an extra half an hour to do something that will aid the mission; why be charged a whole day rate extra for that?

There is scope creep, and then there is death by scope.

Ending Thoughts

In an industry undergoing seismic shifts, the era of hiring vendors for colossal projects is obsolete. Embrace the paradigm shift – choose long-term partners who navigate the digital landscape, ensuring sustained ROI. Cut through the noise, and let's chart a transformative course together. Schedule a call with our leadership, and let's discuss over a cup of coffee!