We need to digitalize, we need to be faster, more innovative! No one will contradict these demands, they can be heard almost daily at every specialist conference and in every company. New technologies and approaches enable companies to improve existing processes in the IT organization and to establish new business models in and with the business.
However, if new technologies are integrated too slowly or not at all into the IT organization, it's possible that they will no longer be sufficiently competitive. Experience has shown that such efforts and projects often only remain on the surface. Although innovation workshops are offered in the IT organization and employees are trained in design thinking and scrum, a real development towards more innovation and broader digitization requires much more: a fundamental cultural change! This, however, often presents IT organizations with major challenges. That is why it is important to anchor digitization and innovation correctly in the organization.
How to choose the right digitization strategy for your IT organization
To digitize an IT organization does not only mean to replace outdated technologies with modern ones or to carry out formerly analog steps with the help of computers. Successful digitization in the IT organization always affects all existing sub-areas. These include: Organization, management, employees, processes and technologies. All these areas must be prepared for digitization with the right measures. It is important to determine the current status of digitization for each of these areas and to plan an implementation strategy that has been specifically coordinated for this purpose. This leads to a comprehensive digitization strategy that is adapted to the needs of the IT organization and takes all existing perspectives into account.
For the successful digitization of an IT organization, essential success factors must be taken into account. The core success factor is that management supports the necessary steps and stands behind the measures. Another success factor is not just replacing old technologies with new ones. All existing areas in the IT organization must be taken into account. An additional success factor for a digital transformation is agility - think big, start small and scale correctly at the end. And last but not least: communicating the progress of the transformation regularly and via various channels within the IT organization. This helps employees to understand the necessary changes and gives everybody the opportunity to participate in the process.
How are innovations driven forward and agile methods applied correctly?
Digitization and innovation must be closely linked to the IT organization. Only those who drive innovation can remain successful, because the innovation strategy lived by an IT organization is not always the right one. The current strategy can be evaluated, and the innovation potential checked with the help of a model from consulting practice. This model consists of four different areas - Scouting, Channels, Incubation Process and MVP Approach:
- In the first area, Scouting, the existing digitization roadmap is pursued, new trends and technologies are explored, and new and relevant topics are continuously evaluated.
- In the second area, Channels, various innovation channels such as hackathons, Design Thinking workshops, networks and cooperations with customers, competitors, suppliers and universities are set up and actively pursued.
- In the Incubation Process, the corresponding incubation process is defined and further developed, and suppliers and the operations team are integrated into the process.
- The fourth area, the MVP Approach, deals with the promotion of developing a rapid validation system and prototyping as well as the training and coaching of employees and managers involved in the MVP method. Depending on which of these practices are already in place in the IT organization, the innovation potential can be improved step by step.
Agile methods, Lean IT and Service Creation are among the basic methods for achieving innovation and a higher degree of digitization. Agile methods are used very successfully not only in software development, but also in IT projects. By dividing them into smaller tasks, progress can be seen much faster and the risk of failure can be significantly reduced. Lean IT can reduce unnecessary ballast in looped-in ITSM processes. By applying the lean principles, the value of the service can be defined from the customer's point of view, the value-added stream can be allocated to the individual processes, the required resources can be requested in a more demand-oriented manner, and ultimately be perfected. Service Creation helps to provide new services faster, to offer more digitization to business partners and to analyze more technologies in a more structured way. Service Creation is more efficient and effective than previously established methods.
Can Robotic Process Automation help to increase the efficiency of IT processes?
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a cross-industry trend in which recurring tasks that have to be performed manually by an employee can be automated. It's a non-invasive software program that can access user interfaces and simulate human interactions. The big advantage is that RPAs can work independently of certain business applications. This approach makes it possible to integrate a RPA pilot into the existing IT landscape after only a few weeks. Due to the short implementation time, the quality and efficiency of previously manual processes can be significantly improved, as these are automated and carried out with a lower error rate. In addition, the use of RPA entails manageable investment costs, enabling employees to focus on value-adding tasks again.
Our consulting services – Why 4C?
We support you in the analysis and implementation of your innovation and digitization strategy. In addition, we help you to recognize whether your IT organization is ready for innovation and which steps still need to be carried out within the framework of the digitization strategy. We support you in overcoming the pitfalls and hurdles on the way or finding another way that brings you to your goal.
Our consulting services at a glance
Innovation & Digitalization comprises all necessary components - from the definition of the digitization strategy, the management of innovations, the tools of Lean IT and agile methods, to the establishment of services and the use of Robotic Process Automation:
Consulting project
As part of a consulting project, we support you in the implementation of the innovation and digitization approach and the necessary components as well as the anchoring of sustainable innovation management and methodological competence in the areas of Lean IT and Agility, so that your IT is capable of coping with the changes that occur in the company, the market or the technology.
Why 4C?
We have experts for the necessary topics to gain a holistic view of Innovation & Digitalization in IT. We combine the market view with relevant technical and methodological competence using the current challenges as an opportunity to implement an integrated innovation and digitization approach. We advise our customers on a wide range of IT and digitization issues and accompany them from strategy to implementation.
4C GROUP offers its customers implementation success.
If you share our approaches and want to take your IT to a new level to meet the challenges of your organization and the autonomy aspiration of your business, contact us.
