Changing Trends in IT

I.T. is arguably one of the most important continually moving parts of a business and affects the day-to-day operations, engagement with customers and the way business results are delivered. Technology can catapult a business to new heights, or if poorly implemented, drag it down to the darkest depths. 

Predicting the changing trends in IT is not as hard as it may seem. However, deciding which trends are going to benefit your business the most, which will deliver tangible return on investment and which drive value can be a little bit more tricky. Traditionally, it’s important to plan ahead, gather your facts, make your plans and avoid being reactive.

However, take for example, the COVID-19 pandemic and its affect globally. After the initial shockwave, businesses based  in offices began to look for ways to continue operations in the most effective way possible - and since face to face engagement was not possible, the next step was to engage as closely as possible with clients and colleagues - so entered home working and the video calling craze, courtesy of Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts and Zoom, as an example. The result of this trend is that it's now recognised in some more conservative sectors that home workers aren’t actually less productive but can be more productive.

On the flip side, the pub and restaurant sector, due to temporary closures of their businesses, took the time looking at technology for improved booking, ordering and payment services.  They have now found new tools and processes to deal with customers ‘at a safe distance’. 

How these trends move forward over a longer term is largely going to depend on the national and international approach to combat this virus and the acceptance of the ‘new normal’ from workers, clients and users alike.

I suspect the new post-covid normal for those industries that can continue to strategically support home working will be a more balanced blend of what is happening this year. 

Cautionary tales

However, there have been lessons learned and lessons to learn. Security of customer data in the restaurant industry has been called into question as has the data security risk for home workers using off the shelf network devices with default settings.  

As such, with all technology change, it has never been more important to ensure that whether your organisation is large or small; you ensure that the infrastructure design, operations, policies and procedures are regularly revisited and standardised so that any rushed decisions to keep up with changing trends don’t expose your business to threats.

Techolony specialise in 'defining, designing and delivering' IT change and transformation solutions across financial services, retail and insurance sectors.

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