IT Transformation: How to Move Beyond Quick Fixes

As the world reacts to the short- and long-term implications of the COVID-19  global pandemic, we’re seeing entire industries transform faster than ever before. Extreme situations are inspiring equally remarkable reactions particularly in industries that needed to quickly pivot to remote work capabilities, rather dramatically illustrated by the 1000% increase in Teams usage Microsoft reported in March.

For some industries this was simply an extension of work-from-home policies already in place, for others it was a significant transformation of how things are done. In any case, this swift shift illustrated that even in extreme circumstances, transformation is still possible, especially when industries focus on the areas that will have the greatest impact, both now and in the future.

Now that the quick fixes are in place, it’s important organizations begin to put plans and processes in place to ensure success moving forward. As these IT transformation roadmaps are laid out, it’s critical business leaders keep these key factors in mind:

Flexibility

As companies move forward, there’s a need for nimble systems that can support work both on-site and remotely. And the band-aid solutions that were quickly put into place at the start of the pandemic crisis cannot be a long-term solution. Whether that means moving more applications and business-critical workloads to the cloud, stepping up security, or implementing a gateway better suited for remote work,  companies must focus on building systems that are capable of supporting the nimble shifts this new normal requires.

Scalability

Even with the uncertainty of the current climate, businesses need to continue to plan for growth. As quick fixes give way to long-term plans, it’s crucial organizations allow room to scale. For instance, remote capabilities that can only support your current workforce will only last so long, especially as many companies consider making remote work a more permanent fixture going forward. In fact, 74% of CFOs plan to move some employees to full-time remote work, according to a new survey from Gartner. Make sure your roadmap leaves room for the future as you continue to evolve and grow.

The Right Support

Transformation means new technologies that will need to be managed. And the constant evolution of these applications and environments makes it difficult for any business to keep up. Unfortunately, providing the amount of training needed to keep team members up to speed on the ins and outs of new systems isn’t a viable solution. But sustainable support for these systems is not optional. That’s why many businesses partner with a managed cloud partner to ensure their critical cloud applications are always optimized.

While the full impact of coronavirus on the way businesses work may not be clear for some time, it’s certain business leaders will need to keep moving forward with IT transformation plans. Having the right IT knowledge and support will be crucial to navigate the uncertain days ahead. Centrilogic is here to help.

Download The Ultimate Guide to IT Transformation to help future-proof your IT strategies.