Domain Architect Natasha Barker MBCS, at Matalan, considers why future proofing in IT is not just a buzzword — it's a critical imperative for organisations looking to thrive in today's rapidly evolving business landscape.
Future proofing. It is a term that IT leaders have used for decades, but in this everchanging world we live in, it is as much at the forefront of leaders' minds now as it was at the start of the century. But what does it mean? Well — it’s all about preparing and adapting for the future. We don’t want to end up like Blockbuster, do we? They are a classic example of why future proofing is essential, but despite their well documented downfall, there have sadly been many other business casualties after their bankruptcy. Rapid technology developments, artificial intelligence growth, expanding consumer needs and expectations, and more complex trading landscapes all result in the need to future proof. We can’t predict the future, but we certainly do need strategies to help prepare for both the known and unknown. Successful future proofing can increase resilience, improve agility and help businesses stay ahead of the competition.
Future proofing can become a balancing act in the tech realm. We need one eye on the now and one eye on the future. This ability to balance present needs and future considerations is crucial for IT leaders as both are equally important. Present needs include maintaining existing hardware and software, addressing cyber security threats and meeting service level agreements to satisfy end users. Future considerations may include developing longer term strategies and programmes of work, anticipating industry trends and laying solid foundations to meet business objectives.
Considering technology
Organisations are more reliant on technology than ever. Whatever your industry — whether retail, hospitality, construction, healthcare, government, education or anything in between — technology will sit at the centre of your operations. This could be technology for your staff to work and communicate. It could be technology for your customers/end users to browse your products, book appointments or interact with you. It could be life changing technology, such as that used for planning and executing surgery — or technology enabling a transaction, such as a till or website. Technology is necessary both for present operations and for future proofing, and is now fundamental to enable business growth since it’s become an expectation of staff, customers and end users
As tech professionals, we face pressure to implement new solutions quickly, often balancing costs, timelines and user experience concerns. However, maintaining existing systems while preparing for future advancements is equally critical. Strong alignment between IT and business strategies is essential — with it, organisations may understand implementation timelines and recognise the necessary groundwork.
All sound familiar? Well, step one is having an IT strategy. The IT strategy outlines the IT team's objectives and deliverables for the next 3-5 years, serving as a roadmap for decision making and alignment with broader organisational goals. It facilitates communication within the IT team and with executives, ensuring a clear direction and enabling the organisation to support and engage in strategic initiatives. The document promotes efficiency and innovation and can enable agility. It can support resource allocation and alignment with organisational priorities, while helping to prioritise investment. By spending time considering and documenting such a forward facing view, it becomes clear how an IT strategy plays a vital role in future proofing the organisation. Through proactive planning and anticipation of technological needs, an IT strategy helps the organisation adapt to changing environments, seize emerging opportunities and mitigate risks, thereby ensuring its resilience and competitiveness in the long term.
Considering needs
Keeping the IT strategy transparent and accessible to the more comprehensive organisation is crucial, as broader organisational initiatives may rely on IT capabilities or have downstream impacts on IT deliverables. By fostering open communication and collaboration between IT and other departments, potential dependencies, knock-on effects, or additional IT deliverables can be identified and addressed proactively. This approach enhances organisational agility and strengthens the alignment between IT initiatives and business objectives. Strong stakeholder engagement, hosting workshops and bringing thought leadership to the business are vital techniques to leverage to support this collaboration.
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Successful execution and adherence to strategy can be achieved through IT architecture. Whether you have an established architecture function, a small team in those roles, or aspire to formalise this function, IT architecture is crucial in ensuring alignment between IT and business strategies throughout projects and implementations. It is the blueprint for an organisation's technology landscape, guiding decisions about technology investments, system design and implementation approaches. By establishing technical standards and principles, IT architecture ensures consistency, interoperability, and scalability across IT solutions.
Aligning IT initiatives with business objectives ensures that technology investments support the organisation's strategic goals. This involves conducting technology assessments to evaluate the suitability of different solutions, guiding solution design to meet business requirements and optimising the technology ecosystem to drive efficiency and innovation. Additionally, IT architecture facilitates informed decision making by providing a holistic view of the technology landscape and its alignment with business priorities. Organisations with robust architecture capabilities are better positioned to adapt to changing market dynamics, leverage emerging technologies and drive digital transformation initiatives effectively.
Staying current with knowledge of industry trends and new technology developments is crucial for organisations to innovate, maintain a competitive edge, adapt to changes, optimise efficiency, and mitigate risks in today's dynamic business environment. This research can feed into IT and business strategies and may be done by IT architects or senior leaders. Some practical tips to achieve this include: attending industry events, networking with peers, participating in online communities or conducting research which could include digesting articles, podcasts, videos and the like.
Looking to the future
In conclusion, future proofing in IT is not just a buzzword; it's critical for organisations that are looking to thrive in today's rapidly evolving business landscape. By balancing present needs with future considerations, aligning IT strategies with broader organisational goals, leveraging IT architecture capabilities and staying informed about the latest industry knowledge and trends, IT leaders can position their organisations for long term success and resilience. While the path to future proofing may present challenges, the benefits of proactively adapting to change, driving innovation and maintaining competitiveness far outweigh the risks of complacency. With strategic foresight, improved collaboration and a commitment to continuous learning, IT professionals, CTOs and CIOs can navigate the complexities of the digital age and lead their organisations towards a prosperous future.
