A recent McKinsey report highlights the significant impact of technology on business growth, particularly in fostering innovation and productivity. Companies that have a proactive technology roadmap are more likely to achieve higher growth rates. According to McKinsey*, this is especially notable in sectors that integrate advanced analytics, AI and digital tools into their operations. Digital transformation is not an option for businesses who want to survive and thrive today; it’s crucial.
Sharing our best practice technology roadmap, we aim to set out the six stages of digital transformation and explain why each stage is important.
Digital transformation projects begin and end in the cloud. This means you can store files and use applications on the internet instead of on your computer’s hard drive or expensive office-based servers. It also allows you to access, manage and secure your data from anywhere, at any time, and digitally connect your data and processes using internet technologies. The first step in digital transformation is to create your computing environment in the cloud. Cloud architecture not only allows you to scale operations easily and gain a whole new level of flexibility, but it also ensures that the next layer of technology performs optimally. It’s crucial to get this foundation right to avoid costly inefficiencies and to build your new, digital processes.
Once you’ve chosen your cloud environment, you will need to configure it well. Many businesses suffer from performance issues not because the technology is deficient, but because it’s been poorly implemented. This leads to security vulnerabilities, operational inefficiencies and spiralling costs. Making sure your cloud environment is correctly set up from the start can save time, money and stress, allowing you to focus on growth and innovation rather than fixing problems.
You can find out more about how this financial services business increased productivity, security and saved costs with a robust Microsoft Azure implementation.
We all work with data every day, and we tend to create and store more of it without ever thinking about the wider purposes these documents or raw data can serve. Establishing a structured approach to data management paves the way for advanced analytics and AI applications. These tools rely on well-organised data that can easily be accessed. Your AI and process automation strategies will fail unless the technologies can easily navigate your business data.
Data often lives in disparate locations—cloud servers, personal devices and external storage platforms—making it difficult to manage and secure. To be more widely accessible, and to keep your cloud storage costs under control, your data needs structure. Organising data helps avoid errors and duplications, saves time and enhances the ability to share it across various parts of the company, for example, by ‘enrolling’ documents in automated processes, or gaining cross-business insights by gathering KPIs in centralised reporting. It also supports compliance with data protection regulations by ensuring sensitive information is stored securely.
Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT concern but a broad business imperative. As threats become more sophisticated, it’s essential to embed strong cybersecurity measures early in your technology roadmap. Implementing standards like Cyber Essentials ensures your business meets baseline government-backed security criteria, protecting you from most cyber-attacks. A proactive approach to security not only safeguards valuable data but also builds customer trust by showing a commitment to security.
If you want to streamline all your business processes, it’s important to choose the best applications for each job. Cloud applications that come with robust APIs, or Application Programming Interfaces — a set of rules that allow different software programs to communicate with each other — are essential. APIs allow you to integrate and extend the reach of different software applications, creating a portal where data is seamlessly exchanged between systems. For example, a cloud accounting software app might seamlessly integrate with your CRM, or Customer Relationship Management software, so that sales data from your CRM is automatically included in your financial reporting. This gives you a sole source of truth when it comes to management reports, and it removes the need for sales data to be manually entered twice across two systems, subject to human errors.
Integrating AI, Automation and Advanced Analytics technologies across the business should be the ultimate destination on your technology roadmap. AI can dramatically enhance decision-making, automate routine tasks and be a major contributor to growth and profitability. However, a successful AI implementation requires solid foundations in architecture, configuration, data management and security. With these elements in place, AI can transform a business, boosting productivity, enhancing service quality and opening new opportunities for growth and differentiation.
A structured approach to developing your technology roadmap helps you fully capitalise on your technology investments, turning investment in technology into a strategic asset and a pathway to growth. Whether you’re starting out on your technology roadmap or you’re an experienced strategist, we would love to hear from you.
Feel free to get in touch to book your free consultation today.
*Source: McKinsey report: Tech at the edge: Trends reshaping the future of IT and business
