high touch low touch

Which of these client/vendor relationships sounds more valuable?

1. You are providing development services for a start-up. You’ve agreed to a scope of work and are executing against it, giving regular updates and demos. For all intents and purposes, you are a separate entity aside from occasional check-ins with their internal team to align your work.

2. You are providing development services for a start-up. You meet with their team bi-weekly and participate directly in their sprints. For all intents and purposes, you are part of their team.

I think most people would say #2. But it’s a trick question.

Don’t assume that day-to-day integration is the best way to increase the value of your relationship with a client.

Sometimes, your client just wants it done. They don’t want to think about it any more than they have to. In that case, the best thing you can do is create a high-quality system without adding anything to your client’s administrative overhead.

Figure out what your client actually wants and deliver on it. Don’t assume anything.