5 Basics of a successful IT strategy (Plus 3 key benefits to your business)
Your business IT strategy is the backbone of your business growth, and a critical component of your business-making processes. Efficiency, productivity and the ability to be nimble all hinge on IT systems that are aligned with your business goals. If you don’t have a robust plan in place, your business is at risk of performing below its potential.
IT includes everything related to the use of your business computer information systems – software, hardware, servers, networks, databases and everything in between. Today, more than ever, it’s vital that those systems are continuously reviewed to ensure they’re protected, optimised, and future focused.
What is an IT strategy?
An IT strategy is a comprehensive plan that outlines how you will support the business goals set by your company.
Your company strategy – goals for growth, new projects, objectives, resource allocation – is probably set annually. And your IT strategy should follow suit. The success of the first is underpinned by the efficiency of the second.
Because technology is rapidly evolving, your plan will require flexibility, although the high-level strategy should remain relatively steady.
Your IT strategy will define how the business will adapt to updates and changes in technology, and in the marketplace. It drives enterprise transformation and helps you identify the technology, solutions, and data needed to maximise customer experience.
The five basics of a successful IT strategy:
1. Vision, objectives and strategy
Your IT strategy should be tightly aligned with the vision and overarching strategy of your business. It will consider the needs of your internal and external customers, and how you plan to deliver technology and services to them.
2. Goals
Like any strategy, having clearly defined goals established at the outset is key. The goals of your IT strategy need to be specific, measurable, and time bound. They should deliver against the broader goals defined in the company strategy. For example, if the business is focused on improving time to market, the IT goal could be to reduce the time to implement new technologies by 25%.
3. High level initiatives
These are the ‘bullet points’ of what is needed in order to achieve your goals. For example, adopting cloud-first solutions could be an initiative that delivers on the goal of improving staff mobility / flexibility.
4. Budget
What are your expected IT costs for the coming year and beyond? Your budget needs to account for upcoming technology investments and initiatives not just essential running costs.
5. Workflow planning
Your IT strategy will document the processes and workflows that will help the IT team collaborate across projects – the team members involved, their roles and responsibilities, the approval and review process.
3 Benefits to your business of an effective IT strategy
1. Identify risk and increase security
Whether you’re a one-man band or a multi-national corporate, your business will carry some amount of risk. A well-designed IT strategy will spotlight areas of your technology infrastructure – from out-of-date software to faulty backups – that could pose a risk to your business.
2. Improve efficiency and productivity
A robust business strategy supported by comprehensive, tailored IT strategy is a potent formula. Your business will be supported by systems and strategies that have been specifically selected to deliver on business goals. A good strategy foresees potential future challenges and has the flexibility to allow for fast adaptation.
3. Cost reduction
A good IT strategy may well end up paying for itself by minimising duplicate work, reducing errors, streamlining workflow, protecting vital data, and improving IT resilience.
Think Concepts are IT strategy specialists
As a business leader, you need the right IT guidance to help you make the best decisions, now and for the future. You’re a specialist in what you do, and you understand the benefits of using specialists within your team.
Think Concepts know IT inside-out. As independent IT specialists, our consultants act as your trusted IT advisors with independent, unbiased solutions that are tailored to your business.
We offer ad-hoc services, such as one-off projects, through to a total managed service.
Managed IT service
With Think Concepts managed services, our IT consultants can manage all your IT needs, from data protection to end-to-end project management. We work closely with your company, getting to know your team, your goals, and your business inside-out.
Think Concepts managed IT services not only include strategy consulting, but everything IT from onsite maintenance and 24/7 monitoring to data backups and software updates.
3 reasons to choose Think Concepts for your IT management
Expertise
When you work with Think Concepts, your business will be tapping into a wealth of valuable expertise and knowledge in the IT industry. We’ve worked with multiple companies in various verticals. Chances are, we’ve worked a business just like yours and can offer valuable insight into the very latest IT solutions for your industry.
Unbiased advice
The best IT solution for your business is the one that aligns with your goals, budget, and workflow. Think Concepts base their decision on what is best for the customer, rather than limiting the range of technology they provide. Often, we provide cost-saving solutions that clients are not even aware of.
A valuable relationship
When you’re working with Think Concepts, we like to become part of your team. We’re on the ground with your staff which means we keep tabs on gaps and inefficiencies and can deal with them quickly to avoid bigger problems further down the track. We get to know you, your team, and your business vision well enough to efficiently deliver the best solutions.
Book your IT audit with Think Concepts
Sorting your business IT strategy should be at the top of your to-do list. Let’s get it crossed off today.
Take the first step and book an IT audit with Think Concepts. You’ll receive a tailored recommendation for your business that provides a clear pathway to help plan your IT strategy.
It’s quick, easy, and absolutely critical.