IT and Industrial Automation(IA) are key enablers for any organization and those who are responsible for this are equally impacted due to this crisis. Far from getting tactical in their approach the need is to align with business in managing the downturn. They have a critical role to play and have been forced to take some tough decisions.
Business heads have become more prudent in their approach. They and their CIO’s/Automation heads are focused on “must have “core technologies that have impact on everyday operations and can provide tangible returns. “Good to have “technology investments are being deferred. More attention is being given to utilizing and optimizing the existing resources and investments in a more effective manner.
These challenging times have enabled leaders to consolidate their investment and extract the best by optimizing on resources. Some have even looked at it as an opportunity to strengthen their systems to meet future needs which are more aligned with the business.
Disciplined and methodical approach in terms of optimal use of existing technology resources and prudent technology investments will not only enable organizations to survive but also be prepared for the future. This will lead to :
- Increased efficiency leading to productivity gains at reduced cost
- Technology enabled competitive advantage
- Being better prepared for the near future when the economy bounces back
It’s a wise call for organizations to identify such areas where ‘optimization’ can be best implemented rather than consolidating with a ‘Lean’ mandate. A strategic view for such a decision can yield long, fruitful results that might turn out to be profitable. It’s easier to correlate these new thoughts saying that it’s re-inventing the wheel or the dawn of a new business philosophy. Let’s stop a moment and look back; it’s our age-old practice, which is being given a new polish that suits our vibrant environment.
These scenarios are not new to the business world as we have traditionally been making key decisions judiciously and intelligently. If anything went to the hiding in the medieval period, this could well be our wake-up call. We seem to suddenly love the old wine and it’s indeed natural.
Businesses go through periods of recession and lean periods periodically. It is the organization with foresight which comes out stronger from these periods. Axcend’s complete value chain right from our inception times have been concentrating on the ‘Optimization’ cycle, even when the economy was in full boom.
