IT transformation is the process of aligning IT with the broader organizational goals. It is just one element of digital transformation, and refers to the ways IT can deliver next-generation solutions to better support the organization's daily technology needs, along with its high-level business initiatives.
At a high level, there are three key benefits to IT transformation: strategic, financial, and improved business agility:
Before launching an IT transformation initiative, organizations should be knowledgeable about the long- and short-term business goals of the organization and its industry, as well as emerging trends in technology. IT should work closely with leadership to understand the unique needs of each department and what they need their technology to do. Next, IT should create a roadmap with timelines and a communication plan to inform staff of changes along the way.
To deliver an exceptional experience, IT teams should start by looking at what the organization is asking for, and then drill down to employee needs. They should then determine if employees have easy access to the data, apps, and tools they need to be effective, and if work can be simplified by automating routine tasks and streamlining workflows. Adopting an employee-first approach to IT is increasingly important as organizations face greater expectations to improve employee experiences.
While no one can fully predict the future, building a more flexible infrastructure allows organizations greater agility so they can adapt to whatever the future brings. With careful planning, organizations can implement IT that quickly adapts, scales, and pivots as future business needs arise — enabling organizations to respond more effectively as markets evolve.
The status quo approach to IT delivery is no longer enough to satisfy the day-to-day business needs of most organizations: the pressure to keep pace with or surpass the competition creates urgency around IT transformation and business innovation; employees expect technology that’s intuitive and easy to use; and legacy network architectures slow productivity and require a lot of work to update.
By planning for, and then implementing newer operating models, IT can help organizations meet changing business demands. It can also create an infrastructure to support an adaptive business framework without a major disruption to the organization.
Workflows are accelerating to cloud — and for a good reason. Cloud offers strategic, financial, and operational flexibility and scalability (see additional benefits above). But data centers won’t be going away anytime soon. That’s because companies:
80%
of the IT industry is still running critical services on traditional infrastructures.
– CIOReview
Along with obsolete technology comes outdated behaviors and practices. When preparing to update IT infrastructures, organizations should also think about the people and processes who will be using the new solutions. Selecting the right technology simplifies implementation and maintenance, and increases the likelihood of user adoption.
The right partner, along with the right technology solutions, can greatly reduce the number of challenges that come with IT transformation. By providing a go-at-your-own-pace solution that supports major initiatives like the journey to the cloud and modernizing security, the right partner can help simplify adoption of new technologies and make IT transformation almost effortless.
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