Technology is one of the most crucial elements of business success. Sir Clive Woodward, a non-executive director at Aura Technology, knows the value of transforming teams through the smart use of technology, and famously pioneered the use of player tracking devices in sport. He sums it up with his motto: “Businesses that win in IT, tend to win”.

However, many businesses, regardless of their size or market sector, fail to get the full benefit out of the technology they have invested in. It’s not just about having the right software or kit – a sound IT strategy is necessary for major functions of your business. It has a bearing on your ability to do everything – creating new products and services, marketing, improving customer experiences, growing revenue and keeping your workforce productive both in and out of the office. So it’s essential you get it right.

Here are the steps it’s important to consider when developing a strategic IT plan.:

Review your current IT strategy

A strategic review of your company’s IT infrastructure will help you gain a deeper understanding of how your teams use technology, what is and isn’t working and any requirements you may have in the future. You may even be able to develop an IT strategy based on some of the resources you already have. Read our top considerations for outsourcing a strategic IT review here.

Outline your business goals

Technology is evolving quickly, so you need to be smart about the investment into IT that you make. This is why your IT strategy should be closely aligned with your business objectives. Consider looking at your sales targets and plans for growth – you want your IT strategy to grow with you and not hinder success. Are your systems scalable? Can you easily add or remove people, teams or service lines? Think carefully now about making the right investment in a system that can grow as your business does.

Develop an IT roadmap

An IT roadmap is essentially a plan that will set out your requirements for any new technology investments, helping you to keep control over the costs and mitigate the risk of IT failure and disruption to your business. We have developed our own methodology for producing entirely bespoke IT strategies – a Technology Roadmap. This includes a review and audit of the technology your business currently has in place, and recommendations to ensure the company technology is fit for purpose, fully optimised and configured to industry best practice.

Educate and communicate

You won’t be able to adapt if your teams aren’t fully behind the change, so educating the business on the need for IT transformation is critical. You might find some resistance to change, particularly if you’re removing software that your people are used to using. Staff may not be completely sold if they fear using new technology or are worried about security. Communicating you plans clearly will ensure your employees are happy with what’s going to change, and then when you’ve implemented the new systems, training sessions will help them adapt to new technologies.

Keep your strategy up to date

You’ll need to continually update and develop your IT strategy as aspects of your business change. The best way to make sure your strategy and your day-to-day functions stay current is to outsource your IT to a managed IT service provider. Outsourcing your company’s IT infrastructure and IT strategy can not only improve efficiency and reduce cost (versus keeping the expertise in-house), but it also has the potential to revolutionise your business operations and improve the customer experience.

Whether you are integrating a new cloud system or upgrading the company to a new software platform, contact us today to chat about how we can help you with your IT transformation.