Christchurch ยท Level 1, 85 Riccarton Road
IT Consulting for Christchurch Businesses
Exodesk helps Christchurch businesses decide what to change in their IT, what to spend and what can wait. Our local consultants review the systems and decisions in scope, then turn the findings into clear recommendations and, where needed, a technology roadmap.
Supporting Christchurch businesses since 1989
The short answer
What does IT consulting in Christchurch involve?
IT consulting is advice on a defined decision: what to keep or replace, what order to invest in and who should deliver it. The result is a set of prioritised recommendations and, where needed, a technology roadmap you can act on.
We agree the scope and deliverables with you, and quote a fixed fee, before work begins. Discovery can include time at your premises where seeing the people, systems and working environment will help, and can be done remotely where it will not. For the full range of engagements we offer across New Zealand, see our IT consulting service.
When it helps
When should a Christchurch business bring in a consultant?
IT consulting helps when there is a decision to make and the right answer is not obvious.
- A major renewal is coming up. A contract, licence agreement or piece of equipment is due and you want to know whether to renew, replace or change supplier.
- An office move or new site. Connectivity, equipment and phones need planning before the lease date.
- Growth or restructure. The systems that worked for a smaller team are starting to strain.
- An acquisition or merger. You need to decide which systems to combine, connect or keep separate. Our guide to IT integration after an acquisition explains the planning involved.
- Conflicting advice. Suppliers are recommending different things and you want an independent view.
- Unclear priorities. There is more to do than budget allows, and you need an order to do it in.
If you need day-to-day support rather than advice, see IT support in Christchurch.
Decisions
What we can help you decide
Each IT consulting engagement is scoped around the decisions you need to make. Common areas include:
Systems
Keep, replace or retire
Which systems and equipment are worth keeping, which should be replaced and which are costing more than they return.
Investment
Investment order
What to do first, what depends on what and what can wait, with indicative budgets for each stage.
Suppliers
Supplier and software options
Comparing products and suppliers against your requirements before you commit to a contract.
Cloud
Cloud and Microsoft 365
Where your systems and data should live, and how to get more from licences you already pay for.
Security
Security priorities
Identifying security gaps and the order to address them. Detailed compliance work is scoped separately where needed.
Delivery
Who delivers
Whether the work sits with your team, your current IT provider, Exodesk or another supplier.
Deliverables
What do you receive?
Your proposal sets out what we will review and what you will receive.
Depending on the scope, the outputs can include a current-state summary, prioritised recommendations and a technology roadmap with indicative budgets, dependencies and responsibilities. We discuss the findings with you so the next decisions are clear.
- Current-state summary. What is in place today, within the agreed scope.
- Prioritised recommendations. Each with the reason it matters, in plain business language.
- Technology roadmap. The order of work, indicative budgets, dependencies and who is responsible.
- Findings discussion. A session to walk through the results and agree the next decisions.
Implementation and any ongoing review are identified separately in the proposal, so you can see what is advice and what is delivery.
How it works
How does an engagement run?
An IT consulting engagement runs in five steps, from the first conversation to a clear handover.
Initial discussion
We talk through what you need to decide, what is prompting it and any deadline you are working to.
Written scope and fee
You receive a proposal setting out what we will review, the outputs, the fixed fee and the timing, agreed before work begins.
Discovery
We review the systems, contracts and processes in scope and talk with the people involved, on site at your premises where that helps and remotely where it does not.
Analysis and recommendations
Findings are weighed against your goals, budget and risks, and turned into prioritised recommendations and a roadmap.
Findings discussion and handover
We walk through the results with you and hand over the written outputs. A later progress review is included only where the proposal says so. For ongoing advice after the engagement, see our vCIO services.
Independence
How we keep the advice independent
We have no product quotas, and the IT consulting fee does not depend on selling you anything.
Each recommendation comes with the reasoning behind it. Where Exodesk could also supply or implement something we recommend, we say so, and you are free to source it elsewhere.
Working alongside your current IT provider
You do not need to change IT provider to engage us. We can run an IT consulting engagement alongside your existing provider, and implementation can stay with them. Where our findings differ from their advice, we explain why so you can make the call.
Cost and timing
What affects the cost and timing?
We agree the scope first, then quote a fixed fee and confirm the timing for it. The main factors are:
- The decisions in scope. A single renewal decision is a smaller piece of work than a full technology roadmap.
- The size of the environment. The number of people, sites, systems and suppliers involved.
- On-site time. How much discovery needs to happen at your premises.
- The outputs you need. For example, whether the roadmap needs indicative budgets for board approval.
- Implementation. Delivery work is scoped separately, whether Exodesk or another provider carries it out.
IT consulting helps with defined decisions, priorities and planning. Measure any savings after the fee and implementation costs, and treat avoided incidents as risk reduction rather than a provable cash saving.
Why Exodesk
Why work with Exodesk in Christchurch?
Christchurch businesses since 1989
Exodesk has supported Christchurch businesses since 1989, and our Christchurch office opened in 2009. The IT consulting team works from Level 1, 85 Riccarton Road, and can spend time at your premises when discovery needs it.
Scope and fee agreed first
You know what we will review, what you will receive and what it costs before any work begins.
Interests disclosed
No product quotas. If we could also supply what we recommend, we say so. See the full IT consulting offer, and our guides to IT strategy and building an IT roadmap.
Questions
IT consulting questions
What does IT consulting in Christchurch cover?
It covers advice on a defined decision, such as what to keep or replace, the order to invest in and which suppliers to use. Our Christchurch consultants review the systems and decisions in scope and turn the findings into prioritised recommendations and, where needed, a technology roadmap.
How is IT consulting different from managed IT support?
Managed IT support runs your technology day to day, including preventive maintenance, monitoring and operational improvement. IT consulting helps with a defined decision, a set of priorities or a plan. Consulting helps you decide what to change, what to prioritise and where to invest.
What will we receive at the end?
Depending on the scope, you can receive a current-state summary, prioritised recommendations and a technology roadmap with indicative budgets, dependencies and responsibilities. We walk through the findings with you so the next decisions are clear.
How much does IT consulting cost?
The fee depends on the decisions in scope, the size of the environment, the time needed on site and the outputs you need. We agree the scope and deliverables with you and quote a fixed fee before work begins. Implementation is scoped separately.
How long does an engagement take?
Timing depends on the scope, the people and systems involved and how quickly information can be gathered. We agree the timing in the proposal after scoping. Tell us any deadline at the start, and we will confirm what can realistically be delivered by then.
Do your consultants come on site?
Yes, where it helps. Discovery can include time at your Christchurch premises to see the people, systems and working environment, and other parts of the work can be done remotely.
Can you work alongside our current IT provider?
Yes. You do not need to change IT provider to engage us, and implementation can stay with your existing provider. Where our findings differ from their advice, we explain why.
Is implementation included?
Implementation is identified separately in the proposal. Exodesk can carry it out, or the work can go to your team, your current provider or another supplier.
Do you recommend products that you sell?
We have no product quotas, and the consulting fee does not depend on selling you anything. Where Exodesk could also supply or implement something we recommend, we say so, and you are free to source it elsewhere.
Will a consulting review make us compliant?
No. A security-related consulting review can identify gaps and priorities, but it does not by itself establish legal compliance. Detailed compliance work is scoped separately where it is needed.
How do we get started?
Tell us what you need to decide, what is prompting it and any deadline you are working towards. We will discuss the scope of an engagement and the outputs you need, then send a written proposal.
Next step
Planning a change or unsure what to prioritise?
Tell us what you need to decide, what is prompting it and any deadline you are working towards. Our Christchurch team can discuss the scope of an IT consulting engagement and the outputs you need.
Get in touch
Talk to our Christchurch team
Tell us a little about the decision you are facing and we will be in touch to arrange a time that suits.
Christchurch office
Level 1, 85 Riccarton Road
Christchurch 8011
03 343 3124