We’ve all heard about strategic IT planning…
It can help you implement IT initiatives that align with your objectives. The strategic IT planning process is about building a plan that you can use to proactively work towards your organisational goals.
But can strategic IT planning help you improve productivity?
That’s the topic we’ll be taking a look at in this blog post. I’ve compiled the most important information from an interview with Gordon Tan, R & G Technologies Managing Director.
There are two ways; the first way is to…
1. Use technology as an enabler
Technology is always changing, and new products are making their way to organisations across Australia. These new technologies are enablers for your organisation and can create a competitive advantage.
Take, for instance, cloud technologies and cloud storage. Organisations can now store all their systems and information in the cloud and give team members access to that information from mobile devices such as iPads.
Now, when a staff member is at a client’s site, they can enter in information, update records and add notes, all right in front of the client. Gone is the days of writing notes, driving back to the office and then entering them into the system - all of that can be done instantly while on the go.
This is one way to improve team productivity. Imagine how many extra hours this can save your team! Are you being proactive in addressing these technology improvements and created a roadmap which leverages them within your organisation?
The next way is to…
2. Use technology to increase efficiencies
Slow IT systems frustrate and hamper your team’s productivity. Inefficiencies in your IT systems are often a result of a lack of strategic IT planning. You might be using systems that were originally installed and configured in 2006.
If these systems were implemented to do a job in 2008 they are now more than likely outdated for what is required of your staff in 2014. Staff member responsibilities and roles have changed over the last six years, and your IT systems need to be kept upgraded to accommodate for those changes. Otherwise, you run the risk of your staff struggling with slow, inefficient systems.
Another example: does your team still have to export data manually from one system and import it into another?
This situation could be made more efficient through the integration of your systems which is identified through the strategic IT planning process; your systems could be made to talk to each other and automate your outdated manual data-transfer task.
Related: Improve IT efficiency with these six tactics
Plan ahead and see productivity gains
Are you currently maximising the investment you have made in your IT?
What about in 12 or 24 months’ time? Will what you have still be efficient and how is the organisation planning to adapt their technology objectives?
These are the questions that strategic IT planning can help to answer.
Use the advice given here to start evaluating the ways that you can use technology planning to improve organisational efficiencies. Use these efficiencies to increase staff productivity and start helping more clients.