A Day In The Life Of A Business Solutions Architect At Avanade
A Business Solutions Architect's day at Avanade involves a mix of client calls, internal collaboration, and proposal/statement of work creation; the role's flexibility, allowing for "50 hours a week some weeks" and "30 hours a week some weeks", is a key benefit, enabling work-life integration such as attending "pilates class at 10:30".
Client Communication, Solution Design, Sales & Negotiation, Flexibility & Work-Life Balance, Collaboration & Teamwork
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Meng Qi
Business Solutions Architect
Avanade
Georgia Tech, 2014
UCLA FEMBA
Engineering - Industrial
Consulting & Related Professional Services, Technology
Consulting
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. A day in the life of a Business Solutions Architect involves a mix of client calls, internal meetings, and focused work time. This can include developing client solutions, creating proposals, and even writing legal documents (SOWs).
2. The work is project-based, with the ultimate goal of signing a Statement of Work (SOW) with clients. Architects like Meng play a crucial role in this process due to their deep understanding of both the client's needs and the proposed solutions.
3. The role offers flexibility, allowing for a variable workload and the ability to schedule personal appointments, a feature Meng greatly appreciates. This highlights the importance of work-life balance in this type of profession.
Transcript
What does a day in the life of a business solutions architect really look like?
It's not as glamorous as it may seem. I usually start my day at 8:00 am with a call with Europe. I have executives there, and we're pushing a supply chain accelerator initiative.
From 8:00 to 10:00 am, I'm typically in those calls. Then, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, it varies. Sometimes I have client calls to discuss ongoing opportunities. Other times, this is my focused work time.
I use this time to prepare slide decks for clients, put together proposals for opportunities nearing completion, or write statements of work. These statements of work are legal documents that outline our deliverables and ensure both our company and the client are protected. Honestly, writing legal documents is probably the least enjoyable part of my job.
However, it's a necessary part of the process. The end goal in sales is a signed statement of work. As a solution architect, I know the client and the solution best, so I play a significant role in writing these.
My afternoons are usually filled with internal or external calls, similar to my 10:00 am to 12:00 pm slot. These might include community calls with other solution architects to share updates and learnings.
Sometimes I work on pricing deals using our pricing tool. Other times, I'm in approval calls with executives, explaining our work and seeking their sign-off.
My day usually ends around 6:00 pm. One of the aspects I truly value about my role is my boss's flexibility. I don't have strict daily deadlines.
My workload fluctuates based on the sales pipeline. Some weeks I work 50 hours, while other weeks might be closer to 30. This flexibility allows me to plan my day effectively.
For instance, if I want to attend a Pilates class, I inform my boss, set my out-of-office notice, and then return to work refreshed. I appreciate that many jobs don't offer this level of flexibility.