We’ve previously identified some criteria you can use to decide on the best sustainability solutions partner for you. But there are always so many other considerations, each of which are just as important. After all, your best bet for your business to survive and thrive in the new normal is business sustainability, and a partner provider will help you create a conducive workplace ecology for that.
To help you out further in your search, below are some more useful criteria that can point you to the ideal partner equipped with the right strategies suited to your organization’s needs.
Protective
Every business faces threats of various kinds. These are often caused by risk factors that target different aspects of the business: natural disasters and accidents affect people and property, shady transactions affect profit, inadequate training affect performance, and noncompliance with workplace standards affects legitimacy and reputation. Your ideal sustainability solutions partner will have a protective mindset and approach to mitigating these risks. They understand that these factors are all connected, with workplace standards protecting people and property while creating an environment where performance can be maintained and improved, leading to excellent business practices that generate profit. If this understanding anchors their service range and implementation, then you have a great candidate for a partner provider.
Efficient
Whether in the time of COVID-19 or after the pandemic has been beaten back, no business can afford to be wasteful with time, supplies, or manpower. To survive and thrive, your business will want a partner provider who can maximize what’s at hand to deliver the expected results. So when you’re choosing a sustainability solutions partner, find out more about their operating practices and standards. Make your inquiries on this subject as in-depth as you can. Also, take note of any certifications and licenses that represent their ability to convert limited resources and opportunities into excellent service – these credentials are usually awarded for outstanding quality standards or business processes.
Timely
Having a partner who only acts when it’s too late can be a nightmare scenario for any business. Missing opportunities and losing valuable assets are some of the worst things it can lead to, and there will be various other negative effects depending on the industry. Of course, you don’t want this to be the case for your business, so find a sustainability solutions partner capable of acting promptly on any concern you may bring up. Even if they cannot directly solve a problem right away, they’ll at least take steps to contain the problem while mounting a more comprehensive response. The best sustainability solutions partner for you will give the support you need exactly when you need it.
Accessible
When choosing a sustainability solutions partner, it’s not always a guarantee that you’ll find one that’s based nearby. However, at the very least they should provide accessibility advantages that will help you maximize their services regardless of how far away you are. One accessibility advantage is that they’re able to source the people you need from within your general area, which largely eliminates logistical problems that prevent them from showing up for work. On top of that, your partner provider should have a mechanism to provide you with the support you need even if you’re not based in the same area. To sum up this criterion: your chosen sustainability solutions partner should be there for you, wherever your bases and facilities might be.
Economical
Choosing a partner provider on the basis of which one is the least expensive is a 50/50 gamble, at best. On the one hand, the vast majority of them who charge below the market average are likely to be skimping on some or all aspects of their service delivery, which will have detrimental effects on your business in the long run. On the other hand, there are rare exceptions who provide stellar services while having the most client-friendly prices. But there’s a criterion that doesn’t involve taking that kind of gamble – value for money. Without bringing overpricing into the conversation, quality services do come at a competitive price. What matters most is whether the expense will yield proportional or even better returns. In your search for a partner provider, aim to find one that will at least provide services on par with what you pay for – if they also offer considerable added value, even better! The best sustainability solutions partner will make your investment worth it, time and time again.
How do I find out about all of these?
For most of the criteria above, a simple glance at your prospect partner provider’s website or promotional material should suffice. They will often give a rundown of the services offered, as well as what sets them apart from the competition.
Recommendations and satisfaction ratings from their clients are also usually published, whether on their website or their social media platforms. The latter can be especially revealing, given how active social media can be in a real-time sense. The feedback they receive there, whether positive or negative, is a fair and timely indication of how satisfied their partner clients are with their services.
Altogether, these qualities and others that we’ve previously discussed point to an organization that will care about you, just as much as it cares about itself and its other partners. That means you’ll be in good hands, which is all any business really needs right now.
Do you have other more specific criteria in mind for choosing a sustainability solutions partner? Sound off in our social media and get the conversation started. Better yet, send us what you have in mind so we can come up with a plan that works for you – it’s as easy as emailing us or getting in touch through this website!