Big Data, Cloud Computing, BYOD, ERP, Business Intelligence, virtualization… There are dozens of concepts, both new and well-known, that directly impact organizations’ IT infrastructure and have sparked a true “gold rush” in the markets. Everyone is searching (as quickly as possible) for alternative ways to manage internal processes that balance maximum savings with maximum efficiency.
It is a kind of corporate darwinism that will likely cause the most conservative companies to disappear from their segments, given the impossibility of competing on equal terms with bolder rivals that adopt Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions for their businesses.
However, simply investing in ICT is not enough; this resource allocation must be planned, in close harmony with the business DNA. To make this concept clearer, the following lines will show the importance of this type of investment and how it should be done to have a “surgical” effect on your organization’s success. Read on:
IT Infrastructure and Organization Mission: Siamese Twins in the Business DNA
Boldness is an essential quality for an entrepreneur, but boldness without planning will change your company very little. Many companies invest in IT intuitively, fragmentedly, using distinct technologies, at different times, and without any connection to the organization’s ultimate goal, resulting in a huge corporate patchwork quilt that hinders more than it helps.
An inescapable lesson for any entrepreneur: equipping your company with modern solutions to increase your efficiency gain is fundamental. However, all solutions related to IT architecture must be aligned with the company’s institutional objectives.
Let’s translate this concept into practical terms?
Example 1
Imagine a company that spent resources to automate its inventory system, aiming to optimize material control and prevent drops below Minimum Stock levels. There is just one problem: the company “forgot” to integrate the ERP with the systems used by its stakeholders (such as suppliers), which means that the speed in identifying sudden drops in inventory is not matched by the same celerity in issuing orders. As a result, the flow of information is “halted” during the transition from the company to the supplier. Was the organization’s goal of improving productivity and reducing costs achieved? Certainly not.
Example 2
A company acquires a Business Intelligence solution, but does not even have a good ERP implemented. BI works by processing data collected from external sources. Without a system capable of compiling all the information flowing through the company, a Business Intelligence solution will have little effect.
Example 3
Now think of a company that spends rivers of money buying software with the most varied functions, when it could work with a more modern computerization system, such as SaaS (Software as a Service), where you pay just a simple monthly fee and have access to all the features you would get by purchasing the application, but at lower costs and without the need to spend on updates.
This is a classic example of random investments, without planning or adequacy to the organization’s objectives.
Last Example
A company decides to innovate and adopts BYOD in its organization. However, it did not bother to hire IT infrastructure monitoring specialists, resulting in frequent bugs, loss and improper alteration of data (due to the lack of backup systems), in addition to making corporate confidential data more vulnerable to intrusions.
In this specific case, a powerful infrastructure monitoring and mapping system could give meaning to the investments made in BYOD, aligning such resource allocations with the organization’s objectives. It’s not just about changing; it’s about ensuring that the change results in effective improvements in the company.
But the moment is one of crisis. Is it time to invest in IT infrastructure?
It is in moments of chaos that the standout performers excel and the ordinary perish amidst difficulties. If the moment is one of economic contraction, this is the most indicated period to make investments in your IT architecture, contrary to common sense.
In times of low sales and weaker results, finding innovative and creative solutions to reduce costs is more than essential. And the IT area, which long ago ceased to be a mere operational sector to become critical to business success, possesses countless remodeling alternatives that can cause profound cost reductions, besides making the company more dynamic, modern, and efficient.
Thus, many companies cut IT investments during downturns in order to catch their breath against the coming storm; however, they end up becoming even more vulnerable to difficulties: many even end up closing their doors, without understanding why others, in the same period, managed to grow and expand in the market.
It is necessary, therefore, to understand that IT is not a cost; it is an investment. But with criteria. And the first step before resizing your IT architecture is to ensure the full availability of the current scenario, in order to avoid crashes and productivity losses, which would render any other investment unfeasible.
High IT Availability First
Keeping services available for as long as possible is, after all, the number 1 step to making your IT area generate robust results for the organization. Teclógica, at this point, offers two options for IT infrastructure management. The first one is TI.Guard, a monitoring and technical support service we have mentioned here a few times. With it, our team of experts works to ensure total availability of your Data Center, while your internal team can dedicate themselves entirely to Core Business.
The second option is the recently launched Monitoring Appliance, a set of hardware and software that automates the monitoring of infrastructure incidents. Besides making it easier to identify the root cause of the problem, it enables the application of preventive measures with real-time alerts that notify you if any of your components need special attention.
Avoiding failures and ensuring maximum service availability are crucial factors for generating positive results. If you have any questions, leave a message below and we will be happy to help you!
