Your Business First and Cloud Computing Second

We have seen Cloud Computing solutions mature greatly over the last 5 years, especially Microsoft technologies. So how has this transferred over to the modern-day SME in Ireland?

Today, too many businesses focus on their IT and Cloud Computing solutions as a way of running their business. Ok, so what’s wrong with that you might ask?

While it seems like a logical approach to improving your business to better your IT, it is counterproductive. Let’s take a step back for a second.

Too many SMEs in Ireland are starting with technology first, wasting precious time and productivity, instead of starting with the business first. If you are overseeing the IT within your organisation, you need to start with the underlying business model and how the business functions daily. Why? Because the business drives IT, not the other way around.

Why an IT Assessment is important?

As a Cloud Computing consultant, I try to get to the root of the way the business functions. I look at how a business can make its employees work smarter. Working smarter means getting the most out of employees in terms of their productivity. The important aspect of working smarter, is the employee not having to work any harder, indeed, work can now be a lot more enjoyable! This is when I get tasked in designing a Cloud Computing solution that may involve a mix of technologies. Such outcomes could be a combination of options depending on the right fit for the client. A lot of the time this results in a Hybrid Cloud solution, albeit a combination of On-Premise/Private Cloud, On-Premise/Public Cloud, On-Premise/Public & Private Cloud or a simple mix of Public & Private Cloud architecture, with no On-Premise requirements.

Ultimately, the key driver behind a lot of IT and Cloud Computing projects is technology itself, rather than strategy or business objectives, where the focus should be. Technology such as Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Azure, Virtual Desktops and Cloud Servers are fantastic. However, the core of the business is the business itself and the people that drive it. So business strategy should be about driving the technology that can future-proof the business and allow it to grow.

First comes the Business, Second comes Technology

So from this we can gather that Business Strategy comes first, Cloud Computing & Technology comes second. Business should drive the vision, which in turn drives the strategy, which drives the architecture, which drives the technology.

Every decision maker within a business knows how it functions and it’s this type of information that should be gathered first i.e. How does the business generate revenue, how many employees interact with IT, how do remote/field workers operate, how do people communicate internally with other staff and externally with clients, what areas of the business would you like to improve on.

Once the information gathering process has been established, next comes the technology that will enable the business to flourish. It’s this assessment that will define the right mix of technology for the business.

All too often, business owners are sold an IT solution that can be convenient, but not necessarily the right fit. This can cause its own issues with stakeholders, employees and customers all feeling the pain of poor advice or decision making when it comes to IT. This could be all avoided by taking a step back and analysing the core functioning of the business, then decide what the best fit should be.

Once the stakeholders let you know what would make their working day more productive and less stressful, then the combined mix of technology and Cloud architecture can be drawn up from this.

Finally, Perform your own Research

My advice to anyone looking at moving to the Cloud is simple. Get advice from an IT Provider, but also do your own research and see what way similar businesses are operating. Sit down with a Cloud Computing expert and start from the approach of what way the business operates currently, then how you would like achieve increase efficiency and productivity within the business. That way the business will decide the technology that suits best and not the other way round. This will save you a lot of heartache and pain in the future. Put it like this, if you’re currently talking too much about your IT, then it’s simply not working well enough for your business!

It might seem like a lot of work, but if you put the effort in now to sit down and analyse the way you would like your IT to work for your business, it will save you and your employees countless production hours and a stress-free working environment long into the future!

Visit -> www.cloudstrong.ie or call us on 01-9022783.