We surveyed IT managers, asking them what they foresee happening in IT over the next 6 months.

Here’s some of what we heard:

"We're headed to a virtual/remote direction. We don't even know if we'll have an office"

Many companies are weighing the pros and cons of having a physical office. If they have a physical office, will they stagger shifts? Will cabling, phones, and computers need moved? If they work remotely, what kind of security measures are needed? How do we measure productivity? These are all questions that will certainly affect IT.

"We won't be signing any long term contracts"

With so much uncertainty, the mere thought of getting locked into anything can make an IT Manager shudder. This legitimate concern has many vendors rethinking how they frame their terms and conditions. Ask your vendors what they’re doing to alleviate these concerns.

"Our infrastructure is Microsoft 365 and Azure- no servers necessary"

Being forced out of the office in March 2020, leaving behind all on-premise servers and data, got many IT Managers thinking more about cloud-based solutions than ever before. Having cloud-based solutions like Microsoft 365 alleviates a lot of technical issues. But, it also opens up its own set of challenges including bandwidth, security, etc.

"We’re forced to connect IT initiatives with Business initiatives"

The IT department has never been considered a revenue generator. But, nonbillable time doesn’t have to mean nonproductive time. The IT department has the uphill battle of justifying the need to spend time and money on enhancements to the infrastructure. But, during these unusual times, it’s imperative to connect IT initiatives with business initiatives. Show management exactly why changes need to be made and how it directly affects the revenue-generating departments.

"We did a server refresh and added a new backup solution because it won't be disruptive"

You’re already paying the staff. But, there’s a lull in activity. Use that time to be productive. It seems like the time is never right to do major upgrades because we can’t disrupt activity. If there’s not a lot of activity, then now is the perfect time to knock out some of these projects. Timing is rarely good and we’ve just been given a big window

"Our Pandemic Preparedness Plan was ready"

Call it business continuity, disaster recovery, or pandemic preparedness. Whatever you call it- just make sure you have a plan. Those that had solid plans in place in February 2020 had a much smoother transition when employees were forced to work from home. There are many resources available to develop a proper plan.

"You can't stick your head in the sand, wait 8 months and hope it's better. Be proactive. Be stronger. Our CEO felt much more confident when they heard that from IT.""

This was our favorite quote from the survey and it needs little further explanation. The relationship between the IT department and Ownership has never been more important. Keep those lines of communication open. The entire organization (ESPECIALLY the C-suite) is counting on the IT department to keep things moving in the right direction.

 

Here's what they all need in an IT partner:

  • Flexible: No long term contracts. Pay as you go and only for what's needed.
  • Proactive: Forward-thinking strategic planning as opposed to reactive
  • Agile: If it's not working, change it, and quickly.

With unmatched expertise, Ceeva has provided IT know-how since 1992. Our team has seen it all, done it all, and is always ready for what’s next in managed services. We’re not located across the country in Silicon Valley. Nor do we operate an outsourced service desk overseas. Ceeva is headquartered right here in Pittsburgh. Avoid long-term contracts and technologies that are wrong for your business. Ceeva provides customized pricing solutions that meet your needs, not ours.
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It can be hard to keep up with shifts in technology and workplace tools, especially if IT isn’t in your wheelhouse or if you have more IT work than you can manage independently.

Does your organization have more than 30 computer users? Are you seeking the right-fit partner to advise, equip, and empower your organization to hit your targets? We are waiting for your call.

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