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Knowledge hub
Plain-English guides to the platforms, tools and engagement models you'll meet when buying IT services: what each one is, where it fits, how long projects take and what to ask a vendor.
Start here
Applications run the business, integration connects them, data turns activity into insight, AI works across all of it and the cloud runs underneath. People build and run every layer. Pick a layer to explore.
Across the stack
AI for the enterprise
Works across apps and data
Business applications
Infrastructure
Cloud
Runs everything underneath
Browse by area
Each area opens with the big picture, an explainer and a glossary, then one guide per platform or model.
AWS, Azure, Google Cloud and the containers that run on them.
MuleSoft, Boomi, Kafka and Azure Integration Services.
Databricks, Snowflake, BigQuery, dbt and Airflow.
Power BI, Tableau, Looker and Qlik.
SAP S/4HANA, Oracle Fusion, NetSuite and Workday.
ServiceNow, Salesforce, HubSpot and Atlassian.
.NET, Java, React and Node.js, mobile and low-code.
Azure, Copilot, Fabric, Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, Dynamics 365, Microsoft 365 and more.
Generative AI, knowledge assistants, agents, machine learning, document AI and governance.
Staff augmentation, dedicated teams, fixed-scope projects, managed services and where the team sits.
Plan around it
Big SaaS platforms upgrade every customer on a fixed schedule. Keep go-lives out of release months and use the preview window for regression testing.
| Platform | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | OctNow | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SalesforceSpring, Summer and Winter releases | Preview & testing | Release lands | Clear window | Clear window | Preview & testing | Release lands | Clear window | Clear window | Preview & testing | Release lands | Clear window | Clear window |
| Dynamics 365 & Power PlatformRelease waves 1 and 2 | Clear window | Preview & testing | Preview & testing | Release lands | Clear window | Clear window | Clear window | Preview & testing | Preview & testing | Release lands | Clear window | Clear window |
| ServiceNowTwo family releases | Clear window | Preview & testing | Release lands | Clear window | Clear window | Clear window | Clear window | Preview & testing | Release lands | Clear window | Clear window | Clear window |
| WorkdayTwo feature releases | Clear window | Preview & testing | Release lands | Clear window | Clear window | Clear window | Clear window | Preview & testing | Release lands | Clear window | Clear window | Clear window |
| SAP S/4HANA Cloud, public editionTwo releases a year | Preview & testing | Release lands | Clear window | Clear window | Clear window | Clear window | Preview & testing | Release lands | Clear window | Clear window | Clear window | Clear window |
Months are approximate and move a little each year. Confirm dates in each vendor's release notes.
Buying essentials
Write down the business result you need and how you'll measure it before you name a tool. Vendors propose better when they know the goal.
Fixed scope, dedicated team, staff augmentation or managed service. The model decides who carries the risk.
Ask for partner tier, certified headcount, and two references with a similar scope, industry and size.
A paid discovery or pilot of two to eight weeks shows fit, quality and hidden costs before a multi-year commitment.
Browse IT service companies with sourced, labelled facts, or describe your project and let AI write the scope.
Generative AI
Staff augmentation
Fixed scope
Managed services
Contract-to-hire
Onshore & offshore
