When did you last review your IT road map? If it’s been a while, or if you don’t currently have one in place, now is a great time to chart your company’s course for 2020 and beyond. Strategic use of technology is becoming increasingly vital for businesses seeking success in the digital age.
Many organizations are already investing heavily in digital transformation, the process of adopting new and emerging technologies to enhance business processes. By 2024, the International Data Corporation (IDC) projects that over half of IT-related spending will go toward digital transformation and innovation.
A well-thought-out IT road map is essential for any company that wants to leverage new tech to achieve peak performance and carry out effective IT initiatives that help achieve overall organizational objectives. As you consider your plan for the rest of this year and beyond, here are some key considerations to keep in mind.
1. What are your overall business goals?
Whenever you adopt a new type of tech or undertake an IT project, you should have your company’s short- and long-term goals in mind. Ask yourself how this project and/or technology will assist your business in achieving its objectives (e.g., improving productivity or increasing client retention).
2. What are your current pain points?
In addition to considering your organization’s objectives, you’ll also want to think about your pain points as you update your IT road map for 2020. Are there any inefficient processes or out-of-date systems slowing your operations down? Your road map should include plans to address those issues.
3. Do you have any solutions or systems that are approaching end of life/end of support?
Part of maintaining a strategic plan for your IT is keeping track of end of support dates for the systems you use and anticipating necessary upgrades. You don’t want to miss out on technical support, software updates and important security patches.
4. What can you do to improve the customer experience (CX)?
Businesses across all industries have started competing based largely on CX, and technology can have a significant impact on customer service. A survey conducted by Gartner found 75 percent of organizations increased their CX tech investments in 2018, and 52 percent intended to boost funding in that area in 2019.
There are various types of IT solutions that can empower your company to deliver the best possible CX, from advanced analytics and Business Intelligence (BI) solutions to customized mobile and web applications to cloud-based products like Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) platforms. For more information, check out this previous Tech Tips entry: “6 Types of Tech that Improve the Customer Experience (CX)”
5. What resources do you need to carry out the projects on your road map?
You’ll need to account for the funds, time and personnel needed to install and maintain the IT solutions included in your plan, in addition to the resources necessary to upgrade legacy systems, according to the Huffington Post article “8 Key Components of Technology Roadmaps.”
If you’re short on internal resources, you can turn to external managed service providers for assistance. The Stratosphere Networks team can help with the implementation, maintenance and management of various kinds of IT solutions, including cloud products, cybersecurity solutions and more.
Additionally, if you’d like guidance in crafting an IT road map, we offer strategic IT consulting services. Our team of experienced senior technology advisors can recommend solutions, services and approaches to IT to ensure your business remains competitive long-term. If you’d like to learn more, contact our tech experts today by calling 877-599-3999 or emailing sales@stratospherenetworks.com.
