(4 Min Read)

Outdated systems and infrastructure are often the biggest impediments for established companies attempting to stay relevant in the digital economy. This new world order leaves no space for laggards playing catch up. Digital technology is changing the way we think, shop, and live making it imperative for businesses to hop on the digital bandwagon and transform existing systems.
This move towards transformation is prevalent across the globe and impacts businesses across industries. In fact, the International Data Corporation predicts that by 2020, 30% of G2000 companies will allocate at least 10% of their capital budget to fuel their digital strategies.

The Benefits of IT Infrastructure Transformation are Many
A strong and robust infrastructure is the backbone that can support the move to a more digital and faster world. As customer expectations rise, businesses vying for their attention need to upgrade their existing processes and methods to stay competitive. The infrastructure’s strength has severe implications on every aspect of the business – right from enhanced back-end capabilities to faster-turnaround for support and downtime. The benefits of upgrading the infrastructure to meet these needs are spread across different aspects of the business. Identifying gaps in the existing system and fixing them for efficiency, optimising processes to remove inherent redundancies, and finding new avenues for growth and expansion are some of the immediate benefits of moving to a smarter, more modern infrastructure.
Despite being aware of the importance of modernization to stay relevant, companies are hesitant about deciding on the right strategy that can fuel their digital transformation journey.
Here we bring you the core principles to bear in mind while choosing strategic partners that can help you derive more value from your IT infrastructure.

Is their Strategy Built Around your Needs?
One of the biggest roadblocks to infrastructure upgradation is not knowing how to integrate with existing traditional legacy systems that you’ve relied on for so long. Established companies with set processes and systems in place try to make the most of their IT investment and tend to put away modernization for later. And they’re not to blame. Not entirely, at least. Often infrastructure investment is the biggest ticket item on the budget and you need to be really sure before committing to something new.
This is why it is important to choose a technology partner who understands your unique needs and can offer a solution that takes into account a perfect balance between the old and the new. Modernizing your IT infrastructure does not mean a complete overhaul of existing systems. Instead, pick a technology partner who is capable of devising a strategy that integrates your legacy systems along with new technology in a cohesive manner.

Do They Have Experience Dealing with your Industry?
Another core factor to look into while evaluating a technology partner is identifying their level of expertise in your area of business. A strategic partner is key to assess your existing infrastructure setup and offer the right suggestions as you enter your next phase of growth and expansion. Choosing a partner who understands your needs and has significant experience in modernizing such businesses ensures that your digital transformation journey is a smooth and effective one. Another aspect that can indicate the effectiveness of a technology partner is evaluating whether their subject matter experts have knowledge of your industry. Having a team of experts on your side not only helps in devising a workable strategy for the future, it also helps you implement the plan at different stages without causing any disruption to day to day processes and activities.

Is this a long-term partnership geared towards innovation?
The world has seen some remarkable changes in the last few decades. The rate of growth and innovation is exponential and it’s only getting better with every passing year. Companies that are in it for the long haul need to be prepared to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to innovation and technology. This dictates that any strategic partner you choose to have onboard needs to be constantly aware of your evolving needs as a business and quickly suggest, modify, and adapt to the changes without playing catch-up with innovators in the industry. It is important to understand that modernization is never a one-time affair and in order to continuously stay competitive you need to choose strategic partnerships that are built to last.

The success of any new implementation or partnership depends on the extent to which it reflects and supports the shared vision of a business. Businesses that succeed in the new digital world are those that are constantly cognizant of the need to find new and efficient ways of operating so they can continue to stay relevant and valuable to their customers.
At the end, isn’t that what it all boils down to?