The shift to a cloud-first approach in many enterprises presents a clear disruption across business processes. From new opportunities for collaboration and seamless mobile connectivity to an improved customer experience, cloud technology is making a big impact. The influence of cloud services is also at work on the CIO, significantly changing how the role operates within the organization.
While the CIO role has changed multiple times in recent decades, none of these changes have been quite so drastic as the transformation currently happening across enterprises. CIOs are still responsible for operating IT, but they are also being tasked with some broader roles, like innovating and orchestrating digital ecosystems.
Constantly innovating: The release cycle for new software and updates is steadily shrinking, so CIOs must stay on top of new technology that can either improve productivity or give them an edge with end-users. They run the risk of losing customers to the poaching of other companies if they are not always at the forefront of adopting new technology.
In this area of IT responsibility, CIOs are also collaborating more extensively with line-of-business managers to deploy the best software options and eliminate the pitfalls of shadow IT.
A shift to the top line: CIOs are less likely now to focus on bottom line savings and instead put their energy into improving the top line. Driving revenue with a superior technology stack can be more effective than simply shaving costs. The CIO is deeply involved in driving the achievement of the corporate strategy. In fact, the influence the CIO has in the direction of the enterprise has never been greater. It’s a unique opportunity that comes with unprecedented pressure.
Yesterday’s offshoring is today’s automation: The new focus for cost savings is on automation, and the lower, the better. CIOs are focused on automating as many business processes as possible. “Zero touch” is the new goal, and given that it ensures no human error, it will make for an optimized end-user experience.
Prioritizing platform ecosystems: There is a shift occurring in how companies integrate technology with business partners. There will be less of a division at a company versus company level, and instead, there will be collaborative environments with a focus on competing for market share.
Through our expertise and relationships with Verizon and others, eXemplify is able to navigate the seemingly infinite number of available IT and network service offerings to help partners recommend the most efficient voice, data, and cloud solutions for their clients. Contact us to talk further about the changing role of CIOs in the era of digital transformation.