The Importance of Digital Transformation
Consider the following scenario: A company wants to develop a new product and needs data from their customer base to do so. To gather this data, they go to their customers and ask them to share their data. While this may be an easy request for some, it is difficult for others. The customer who lives in a remote area may not have the time or access to share their data. Additionally, the customer who only uses email may not want to share all of their contact information with the company.
Enterprise IT organizations face similar challenges when trying to collect digital transformation data. As digital transformation begins impacting more and more business processes, IT leaders are struggling to keep up with the demand for actionable insights across their organization. Fortunately, there are ways for enterprise IT organizations to get the digital transformation data they need without asking customers directly.
One example of how enterprise IT can collect digital transformation data without asking customers is through surveys. By using surveys as an input method into decision-making tools, such as business intelligence (BI) systems or analytics engines, IT can gain insights about how various parts of the business are performing. Surveys also allow companies to measure changes over time, which can give them a better understanding of how their actions are affecting the overall performance of their organization.[1]
Another way that enterprise IT can collect digital transformation data is by using sensors or devices within the network infrastructure. By monitoring traffic patterns or collecting other types of digital signals, enterprise IT
What is Enterprise IT Complexity?
Today’s enterprises face unprecedented levels of technology complexity and an increasing need to rapidly respond to changing business demands. And while technology has always been a key part of the enterprise, the way it is used and integrated has changed dramatically in recent years.
The proliferation of new applications, services, devices and data sources has created an “enterprise IT complexity” problem that businesses across the globe are struggling to address. This complexity creates challenges for both IT departments and executives who are tasked with managing these resources.
Simply put, enterprise IT complexity is the number of different technologies, systems and applications deployed by an organization. It can be measured in terms of size (number of users), variety (number and types of platforms) or integrations (degree of connectivity).
The challenge posed by this level of complexity is twofold: first, getting all these disparate systems working together as a single unit; and second, managing all this data so that it can be accessed quickly and effectively. Managing these issues requires a comprehensive understanding not just of the technology landscape but also of how employees use that technology in their daily work.
Enterprise IT departments have responded to this complex environment by investing in capability management tools – including cloud-based application management platforms – that can help them identify where technology gaps exist within their organization and then build solutions to fill those gaps. In addition, they have developed centralized user management capabilities that allow them to more effectively manage user access to resources across multiple systems.
The Four Enablers of Enterprise IT Complexity
There are four key enablers of enterprise IT complexity: siloed architectures, overlapping management responsibilities, inflexible systems and processes, and a lack of integration.
Each enabler contributes to the overall problem of managing an enterprise IT system that is sprawling and complex. A siloed architecture creates separate systems that are not interconnected, preventing an organization from using best practices across departments or divisions. Overlapping management responsibilities mean that different parts of the organization have conflicting goals and objectives, leading to inconsistent implementations and a lack of coordination. Inflexible systems and processes make it difficult to change or improve the way things are done, resulting in outdated technology and inefficient workflows. Finally, a lack of integration between systems creates duplicate data warehouses, infrastructure investments, and operational procedures – all of which add to the overall cost and complexity of managing an enterprise IT system.
These four key enablers should be addressed as part of any plan to reduce Enterprise IT Complexity. One approach is to establish governance structures that govern how different parts of the organization operate and communicate with each other. Another strategy is to upgrade or replace outdated systems with more flexible technologies that can be adapted as needed. Finally, integrating various systems into a single platform can help to increase efficiencies across the organization.
How to Reduce Enterprise IT Complexity
To thrive in today’s digital economy, businesses need to reduce their Enterprise IT Complexity (EIC). It’s no secret that the complexity of an organization’s technology stack can impede innovation and hamper productivity. In fact, a study by 451 Research found that companies with higher EICs are 3.5 times more likely to experience business disruptions than companies with lower EICs.
There are many ways to reduce EIC, but the most effective approach depends on understanding your company’s specific needs and constraints. One key step is developing a technology vision and roadmap that tells employees what new capabilities they need to deliver the company’s core business goals. This roadmap should be updated regularly to reflect changes in the market and your company’s technological priorities.
Another key strategy is implementing standardized processes across all technology teams. This will help avoid duplication of effort and ensure that everyone is working together towards a common goal. Automating as many processes as possible will also save time and energy, which can be put towards more strategic initiatives.
In addition to standardizing processes, it’s important to establish clear governance structures for technology decisions. This allows executives to have accountability for ensuring that critical applications are implemented effectively and efficiently. And finally, it’s essential to build a strong culture of collaboration within your technology team—this will foster trust among team members and promote sharing of best practices. Together, these strategies can help you reduce your Enterprise IT Complexity while still delivering on your digital ambitions
Conclusion
In an era of rapid digital transformation, enterprise IT complexity is holding back business agility and innovation. To deliver the digital next, leaders need to break through this paralysis and unlock the power of modern technology by unlocking the potential of their data, people and platforms. This article provides a road map for doing just that – delivering on expectations while reducing risk. By following these steps, your enterprise can stay ahead of the curve in today’s competitive environment and seize opportunities to grow.