Information Technology (IT) today has evolved from being merely an implementation tool for businesses into an intrinsic part of enterprise strategy. IT objectives are no longer docile in business planning, but are proactively devising long-term business strategies as companies look to take advantage of new business opportunities created by technological developments.
However, seldom do we find instances of business-oriented IT, as most are focused purely on tech products, rather than being technology-centric at an organizational level. This results in overly complex IT infrastructures that are rarely sustainable and extremely difficult to modify.
Risks of Not Having an IT Strategy
Whether you choose to have IT in-house or opt for IT Managed Services, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Every business, irrespective of status as a public, private or non-profit institution has unique needs. If you’re unable to create value through IT objectives, you stand to incur significant risks including:
- Rise in maintenance and upkeep costs
- Increase in downtime, and loss of customers
- Inability to maintain SLA compliance
- Losing competitive advantage to rivals
Operating on a break-fix methodology, is often not beneficial to your organization. Thus, it is essential to keep in mind your specific organizational needs while developing your IT strategy.
Evaluating Your Current IT
In order to transform IT into a central component that runs like a nervous system through an enterprise, rather than a corporate afterthought, you need to start by evaluating the following:
- What is the current status of your IT infrastructure?
- What changes will you need in the future to keep-up or increase operational efficiency?
- How can you make sure that your IT remains relevant as you scale?
The answers to these questions will allow you to better understand where you stand and what you would need to do. This will help you build a tangible alignment plan that synchronizes your IT objectives and business strategy.
Building Your IT Strategy
To help your business gain better visibility and understanding of how your IT can impact your success, you need a detailed IT objective set that transforms into a holistic IT strategy. After evaluating the risks involved and what you need, we suggest the following steps to ensure your IT is aligned to the overall vision for the business.
- Map short-term and overall objectives for your enterprise
- Validate overall objectives against current and future industry trends
- Review past, present and future IT initiatives, and document what you need to achieve it
- Put in motion actions that balance priorities, short-term goals and long-term sustainability
Despite the upsurge in service-based adoption of packaged software, there still remains opportunities for IT to make a difference. While aligning IT objectives and your business strategy might not give you a specific advantage, depending on your industry, it will lay the foundation for an adaptable technology skeleton across the organisation which will help facilitate your business be more agile.
ProV International is a dedicated MSP that guarantees faster response times, technology upgrades and expert information management and delivery. We provide infrastructure and strategic support, and ensure your IT objectives remain firmly in-line with your business growth. To learn more about how you can get more out of your IT, feel free to contact us or send us an email at info@provintl.com.
