Types of 360 vendors

360-degree vendors vary in the products and services they provide. The information below can help you decide which type of vendor will best suit your needs.

Consultants
Consultants can see you through the entire 360 process. They often have years of experience with both content design and 360 administration. They can see you through the entire process from survey design to employee coaching once the results have been distributed. This can be an expensive, but complete option. The most difficult aspect of using consultants is finding the best ones for your business needs. Also, consultants often work with another 360 vendor to host the survey. The consultants’ 360 will only be as good as the 360 vendor’s product.

Off-the-shelf
Off-the-shelf vendors provide a standard product or set of products. They keep costs down by standardizing content and services. This is often the most cost-effective option, but you do sacrifice for the price. The survey content may not reflect your business’s operations or culture. Support and customer service are often minimal because the product is designed to operate largely on its own. You have few choices in layout or design. Reports are often generic in appearance and content.

All-inclusive
These 360-degree feedback vendors provide everything specific to 360-degree feedback. They create content, host and administer your 360, process the data, create the reports and may offer follow-up coaching. The products these vendors offer vary. Some are similar to off-the-shelf products in their limited content. Some offer follow-up coaching, some do not. The costs vary depending on the vendor.

Data Processing
These vendors tackle the technology aspects of 360-degree feedback. They program and host your survey, process the data, and prepare reports. For 360-degree feedback administrators or consultants who want to use their own content to ensure a customized survey, these vendors are ideal. They ease the technology burden without taking control of the entire process. They are more expensive than off-the-shelf products, but usually less expensive than an all-inclusive vendor. They are an excellent partner for consultants because they enable consultants to offer 360 products without the large investment in software, computer equipment and technical support. Anyone can manage a 360 project with these vendors because they take away the technology burden.

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