From Service Provider to Strategic Partner: Three Keys to Digital Business Success

As a business leader whose revenue significantly depends on your digital presence, whether through an e-commerce website or a revenue-generating application, managing your technical resources effectively is crucial. In this article, I’ll focus on a specific but common scenario: working with an outsourced technical partner.

Picture this situation: You’re running a successful online business – perhaps a Shopify store or a custom web application – that generates significant revenue. To maintain and improve your digital platform, you’ve partnered with either a freelance developer or a development agency. This technical partner is responsible for maintaining your platform and implementing new features as your business grows.

Through my experience in the industry, I’ve discovered three key strategies that can transform your technical relationship from a basic service arrangement into a powerful partnership that drives business growth.

1. Listen and Understand Before Deciding

Your technical partner sees opportunities and potential issues that you might miss. When they suggest improvements or maintenance tasks, take time to truly understand their implications before making decisions.

Often, business leaders dismiss technical suggestions without grasping their business impact. This leads to missed opportunities and potential risks. Instead:

• Treat technical suggestions as valuable business intelligence
• Ask questions until you understand the business implications
• Never dismiss suggestions without understanding their impact
• Use tools like AI to help translate technical concepts if needed

2. Invest Beyond the Minimum

A common tendency is to minimize technical spending, allocating just enough for basic maintenance and emergency fixes. This approach can be dangerously short-sighted.

Smart digital businesses:

• Maintain a healthy base budget for regular maintenance
• Keep a buffer for proactive improvements
• View technical spending as an investment in growth, not just a cost
• Reward proactive problem-solving

Remember: Digital platforms are like machines – regular maintenance and timely upgrades prevent costly breakdowns and keep them running optimally.

3. Make Them a True Partner in Your Success

Here’s the game-changer: transform your technical partner from a service provider into a stakeholder in your success. This could mean:

• Revenue sharing arrangements
• Equity in your digital business
• Performance-based partnership agreements
• Joint venture opportunities

Even a small stake in your business success can dramatically change how your technical partner approaches your platform. They’ll start thinking like an owner, suggesting growth opportunities and optimizations they might implement in their own business.

The Bottom Line

Success in digital business isn’t just about having the right technology – it’s about creating the right relationship with the people who understand that technology. By listening actively, investing appropriately, and sharing success, you transform a service provider into a strategic partner who’s genuinely invested in your business growth.

Note: These strategies assume you’re working with a competent, trustworthy technical partner. If you don’t have that foundation yet, that’s the first issue to address.