I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Darrell Ortiz of CDM Software Solutions, Inc., one of our clients located in the Chicago OfficeLinks location, who has been in business for over 20 years and credits his client-driven format as a key component to CDM’s success.

According to David, CDM Software Solutions, Inc.’s approach to business, though simple, is absolutely essential to their success: Listen to clients. Understand what “keeps them up at night”.  Use the firm’s expertise to identify the root of the issues, map the plan and deliver the services to eradicate the issue and optimize performance.  Then, invest and stand by the client.  For CDM Software Solutions, Inc., listening to clients allows them to provide comprehensive, yet efficient and user-friendly software solutions that meet the clients’ needs and help them to achieve their business objectives.  Committing to stand by their clients allows CDM Software Solutions, Inc. to provide the necessary technology innovation that helps them as their needs evolve.

In our conversation, David shared with me some of what I’d like to call “pearls of wisdom” - and I just had to share them with you because they are just that important:

• Be patient - as an entrepreneur, you know that the marketplace is dynamic. Charter your path and stay the course while being nimble and patient.
• Perform your due diligence. Meaning: learn about your clients - research them, ask them questions, get to know everything about them. Utilize your skill and core competency to provide real value. A solution that they would otherwise not realize.
• Show loyalty - it will make a difference and pay off in the long term. And this again wraps around to patience - you may not see the pay off tomorrow, next week or next month. But, you will see it. It will return dividends.
• Be flexible and dynamic. Success isn’t a formula written in stone. You may have a standard model or approach but adapting that approach to the unique needs of your client will yield the greatest success. Being flexible and dynamic allows you to add significant value to each and every client.

There’s a valuable lesson in what David shared with me: it’s not about giving the client what you think they want or need, it’s about truly listening to the client and committing to giving them what their business actually needs.  Now that’s what makes a business a success - no matter the economic situation.  To learn more about CDM Software Solutions, Inc., click here.