Overview

Consulting services are advisory services that help clients assess different technology and methodology strategies and, in doing so, align their network strategies with their business or process strategies. These services support customers’ IT initiatives by providing strategic, architectural, and operational and implementation planning related to their networks. Strategic planning includes advisory services that help clients assess their network requirements and formulate system-implementation plans.

Architecture planning includes advisory services that combine strategic plans and knowledge of emerging technologies to create the logical design of the network environment and the supporting infrastructure to meet customer requirements. Operational assessment and benchmarking includes services that assess the operating efficiency and capacity of a client’s network environment. Implementation planning includes services aimed at advising customers on the rollout and testing of new network deployments.

IT Consulting

IT consulting is the process of advising businesses on how to effectively use technology to meet their goals and objectives. An IT consulting service helps companies adopt new technologies and strategies as well as helps align technology with their business goals.

An IT consultant has expertise in the use of information technology in a business environment and can effectively guide clients on everything from overall IT strategy, industry best practices, and security within the context of the client’s IT systems, business goals, and industry standards. IT consulting can equally benefit companies that are not familiar with tech solutions as well as those that are tech-savvy but need a third-party perspective.

IT Services

IT services is defined as the application of technical expertise in a business environment to enable organizations to create, manage, and optimize information systems and business processes.

IT services can therefore be seen as a business function that implements, monitors, and manages the technologies necessary to accomplish the organization’s business goals and objectives. IT services can be offered in-house or outsourced.

Difference between IT Consulting & IT Services

The best way to differentiate IT Services from IT Consulting is by looking at their deliverables. In most cases, the end product delivered by an IT consulting firm is intangible, such as a strategy. However, the deliverable of an IT service is tangible, such as an actual product or service.

For example, an IT consultant will assess your business model, ascertain the technology solutions required to meet your business needs, and make appropriate recommendations such as digital transformation, migration to the cloud, or something simple such as the adoption of a software application.

The IT services, on the other hand, will realize the recommendations of the IT consultant. They are responsible for procurement, installation, configuration, customization, and maintenance of the recommended technology or business process. The IT consultants require the help of IT services to turn their ideas into actions. Therefore, the role of the IT consultant is that of a strategic guide while that of the IT service is that of an implementer.