The road to a successful DCIM implementation
Why do some DCIM-projects fail and others becomes a huge success
In 2007 the DCIM market did not exist, nowadays there are many DCIM manufacturers and vendors. The most of them deliver a DCIM solution that partial fulfil the needs of an end-user but some of them sell an empty DCIM box. For an end-user it is important to recognize beforehand the quality and risks of a vendor and its product.
How to recognize a failing project beforehand
Suppose you have to manage a data centre, and you know you need to improve monitoring to keep up with your competitors. Who do you invite to help you? One of the big companies who have gained a big DCIM market position seems to be the most logical step. But is it sensible? This is what often happens.
The first step is to create fear
They tell you, as a data centre owner, that a DCIM implementation is not implementing software, but it is a long and difficult journey. To guarantee success it is important that a consultant makes an inventory of the equipment within your data centre and investigates the possible gains. DCIM suppliers do this fixed price (we see prices of €40- €80 per square meter for this investigation/consultancy) or based on an hourly rate.
The next step is to show the financial and operational benefits of the solution
The nice part for the DCIM supplier is that you, as data centre owner, already paid the full project price for the investigation and as a bonus they know your fears. The DCIM manufacturer just has to anticipate on your fears, and offer a solution for that. The advantage is that none of the other DCIM competitors know your fears as well as they do, so their offer will be less accurate.
Now it becomes risky
If the DCIM vendor did a good job, you want their DCIM software. Unfortunately they know they cannot deliver the solution that fits your needs. Never mind, they just sell you a license and a course, and leave the implementation to yourself or an independent system integrator
If they become good in this their payoff is huge
If their marketing is good, they sell many licenses. As a bonus they receive some label like market leader or award winning software and then selling non working licenses becomes very profitable and easy.
True or not?
Unfortunately this is true. Some of the so-called leading DCIM suppliers have a project success rate of only 10%. So 90% of the sold licenses never become operational
Project success is a choice!
To guarantee success only two things have to be taken in account namely:
- Ask for a proof of concept for the parts you as a data centre owner fear the most and not accept a good and fast PowerPoint presentation or an impressing computer animation;
- Only buy DCIM software from a company who delivers a turn-key solution that not only guarantee a 100% success rate but only get fully paid after the solutions performs as agreed.
What do you need to do if you want a successful DCIM implementation?
If you want to be sure you belong to the 10% successful DCIM implementations, send an email to: info@perf-it.com or visit us at www.perf-it.com
