The Hybrid Advantage

Today’s hybrid vehicles use both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. Use of two power sources achieves best results versus energy consumption, environmental, and performance objectives. An emerging type of information systems company, called a Hybrid Solutions Company, also takes a hybrid approach. A Hybrid Solutions Company has two power sources. It combines elements of professional services and software firms. As with vehicles, a Hybrid Solutions Company has advantages in achieving results.

Hybrid Solutions Companies use practices of professional services firms to understand customer needs, advise customers, and deliver unique solutions. Developing and articulating strategy, managing solution requirements, and overseeing delivery of a unique solution are professional services competencies that are incorporated into a Hybrid Solutions Company.

Hybrid Solutions Companies use practices of software firms to increase the speed of solution delivery, increase quality, and reduce the cost of solutions. Anticipating feature requirements, formalized software engineering, and managing lifecycle maintenance are competencies of a software firm that are incorporated into a Hybrid Solutions Company.

The advantage of a hybrid vehicle is not just having two power sources, it’s having two that work together for one purpose. Careful design is required to achieve the benefits of a hybrid model while addressing its challenges. At a minimum, the power sources in a hybrid vehicle must be coordinated so that each contributes only when it is most efficient and contributes in a way that does not interfere with the other. For example, the internal combustion engine turns off while a hybrid vehicle idles, but both power sources work together when acceleration is required. Beyond coordination, the two power sources and other systems in the vehicle can reinforce each other or share components. For example, the internal combustion engine and breaking systems drive a common generator to charge batteries for the electric motor.

Like the hybrid vehicle, the advantage of the Hybrid Solutions Company is not just having two power sources. The Hybrid Solution Company unifies the professional services and software competencies for one purpose. Coordination of the two requires an understanding of when the professional services or software competencies should be used, and when they can effectively act together. For example, solution features that will be employed at many customers are addressed via software competency while unique elements are addressed via professional services competency. Beyond coordination, common requirements management and post-sale support functions can strengthen both competencies and reinforce the firm’s overall ability to fulfill one purpose.

Crown has offered professional services since 2001 and licensed software products since 2003. Since 2003, Crown has invested in the Hybrid Solution Company model. Just as improvements continue to be made in hybrid vehicles, Crown is committed to increasing the value provided to customers by operating as a Hybrid Solution Company.