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When it comes to digital transformation, the right CIO platform can offer deeper insights, improve communication with other business units, streamline workflows, and more.
As most IT leaders know, information overload and workflow complexity are big barriers in the modern business. Organizations of every size are in a constant struggle to:
- Streamline digital workflows
- Integrate business processes
- Aggregate, unify, and leverage data
- Reduce complexity in the workplace
On the hand, this complexity is caused by technology-driven innovation and the fast pace of change. On the other, however, technology is also the very thing that can simplify workflows and solve that complexity.
CIO platforms should therefore focus on improving business processes, siloed business units, and data.
Below, we’ll look at a few platforms that can accomplish these objective.
What Is the Best CIO Platform for Driving Digital Transformation?
Here are a few enterprise-grade platforms that can help CIOs streamline workflows and get better results from their digital transformation efforts:
Digital Adoption Platforms
Digital adoption platforms (DAPs) are tools designed to streamline software adoption, onboarding, and training.
Since digital adoption is a key step in the process of digital transformation – not to mention an organization’s everyday business operations – DAPs are invaluable tools for the modern organization.
After all, the adoption of new tools invariably requires that users learn how to use those tools.
DAPs simplify onboarding and training through features such as:
- Automated, in-app guidance and training
- Software walkthroughs and product tours
- Analytics that offer insight into users’ software behavior
The effective use of DAPs, in turn, can improve:
- Digital onboarding, employee onboarding, and customer onboarding
- Employee onboarding and training
- Customer care and technical support
In short, DAPs can simplify and speed up the implementation of new digital tools – an essential process in any organizational change.
Enterprise Service Management Platforms
IT service management (ITSM) has long been one of the central job duties of the CIO.
While that has not changed in recent years, the CIO’s mandate has expanded beyond ITSM to include other IT functions, such as:
- Digital business strategy
- Cybersecurity, data, and privacy compliance
- Digital transformation ideation and execution
Overseeing such a variety of IT functions naturally requires platforms that expand their scope beyond ITSM.
Enterprise service management (ESM) platforms offer one answer to this problem.
Unlike ITSM platforms, which focus solely on improving IT service management, ESM platforms expand their scope to include other services beyond IT.
The right ESM platform includes:
- ITSM with project portfolio management
- An IT change management workflow, such as an ITIL workflow
- Project management functionality
- Ticket-based help portals
- Knowledge bases
In short, ESM platforms can integrate business functions and tasks that are often separated. An organization that uses two separate ticketing systems for IT and HR, for instance, can integrate the two with an ESM platform.
Enterprise Resource Planning Platforms
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, like ESM platforms, are designed to integrate a range of business functions under a single hood.
An ERP platform consolidates an organization’s data into a single repository, reducing problems that can occur as a result from ineffective data-driven processes.
For instance, ERP software can:
- Improve communication among departments
- Decrease errors and inefficiencies
- Reduce operational costs
- Cut costs
An ERP solution, it should be noted, is not a minor investment.
Since these tools impact every area of the business and require collaboration with other business units, it is important to evaluate ERP solutions carefully.
What to Consider When Choosing Digital Transformation Platforms
Every organization is unique and will have its own set of needs when it comes to integrated business software. The right software will depend on many factors, such as the organization’s size, industry, budget, and so forth.
Here are a few points to keep in mind when selecting platforms designed to further digitize and transform the organization.
- Research the options carefully. There are a wide range of options in the categories discussed above – and even more options in other software categories not mentioned here. One’s own goals and needs should be clarified first, then the potential solutions should be investigated afterwards.
- Hold conversations with the C-suite. Before ever diving into learn about new solutions, it is important to connect with other members of the C-suite that will be affected by the choice. An ERP solution, for instance, will impact a variety of departments, so the choice should be collaborative.
- Build a business case and tailor it to each executive. Every executive has their own needs and they each speak their own language. When making a business case, it is important understand that language and speak to their needs.
- Take the lead and simplify the change as much as possible. Naturally, anyone proposing a new change project should be willing to play a role in implementing that project. In this case, CIOs should be ready to lead the adoption effort. After all, not only is it the CIO’s idea, it is their job to implement new IT solutions in the business.
New enterprise software should ultimately simplify the business and generate a positive ROI. If the case can be made properly, then CIOs should have little trouble earning buy-in and implementing the right software.
