Pro baseball player Yogi Berra once said, “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” That’s a helpful quote to remember as you consider your plans for your company’s IT operations in the new year and beyond. Without a proper roadmap, you’ll inevitably find yourself lost.
Whether you’re charting your technology plans for the first time or adjusting an already established long-term trajectory, you should consider certain vital factors as you decide on your organization’s future technological direction. As you fine-tune your 2023 IT roadmap, remember to account for the following crucial elements.
1. Organizational objectives.
What are your company’s overall goals for the next year? How about the next five years? Your IT projects should align with and support the achievement of those objectives. For example, if you want to increase sales, implementing a new CRM platform can help you achieve that outcome.
2. New and emerging technologies.
It’s become clear in recent years that devoting resources to digital transformation is absolutely necessary for any business that wants to stay relevant and competitive. IT innovation will likely continue at a rapid pace in 2023, according to the Forbes article “The Top 5 Technology Challenges In 2023.” As a result, your roadmap should note the need to continually evaluate and adopt advanced technologies like AI and robotic process automation.
3. Increasingly severe IT security threats.
The headline of a recent ZDNet article proclaimed, “Cybersecurity: These are the new things to worry about in 2023.” Notable causes for concern include Internet of Things (IoT) vulnerabilities, a lack of specialized talent to combat novel threats, and more. Investing in a comprehensive and current IT security program is a must if you want to avoid potentially devastating data breaches.
4. IT labor market trends.
The majority (59 percent) of businesses believe it’s hard to recruit skilled IT staff members, according to the 2023 State of IT report from Spiceworks Ziff Davis (SWZD). The report predicts that companies will increasingly turn to external IT service providers to remedy the dearth of available tech talent. If you’re looking for access to specialized skills without the costs associated with hiring in-house staff, you should consider outsourcing IT to a managed service provider (MSP).
5. Economic uncertainty.
If you’re feeling less than optimistic about the economy in 2023, you’re in good company: 83 percent of businesses express concerns about a recession in the upcoming year, and 50 percent say they’re taking steps to prepare for an economic slowdown, according to SWZD. As you craft your IT roadmap for the next year, consider ways to rein in IT spending (e.g., migrating from an on-prem PBX to a cloud phone system to eliminate hardware costs). Outsourcing to a managed IT service provider can also address budgetary concerns by lowering internal staffing costs, preventing expensive data breaches, and increasing efficiency.
If you’d like expert guidance as you revamp your IT roadmap for 2023 and beyond, our trusted technology advisors can help. Our team has extensive experience with a wide range of IT solutions – including cloud phone systems, cloud contact centers, cybersecurity solutions, and more. After assessing your current situation, IT environment, needs, and pain points, we can determine which products and services will position your organization for long-term success.
Explore our advisory services today by calling 877-599-3999 or emailing sales@stratospherenetworks.com to schedule a consultation.