For many small and medium businesses (SMBs), planning, deploying and executing their digital strategy – even in an era where cloud-based solutions are abundant and accessible – remains a difficult task.
The cloud has changed how, where, and when we work forever. Conference calls, document management, email, file sharing, instant messaging, and security are all now offered in single, unified software packages like Microsoft 365 Business (M365), which are continuously updated with features and fully managed by the platform rather than the business. Collaborating with teams, securing our sensitive data and working from any device at any time has never been easier.
Yet despite over 50% of businesses moving their core collaboration and communications systems to cloud platforms with Software as a Service (SaaS) suites – such as Azure and M365 – many companies big and small are making minimal progress in their efforts to successfully digitalise their business model and realise the full benefits of these modern workplace tools.
According to the 2019 McKinsey Global Survey on digital strategy, many companies reported roughly the same amount of transformation as they did a year prior, suggesting SMBs and enterprises still struggle in their efforts to define, implement and execute their digital objectives.
But why? And how?
MODEX speaks with many SMB customers that face common difficulties in building and implementing a new digital strategy to guide their adoption of new wave platforms like M365, and/or to fully leverage all the collaboration and security capabilities that come with it. Such pain-points often come down to a lack of alignment between three recurring but major factors:
- Their business objectives (what value they want to achieve) and their adoption of new wave digital solutions (how they are going to achieve said value with the technology)
- Their depth of capability (in-house) to execute their transformation goals (long-term)
- Their digital strategy (planning) and their IT partner (execution)
Digital transformation is a continuous process, and with the right strategy backing your execution, it can provide several benefits for your organisation, including:
- Faster time to business value
- Enhanced operational efficiency and boundaryless workplaces
- Improved customer experiences and cost effectiveness
Going digital is different for every company. However, every SMB must align these above factors properly, so that when you adopt powerful new modern workplace platforms, you have the right digital strategy to deliver the exact business value you seek.
But what if you don’t have the experience and expertise necessary?
For many SMBs, this is where the IT provider steps in to proactively lead the execution of your digital strategy and guide you through its many nuances.
The question to ask yourself is: Is your IT provider leading your digital strategy?
Why your IT provider is key to the success of your digital strategy
The current reality is traditional IT processes and systems are no longer meeting our growing needs for agility and mobility in how, when and where we want to work.
On-premises solutions are unnecessarily preventing employees to work on devices outside of the office, restricting accessibility and communication, and presenting increasing compliance risks from outdated identity and security capabilities.
Going digital offers new ways forward to modernise the workplace, and secure ongoing competitive advantage.
However, cloud and modern workplace technologies are far from a ‘set and forget’ project.
Adopting cloud-based platforms and software for use in the business requires:
- Continuous assessment, evaluation, and review of licenses, resources and tools
- Ongoing optimisation to ensure new technology solutions are properly leveraged
- Hands-on education and integration to ensure the new tools are understood across the organisation and drive your business objectives as your digital strategy sets out to align.
For SMBs that lack in-house expertise, these core responsibilities falls to your IT provider.
The problem for many SMBs, however, is that their IT provider is reactive, rather than proactive, in both their support and their guidance of your digital strategy.
Finding the right IT partner to lead your digital strategy
Helping align digital initiatives with the customer’s business objectives, and helping deploy and adopt the technology that meets these goals is fundamental to any successful IT partnership; if you’re not getting this currently, it’s time to reassess your options if you want your digital strategy and ongoing transition into a modern workplace to produce the value you deserve.
If you’re searching for a partner that can help you adopt the right modern workplace solution that fits your digital goal – and proactively help you build your overarching digital strategy – reach out to the team at MODEX for a free Digital Maturity Assessment. We can take you through exactly to align your business goals with your digital initiatives, and build your digital strategy end-to-end.
Your IT department or support provider aren't leading your digital strategy? Speak to a Next-Gen MSP
Don’t risk being left behind
We show you how SMBs are evolving with Microsoft 365 and next-gen IT, in our thought leadership whitepaper written by MODEX, backed by research from Gartner.
In this whitepaper you will learn:
- About current cloud office business trends in Australia
- How you can use Microsoft 365 Business as your digital platform
- How next-gen IT partners deliver constant business value
- What to look for in a Microsoft 365 Business partner