As we move into 2022, technology becomes more and more integral to our lives.
For companies, this means embracing new ways of working, investing in modern technologies and improving existing infrastructures.
Especially if they want to stay ahead of the competition.
So with CIOs at the forefront of both transformation and innovation, it’s important to be aware of some of the key priorities that are likely to dominate 2022.
Improving Data Accessibility
Massive amounts of data still remain untapped and unused. CIOs are realising that the underutilisation of high potential data is a huge area that needs attention.
As data continues to pour in and accumulate, structured and unstructured, it’s essential that organisations use the necessary tools, talent and services to prepare it for actionable use.
Or risk falling behind their competitors.
Clean, structured and accessible data allows your teams to make better-informed decisions. It also allows for more effective sharing of information with customers and other stakeholders.
And it extends to data integrity.
When data is clean, it becomes more reliable. It can be used for more purposes without the fear of inaccuracy and error.
Simply put, your reports and findings will have far more accurate, actionable information.
Accelerating Automation
Automation is among the top priorities for CIOs. Especially since it provides ample opportunity for business leaders to faster achieve their goals.
In fact, according to a recent report by Camunda, 92% of IT decision-makers see process automation as a vital element of digital transformation.
And to advance their organisation’s digital transformation efforts, CIOs need to look into a well-informed automation strategy.
Especially when manual processes take away from time and human resources.
With the abundant benefits of automation, employees are able to do their jobs better, as well as reduce mistakes and human error. It even goes as far as enhancing customer experiences.
Customers expect excellent service. Even more so if you are a leader in your industry. Automation achieves customer success by minimising errors and retaining satisfaction through consistency. The more consistent that you are with your relationships, the longer they will last.
Automation encourages customers to return to your organisation time and time again, resulting in loyal customers for the long haul.
Embracing Sustainability
With so many organisations focusing on cost savings, customer experience and the bottom line, it is more important than ever for CIOs to focus their attention on improving sustainability within their organisation.
Sustainability is an invaluable asset to any company looking to reduce both environmental impact and its associated costs.
Not only for internal affairs, but for public perception and market value, as well.
According to Statista, as of 2020, 45% of consumers are more interested in finding brands that are sustainable or environmentally responsible. And 44% of consumers have more interest in brands that support recycling.
With the emergence of cloud computing and storage, organisations can operate more efficiently and without the need for costly, power-intensive hardware.
For example, electronic document management has become a much more popular alternative to paper documents. This reduces paper usage and the extra power required to facilitate the transfer of files.
The effects of technology on carbon footprint have been substantial over recent years, not only from the perspective of increasing efficiency but also from the perspective of encouraging sustainable development.
As such, CIOs need to ensure that they not only continue down this path, but that they provide their staff with the necessary training and education in order for them to perform tasks in a more environmentally-friendly manner.
It is also important for companies to work closely with technology providers who have a strong focus on sustainability.
For example, many cloud providers are taking steps to encourage their clients to adopt more sustainable practises, while also providing various financial incentives for doing so.
By embracing sustainability in the workplace, organisations will become more efficient and productive, while simultaneously improving their environmental impact.
Cloud Migration
More CIOs are coming to terms with the impact of cloud technology. Other than it being vital to businesses looking for scale and growth, it takes resiliency, agility and customer experiences to another level.
And at a fraction of the cost that is given to legacy infrastructure.
Cloud computing delivers more scalable workloads, greater innovation and seamless multi-channel experiences that retain and attract.
Where scalable workloads are concerned, it allows businesses to accommodate the ever-increasing amount of data that we deal with today. For example, organisations can choose from a variety of cloud services and toolsets, such as Salesforce and Oracle, instead of spending time and resources building their own costly solutions.
This is a result of being able to utilise third-party applications that have been tailored to suit their specific needs. Not only is this more cost-effective, but it is also more time-effective as they are readily available with minimal configuration required.
Cloud computing also delivers greater innovation for businesses through its agility and capabilities in meeting customer demands.
For example, Amazon was able to develop their ‘1 click’ system that allows for easier online transactions. Purely because they have access to information about their user’s preferences and habits through cloud computing. Which allows them to make positive connections with their customers by personalising their services.
As cloud continues to evolve, so will the organisations that invest in those technologies.
Inching Closer Towards New Frontiers
With the future highly dependent on data and what organisations can do with it, it becomes essential to extract as much value through the cloud, automation and modern toolsets.
In the next five years, CIOs can expect to see big changes in their field. We believe that these four priorities will be key for businesses looking to stay ahead of the curve.
Luckily, our team of experts are here to guide organisations to succeed in a data-driven world.
We can help you accelerate automation, embrace sustainability and make a comfortable, secure switch to the cloud.
