‘Planning for the future’ is perhaps the greatest oxymoron in a post-COVID-19 world. Businesses are faced with uncertainties in the short and medium-term nature of work. Will remote operations be the norm moving forward? Will the world return to normalcy once vaccines are administered widely?
With questions like these looming, making a 2021 IT strategy is no easy task for decision-makers. As a managed IT services provider, we are at the forefront of dealing with the real challenges all types of businesses in Oakville face. Our IT professional services team helps businesses chart predictable IT spend while maintaining flexibility.
In this article, we briefly look at the essentials of an IT strategy in a post-COVID-19 world.
Objectives of a 2021 IT strategy
- Prepare the business’s infrastructure to maximize eCommerce potential
- Strengthen customer relationships to increase retention
- Discover new markets for expansion
- Introduce scalability and hierarchy to remote operations
How to prepare an IT roadmap for 2021
Where do you start with preparing a roadmap for 2021? Here are the top four things you should consider for your IT plan.
Real-world needs at the forefront
Preparing an IT strategy, one can easily lose themselves in a grand vision. While such an approach may be appropriate under normal circumstances, a plan for 2021 needs to be rooted in reality. Consider the real-world threats, weaknesses, strengths, and opportunities your business is expected to face in 2021. Invest resources in areas that could prove to be bottlenecks. This can help reduce waste and save at a crucial time too.
Don’t look at IT standalone – get opinions from stakeholders across the company.
Be realistic about expectations
IT expenditure depends heavily on growth prospects, sales, and the overall performance of the business. However, 2021 will be a year to be conservative. Err on the side of caution when it comes to large-scale IT projects to ensure you are able to follow through with critical systems upgrades. With a managed IT services provider like NUMENTIS, businesses have an agile partner that can respond to any of their scalability needs.
Adaptability is key
These peculiar times reward businesses that are willing to be agile. Organizations should be willing to pivot operational models as the situation evolves and pursue a 2021 IT strategy that enables this. This can be accomplished by setting flexible goals, building tolerance into processes, and implementing strategies that can be paused if the business’s overarching goals require it.
Catering to employees
Morale and productivity go hand-in-hand, and now more than ever, IT should be used to empower employees. Consider aspects broader than just ‘hours worked’, mental and physical health are important factors for a sustainable workforce.
The human factor is also more integral than ever to cybersecurity; expect more frequent security awareness training and skill-building.
IT professional services in Oakville
Our consultants are working with businesses to streamline their operations, incorporate analytics tools, and reduce IT costs. Speak to a representative today to discuss your requirements.
