The climate in which R&D teams are operating today is competitive, to say the least. 

The breakneck pace at which innovation must move in its earliest of stages creates a battleground within the research landscape, one where data is the best weapon against the invisible enemies science aims to destroy, and technology provides the differentiating high-ground from which the fight can be won. 

Yet, following a wash, rinse, repeat formula is how many organizations source or implement the outsourced or “tactical” support so critical to their data and compute workflows, where organizations or bodies are assigned to a project simply because they’re on an approved vendor list. 

But this model is fundamentally at odds with the needs and goals of science, which requires agility, curiosity, and most importantly, a critical thinking process and ability to introduce new solutions to solve routine challenges. 

There is a better solution out there—it’s called a Bio-IT Thought Partner. 

So, what is a Bio-IT thought partner and, more importantly, why do you need one?

A Bio-IT thought partner looks different than a typical staff augmentation solution provider and brings a different level of value and accountability. Typically, it includes the following:

Specialized experience that breeds a willingness to challenge existing assumptions AND the ability to offer potential alternatives and recommendations for better outcomes.

Unique, and highly skilled Scientific IT expertise that informs an agile strategy based on specific business and project needs and goals and, often, at a lower cost based on the overall return. Together, this creates a responsive and scalable model for execution. 

A full-service philosophy that provides comprehensive ownership of the project and accountability and transparency through all project phases, to meet the needs of the most critical stakeholders.  

Spotting a Bio-IT Thought Partner

We’ve been in this business for a long time. Many times, our customers have led the conversation with our team by introducing the solutions they’re expecting to implement. The challenge with this thinking, however, is that it can close the door on potentially new or more innovative approaches and, often, glosses over much of the critical discovery work that helps ensure the project’s success. 

In those situations, it’s the responsibility of the partner/provider to hit pause and be willing to ask those pointed questions. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. 

Here are just a few examples of how those conversations have gone based on real experiences and stories shared with us by RCH customers: 

The Organization’s Objective: “Use Analytics” 

Typical Provider Response: We have a solution for that.

Thought Partner Response:  Analytics tools can be really powerful, but before we get there, we have to talk about your data. Where is it located?  How are you ID’ing and categorizing it?  

The Organization’s Objective: “Move to the Cloud” 

Typical Provider Response: Good choice, the Cloud will save you money.

Thought Partner Response: The real benefits of accessibility, scalability, and innovation will reduce time to market which translates to reduced costs, but there are other considerations as well. Let’s talk about you where the Cloud may and may not make sense in your business.

The Organization’s Objective: “Scale Computing Infrastructure”

Typical Provider Response:  Storage is cheap so let’s just buy more.

Thought Partner Response: True, but it still does not solve the problem of data curation especially with an increased amount of data, from a variety of sources in different formats. Let’s discuss your growth and scale goals, and evaluate the best options to achieve them.

A Better Model for Scientific IT Projects 

Your projects—and the businesses that drive them forward— deserve the opportunity for maximum success. Often, that means introducing a fresh and objective perspective, fusing new approaches with proven best practices, and tapping into a specialized, experienced and accountable team to fill in the gaps. 

It means having not simply a provider of Bio-IT services available to your team, but rather, leveraging the relationship of a true Bio-IT thought partner by your side. 

RCH Solutions is a global provider of computational science expertise, helping Life Sciences and Healthcare firms of all sizes clear the path to discovery for nearly 30 years. If you’re interesting in learning how RCH can support your goals, get in touch with us here.