The challenges and opportunities that will influence your 2023 IT strategy

The first quarter of 2023 has come to a close, and it is already shaping up to be an interesting year for business. From economic uncertainty to skill shortages, companies will face some significant challenges. While the landscape might seem riddled with challenges, you also have various opportunities to grow your business during difficult times.

In this blog, I’ll explore the key business challenges that will likely define your strategy this year and discuss the opportunities in IT to help you remain agile and adaptable. By understanding these challenges and opportunities, you can develop an effective IT strategy, stay ahead of the curve and gain a competitive advantage.

Three business challenges to watch

We are seeing the following challenges impact businesses of various sizes and industries.

Sophisticated cyber attacks target businesses of all sizes

Online threats have become more sophisticated and prevalent as businesses continue adopting new digital technology. While we often see large enterprises in the news, small businesses also need to be vigilant because cyber criminals see them as easy targets for stealing data and holding it for ransom.

Your business will need to adopt a proactive and comprehensive approach to cybersecurity. Businesses should consider investing in cybersecurity and partnering with service providers to minimise cyber risk. Your cyber strategy should focus on people, processes as well as technology to be effective.

Talent shortages have created skill gaps

For some time, Australia has experienced a talent shortage impacting numerous industries. It has become more difficult to find people with the right skills, and if you do find them, they might ask for competitive salaries.

Rather than worrying about hiring more people, you can leverage technology to improve processes and support the talent you have in doing more with their time. For example, automation reduces the burden of routine tasks, freeing people to focus on more complex and strategic work. So, you can improve efficiency and productivity without hiring.

You might also invest in training and development programs to ensure your team can use new technology effectively. When your team has the right knowledge, you can fill skill gaps and improve retention by keeping your team engaged and motivated.

Economic uncertainty necessitates differentiation

With economic uncertainty comes the imperative to differentiate from competitors. Your business might benefit from investing in technology that improves the efficiency and effectiveness of operations and enhances customer experience.

You might start with identifying pain points and areas that need improvement, such as outdated technology, poor communication systems, or lack of automation. Once identified, you can develop a plan to invest in IT solutions to address these issues. For example, you might invest in a customer relationship management (CRM) system that provides a more personalised and streamlined customer experience.

Technology offering opportunities to overcome these challenges

Emerging technologies have many of the capabilities you need to meet these rising challenges.

Artificial intelligence has evolved to meet new business needs

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have accelerated to automate more repetitive tasks and workflows, freeing up resources and reducing overhead costs.?

One of the key ways in which AI and ML will shape IT strategies is by improving customer support. With the rise of chatbots and virtual assistants, your business can provide faster, more efficient customer support around the clock. You can improve customer satisfaction, reduce the workload on support teams, and free them up to focus on more complex tasks.

The Internet of Things (IoT) changes data collection

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of interconnected devices that can communicate with each other and collect and exchange data. IoT has existed for some time and significantly transformed various industries.

One way IoT can support your business is by providing real-time data you can apply to make informed decisions. With IoT, you can monitor operations, collect customer behaviour data, and track product and service performance. You can leverage this data to differentiate your business by personalising customer experiences, offering customised services, and improving customer satisfaction.

Business intelligence drives data-driven decision-making

Business intelligence (BI) is a valuable tool for companies that want to gain insights into their operations and make data-driven decisions. BI allows your team to collect, analyse, and interpret data from various sources, including sales, customer interactions, and marketing. With that data, you can identify trends, understand customer behaviour, optimise operations, and develop strategies that drive growth and profitability.

BI also enables you to monitor performance in real time, allowing you to quickly adapt to changes in the market and take advantage of opportunities as they arise.?

Automation to fill skill gaps and support your staff

Automation is rapidly transforming the business landscape, enabling companies of all sizes to streamline operations, reduce costs, and drive growth. In particular, these technologies allow businesses to scale their operations while improving the quality of their products and services.

Automation can improve efficiency and accuracy by handling repetitive, rules-based tasks such as data entry and reporting. Your team can focus on more complex and creative tasks that require human thought. By automating tasks, your business can increase productivity, reduce costs, and ultimately improve the bottom line.

Conclusion

As the business landscape evolves, your business needs an IT and technology strategy that aligns with your business goals and enables you to thrive in a changing landscape.

The challenges discussed in this blog, such as cyber security threats, talent shortages and economic uncertainty will likely influence your IT strategy. Incorporating the opportunities outlined into your IT strategy can help you meet these challenges and grow your business.

Why partner with RODIN when building your IT strategy?

Managing, developing and implementing a strategy for your IT roadmap can be daunting. You need to know if you are picking the right technology, stay abreast of changes in the industry, and ensure that your users get the most from the solution.

So, you need an experienced executive with the expertise to implement technology that supports business growth. RODIN’s CIO as a Service (CIOaaS) ensures you have access to technology consulting services and the right IT implementations and upgrades with minimal impact on your daily business operations. Visit our?CIO as a Service?page for more information.