IT Procurement Without a Tech Strategy Is A Recipe For Disaster
If you’re struggling to effectively run your IT procurement processes, it might be time to evaluate your strategy!
This article was written by Harry Wilson, an IT Consultant. Read more via Leap Consulting.
If procurement is the series of activities and processes required during the acquisition of any IT infrastructure, software and systems, IT procurement and the purchasing of updated systems are essential to any business which uses information systems and digital technology equipment to drive projects, management and processes.
The running of the IT procurement process should be carefully managed and examined to ensure that purchases provide both a good foundation and high-quality equipment for the future process, in line with the businesses goals.
This requires a dedicated employee in charge (usually the CIO) and an IT strategy to allow a business organisation to reach best practices of IT procurement.
Digital transformation and disruption
Digital transformation and disruption have changed the IT buying process. Traditionally, the CIO had the final say in IT purchasing decisions following consideration of the IT strategy and alignment with business goals.
However, recently it has been found that nearly a third of purchasing power has moved outside of the executive suite into the hands of departmental managers.
Business departments making technology decisions without the CIO can lead to CIOs losing control of the IT then having to deal with issues such as;
- Lots of different systems running in silos
- Information sprawl
- Incompatible systems
- Gaps in internal information technologies
- Hindered business growth
- Loss of competitive advantage
This emphasises the need for an IT strategy as one of the biggest mistakes a business can make is committing to a system or contract without due diligence or consulting the overarching IT strategy to understand how the implementation of the considered technology will impact the operations and systems within the business.
What should an IT strategy include?
An IT strategy can benefit both CIOs and department managers as it encourages collaboration that results in alignment with existing and new investments. A strategy should include up-to-date versions of:
- A systems architecture rundown of the whole business
- An inventory containing end-of-life dates, and usage
- A list of emerging problems recorded by staff and IT team
The rapid speed that these technologies are being innovated is phenomenal, and businesses are being exposed to more technologically advanced IT systems which creates the need to update and adapt to these IT systems regularly.
The benefits of an IT strategy
Despite significant investments in new technologies over the past decade, many organisations are actually watching their operations slow down due to underutilisation of technology and poor user engagement related to technology usage is part of the problem.
Poorly designed applications and a general lack of training causes many employees not to leverage the innovation and drive productivity.
Encouraging effective adoption of new technology requires an IT strategy for organisational change management.
There’s no easier way to manage IT than to work with an IT specialist who can help you manage these IT services and create a more efficiently run business. Many companies are seeking It managed services for a source of competitive advantage, so there isn’t a lack of responsibility or confusion within the company.
By following an IT strategy and understanding the reasons behind process bottlenecks and other errors, enterprises can more efficiently allocate IT and human resources. By partnering with a managed services provider who can create and implement an IT strategy, businesses can focus on their core competencies to cut costs and increase productivity.
This article was written by Harry Wilson, an IT Consultant. Read more via Leap Consulting.
