In a world now almost completely saturated with technology, companies are finding themselves more and more reliant on IT to function at the highest levels. When it comes to efficiency and performance, automation and computer programs can help us work faster, smarter and more cost effectively. From small start-ups to giant global conglomerates, the ability to communicate, analyse, delegate and measure operations and output at the touch of a button is an invaluable tool in achieving your strategic goals. However, as commonly occurs with a societal shift in methodologies, many people rush to embrace these shortcuts and aids without considering their impact or the role they need to play in your business for it to succeed. All too often the buzzwords of the day and trendy systems are employed without the proper know-how or appropriate strategic considerations. Those whose grasp of social media is more reactive than expert will rush to add their brand to the plethora of platforms when, in fact, not all companies need to be on every social media outlet. Why spend time and resources plumping up your Snapchat credentials when none of your audience uses it and your marketing messaging isn’t remotely geared towards this medium. The same yardstick of credibility applies to your IT and automation; much like most things in life, if you don’t use it properly, it is more likely to hinder than help.
IT: an Enabler not a Disabler
Above all, your IT should be an enabler of your business, not a disabler. Whatever IT system you employ, it should carry out your processes in the way you want it to, not the other way around. Whilst automation and IT systems might result in more efficient methods of conducting business or achieving tasks; if it is hampering the essential processes that have been drawn from your strategy, it isn’t working for you, it is working against you. Rushing into purchasing the latest ‘fad’ technology without the appropriate research or customisation will end up hurting your business in the long-run, even if you experience short-term gains. When organisations lose sight of their overall strategy that is when things are most likely to go wrong, especially when it results in dropped processes and missed measures. Integrating an IT system that doesn’t adapt to your strategy will have exactly the same effect; your processes will suffer and you will miss out on crucial measures that impact your performance and customer satisfaction.
So how do I make sure my IT and automation system is the right ones for my business?
We’re glad you asked. It’s exactly the right question. Despite articles you might read or rave reviews you might hear from colleagues or competitors, the first question you need to ask when seeking the right IT system is, will this work well with my business? Once you have mapped your operational processes, you will have a clear idea of what areas and tasks your IT system will need to incorporate and which parts of your business will require more automation. It is when armed with this information that you can then consider different systems and select the one that most closely meets your requirements and, even more importantly, is fully customisable to your needs.
Automation not uniformity
The reality is that every customer or consumer of your services will have a different need or profile, so having a rigid system that can’t accommodate flexibility or forces you to change your previous accommodations, will drastically impact the experience of your end user. You need to ensure your system facilitates your operational prowess and generates the right measures, so that you can stay on track with your strategy and objectives. Imagine the processes once deployed by a logistics company or manufacturer; traditionally someone would have manually taken an order, briefed the appropriate team, tracked its progress and noted when the order was delivered or fulfilled. You would have trained that someone how to manage that manual process in the most appropriate way for your business, i.e. which elements to prioritise, which departments needed to be notified at which stage etc., now that much of that process is automated, it doesn’t mean the way it is done is unimportant; you need to ‘train’ your system to do it in the way you want as well. Let’s face it, if your IT or automation system doesn’t fit your operational processes in the right way it is definitely going to cause costly disruptions. Your systems also need to talk to each other, your customers and your suppliers in the right way to ensure that the interlinked processes are achieved correctly. If your website or waiter doesn’t know that you no longer have an item in your inventory or kitchen, they won’t know to update the customer which means they could be left requesting something that it is impossible for your company to fulfil.
The benefits of the right IT system
Taking the time and resources to customise your IT and automation system to your business requirements is worth its weight in gold. Technology, when used correctly, can be a huge benefit to any business and result in improved performance and a healthier bottom line. With a bespoke, strategically-aligned system, you can increase efficiency and productivity for your company, you can create the capacity to track and generate measures that will aid your processes performance and you can save time and money, thereby making a positive contribution to your future plans.
A successful business needs to have a smart strategy, effective processes and the right measures to ensure everything works as it should. The right IT system will, and should, help you significantly with this, as long as you take the time to make sure it is designed for you and your business; because your business is unique, don’t settle for a uniformed solution.
If you would like to get expert advice on aligning your company’s strategy to business processes and performance that will continually drive improvements and profitability, get in touch with Identify Action at https://identifyaction.com/ or via email on action@identifyaction.com.
Recent Comments