Part 2 : What Consultants Offer

What can a consulting company like imPlus offer - why use your service and not try to do things internally?
First, imPlus is, in a sense, not a pure consultancy firm. We love to roll up our sleeves and prove that the e-commerce business plan can be successfully implemented. We offer our clients all the support and service needed, but at the same time let the client decide which internal resources can be used for the project, and where external help is needed to make ends meet.

Second, we have a core focus on the proper training ("imPlus e-Coaching") of the client's staff. There is nothing worse than an e-commerce solution that cannot be properly handled, maintained and updated by the clients themselves (where, for example, you always need someone external to change website content etc.).

Last but not least, and without wishing to sound arrogant, we are there to make our clients successful.

Can a small team keep up with developments in IT and online business, or do you need to fall back on outside specialists as well?
We are strategy and organizational development experts. As such, we invest lots of time and money in continuous education, enabling us to stay on top of things (that's what our name imPlus implies). And of course we also make use of our network resources; almost 300 consultants from all over Europe.

We're also strategy experts who roll-up our sleeves when it comes to implementation. I mentioned earlier that we talk about the technicalities "way later". The proper technology is actually the last thing we tackle chronologically in an e-commerce project, but our implementation standard for that technology can still be summed up concisely: state-of-the-art, but never use technology for technology's sake.

Let me explain that. In a website, for example, we don't implement spinning GIFs, Flash or 3D animations just because a) it is en vogue and b) it is there ready to be used. We only use a technology if this technology is really needed to fulfill a previously-defined website function. The Internet is cluttered with poorly-functioning websites that require the surfer to be equipped with high-speed access, top notch software and all plug- ins installed. Failures like boo.com prove our approach is right.

Any desire to build you own ebusiness, rather than help others build theirs?
Yes, and a big one at that. The project is in fact ready for roll-out, but at this stage I cannot disclose precious details. Maybe you want another interview in, like, a year from now?

Continued...