It’s not an overstatement to say that technology is the backbone of today’s organizations. From IT to finance and procurement, every modern business department is built on a tech ecosystem that enables it to thrive and grow. Yet, all too often, these systems are disparate and incompatible—even within the same business. This exacerbates issues such as siloed teams and conflicting processes, while creating entirely new challenges like a lack of innovation and increased IT vulnerabilities.
To succeed in the critical and unpredictable years ahead, enterprises must empower each function with the data-driven technology they need to make better, informed decisions.
Here are three key steps business leaders can take to leverage technology towards becoming a truly intelligent, forward-thinking and innovative enterprise.
Close the visibility gap
IT leaders today are under pressure; they must navigate hybrid landscapes—covering hardware, software, SaaS, cloud and containers—in addition to demands for reduced IT costs, mitigating security risks and integrate emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), which brings its own set of challenges.
There’s only one solution: a unified view of the entire IT landscape, offering actionable insights that allow teams to act decisively and strategically in support of business growth.
Too often, teams are operating with fragmented datasets which leads to inefficiencies, inconsistencies and missed opportunities.
The success of any IT department—or even, the organization as a whole—relies on the accuracy and cleanliness of the available data. Those who can turn raw data into contextualized, actionable insights—taking the guesswork out of decision-making—will have a clear advantage in an unpredictable global environment.
Understand the environmental impact of your technology
Sustainability has been on the boardroom agenda for many years now. Yet, despite executives knowing the emphasis placed on this by consumers and regulatory bodies alike, only 38% of business leaders say they have embedded environmental sustainability into their decision-making processes, according to Gartner.
So, how can IT leaders turn sustainable business practices into an opportunity, rather than a barrier to innovation? First, IT leaders need to stay ahead of updates to any legislation around sustainability that impact technology with processes being reviewed and updated frequently.
However, in an increasingly eco-conscious world, ESG (environmental, social, governance) measures should be viewed as far more than a compliance tick-box, so a cultural shift is crucial. Fostering a proactive approach to ESG compliance within teams and ensuring sustainability goals are aligned throughout the business will help mitigate the environmental impact of your technology.
Embrace continuous evolution and adaptation
Building a future-proof IT strategy isn’t a one-time task; it’s an ongoing journey that demands agility across the organization, as well as buy-in and open endorsement from stakeholders from across the business.
This means embracing the continuous evolution, investing time into assessing and understanding which new technologies will deliver the most impact and value, and implementing a culture of proactive adaptation to—rather than fear of—technologies like SaaS and AI. In addition, IT leaders must implement regular, democratized upskilling programs to ensure employees aren’t left behind, and are able to adapt to the demands of the digital workplace—not just for the benefit of the business, but for themselves as well.
Ultimately, as technology advances, the real key to a future-proof IT strategy lies in creating a culture of continuous learning, adaptability, and, most importantly, the fusion of human and technological strengths.
