We are big supporters of the software produced by Blackbaud, Inc. We go to the conferences every year. We are engaged in the online community, and in the Blackbaud-focused community overall. What Beyond Nines does is provide an alternative to the manufacturer’s professional services team. A little friendly competition is good for everyone — the nonprofit community benefits with more competitive pricing, the manufacturer benefits by having a happier client base, and the independent professional benefits through a growing business. A win for everyone.
As with any vendor, we strongly urge you to check client references and know exactly who you will be dealing with on your project.
Here are a couple tips to help you find the right fit:
- Ask for your consultant’s background and client references (not the company, the consultant actually doing the work)
- Ask your consultant the tough questions – How do you handle conflict? How do you manage projects?
- Ask who developed the cost of the project? How did they come up with the cost estimate? Is this time-and-materials, or a flat fee project?
- Ask about price guarantees or commitments. Talk to prior clients about pricing and budget issues, if they arose.
The team at Beyond Nines is pleased to work with Blackbaud, and play a key role in providing services that allow their software to sing. Whether it is hosting services, integrating with third-party tools, consulting or implementations… we work on behalf of your organization, as an experienced advocate, to help you maneuver the hills and valleys. Let us show you an easier way to make the Blackbaud tools work for you!
