Every business is a digital business: You’re digital or you’re dead.

By David Lane, General Manager

In recent years the adoption of digital technology has been on many companies’ agendas. And like the adoption of anything, it’s had early adopters and laggards.

However, COVID-19 forced every business – large or small – to become digital.

To say ‘you’re a digital business or you’re dead’ is not an overstatement. This post-pandemic environment demands digitalisation. It has resulted in digital adoption accelerating by 3 – 5 years¹.

The definition of digital business has changed

Prior to the pandemic, most companies understood the benefits of being online. For most, it was an additional avenue to market.

With traditional means of business quickly disappearing – and customers demanding digital ways to transact – companies were faced with an unsettling reality.

Being digital was no longer advantageous, or a big-business goal. It was an absolute necessity. It’s moved from being an additional revenue stream to the ONLY way to conduct commerce during the pandemic as business coped with forced closures.

There is no longer a difference between digital business and business. Every business now needs to be a digital business.

Building your digital foundation

Being digital starts with your IT infrastructure.

IT can be complex.

IT can cost a lot of money, if you do not know a lot about it.

IT needs to move at speed and it’s hard to stay current.

IT requires specialized skills.

It’s often better to get someone to help you with this instead of doing it yourself. Especially if information technology is not your area of expertise. This allows you to focus on your core business.

That’s where an IT managed services provider can help.

Tackling digital adoption challenges

IT can be complex

Information Technology can be complex. That’s why it’s a multi-billion-dollar industry.

A trusted managed services provider can help you navigate the complexity. Bringing with it specialists to address things like system and network Security.

With cyberattacks increasing and becoming more sophisticated, higher levels of cyber security are also required. For most companies, this is too complex for their internal IT teams. Your managed service provider can provide the specialised skills you need to stay protected.

IT can cost a lot of money, if you do not know a lot about it.

Barriers to entry into Information Technology do not need to be high.

A trusted technology partner can recommend and scale a solution to meet your business requirements. Ensuring it’s fit for purpose and is not excessively expensive.

This is especially important when laying foundation for your IT strategy. Ensuring you have the right IT infrastructure in place and technology to get you there.

IT needs to move at speed, and it’s hard to stay current.

The IT industry is a fast-moving business. Even if you’re an early adopter, you must constantly ensure you keep up and refine your technology.

Most of us wait to adopt technology, but it no longer pays to be a laggard. Because laggards are not surviving.

So, you need a managed services provider to help you move at speed to ensure you keep up. With specialists and technology partners that give you access to the latest and greatest.

IT requires specialized skills

As with the first point in this list, areas such as cyber security, telephony, audio/visual fit outs and ecommerce all have specialist companies offering solutions.

A trusted managed services provider can help you make sense of the various offerings and help you implemented the correct solution. Not only to future-proof your organisation, but to ensure your systems and technology integrate.

In the current environment of a labour shortage of IT skills, it’s often best to seek out someone that helps instead of doing it yourself.

IT is not your core business

While everyone must be a digital business to compete, IT should not consume you – so much so that you lose sight of your core business.

Your IT team is there to support and facilitate your core business. Not focus on the IT problems for everyday users.

Hiring trusted managed services providers – whose core business is IT and are experts – ensures you remain focused on your company’s mission.

Need a roadmap to your digital future?

Together we can develop a technology plan that aligns with your business strategy and needs. Book your one on one session with one of our technology experts.

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About David Lane: Our captain and chief

David Lane is the CEO and General Manager of FUJIFILM CodeBlue Australia. With over 30 years-experience across 4 continents in the technology and IT sector, David is passionate about digital transformation and technology enablement. He’s a challenger of the status quo and believes there are no limits when it comes to innovative thinking.

> Read more about David

Sources:
1: How COVID-19 has pushed companies over the technology tipping point—and transformed business forever, October 2020, Mckinsey.