As a result of the global pandemic, organisations have been forced to rapidly implement digital transformation projects, with a recent IFS study revealing that 70% of businesses have increased digital transformation spend amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the urgency required to make these changes, compromises have been struck and businesses have had little choice but to take short cuts to ensure ‘business as usual’ operations.
As restrictions ease, business leaders are planning what returning to work might look like, and how technology will facilitate a shift back to the office. Re-evaluating the decisions taken and technology investments made at the start of lockdown, to understand whether they are fit for purpose long-term, is a crucial aspect to this.
Take stock of updated IT estates
A period of optimisation and consolidation is vital for organisations to ensure that the emergency measures that were deployed during lockdown are robust and ready for the future. Now is the time for IT teams to reflect and take stock of their IT estates and ask themselves the following questions:
Consuming IT – The New Way
Remote working has completely changed the way a business’ workforce operates and has had a vastly positive impact, as organisations have seen a boost in employee productivity and lower costs. A recent study from PwC found that 54% of CFOs plan to make remote work a permanent option. It is clear the future of work, for many companies will be a permanent flexible working environment. They’ll be considering means to create a remote, secure, connected, collaborative and adaptable IT environment.
The big shift to remote working meant the demand for hybrid cloud computing services skyrocketed, with companies getting a real bite of the scalability, flexibility and efficiency offered by a cloud-based infrastructure. In today’s world, a hybrid cloud option provides businesses with the fluidity to deliver greater support for a remote workforce, with access to on-demand data - that isn’t tied to one central location. Additionally, with a hybrid option, it enables business continuity with adaptable cloud solutions, allowing minimal downtime or interruption under exceptional circumstances.
No-one fully anticipated the impact of COVID-19 and the speed in which companies had to switch to remote working, which happened in a matter of days. It’s exposed business leaders to the possibilities of digital transformation through technology and new means for businesses processes. Organisations that will thrive once the pandemic is over will be those that have balanced their short-term needs with longer-term planning considerations. They’ll be the ones building the resilience their organisation needs now.