Introduction

Often, when entrepreneurs talk about their business strategy, much of the discussion focuses on revenue or profit goals, and what sales and marketing initiatives will be used to achieve those targets. Despite the fact that a plethora of IT systems and software are necessary to operatively achieve those revenue targets, there is little consideration given to aligning its technology to the business strategy. As a result, technical components are implemented that guide the internal workflow processes of the business without a full understanding of how those decisions impact the overall strategy. 

What Is a Strategic IT Plan?

There are four components to an IT strategic plan:

1. Outlining the available technology that can be used to achieve business objectives and any potential limitations

2. Evaluating the current systems and their performance relative to potential technology available

3. Identifying the internal resources required to operate the current system vs. alternatives

4. Assessing the costs of maintaining the current systems vs. purchasing and implementing alternatives

Like a business’ strategic plan, an IT strategy evolves over time, especially since technological innovation occurs at a rapid pace. Maintaining an IT strategy ensures that business owners and managers adhere to a proactive view of its technology, enabling them to keep up with rapidly changing trends while maximizing their investments in technology.

Creating an IT Strategy

The first step in creating an IT strategy is to assess the current IT needs of the organization. This includes evaluating existing systems and identifying areas where improvements can be made. During this assessment, it is important to consider not only current needs, but also future goals and objectives of the business as a whole. 

For example, when assessing current technology platforms and systems, businesses should consider questions such as:

• Does our current system properly enable employees to perform their jobs without wasting time on manual processes?

• Is our system capable of handling growing customer demands? 

• What features will add value for customers?

• Are there any new technologies that could help us become more efficient or increase profitability?

• Are we able to implement new technologies easily, or are upgrades required?

Once a clear understanding of the organization's IT needs has been established, it is time to develop a technology roadmap that outlines how those needs will be met over the long-term. This document should include detailed plans on which technologies will be implemented at what stages and with what budget allocations. 

Some considerations include:

• Capital cost and operating cost analyses

• Scalability of solutions

• Integration with other existing software programs

• Performance expectations

• User experience

• Maintenance requirements

Finally, this is where the IT-business alignment is critical, as the IT strategy should match the strategic goals of the business so that any decisions being taken do not distract from the overall direction.

By aligning these two strategies together from day one, organizations can ensure their investments are focused on achieving desired outcomes, while avoiding wasted resources on technology “solutions” that are anything but helpful. 

Conclusion

Establishing a strong IT strategy is essential for small businesses to stay competitive in today’s digital landscape. By assessing current needs and future objectives of the business and aligning an IT strategy with the overall business strategy from the outset, organizations can ensure their investments are focused on achieving desired outcomes. With proper planning and implementation, small businesses can leverage technology to build more efficient operations and gain a competitive edge in their market. Although it sounds intimidating, developing and implementing an IT strategy does not need to be difficult, and you don’t have to go it alone.