Simplifying IT to Accelerate Digital Transformation

In a perfect world, IT simplification and digital transformation go hand in glove. Simplifying IT helps a digital transformation to succeed: it is far easier, for example, to develop new digital services in a “clean” IT landscape—with a reduced number of applications, interfaces, and technologies— than in a complex one. At the same time, a digital transformation offers opportunities to simplify IT and allows CIOs to take advantage of a significant investment budget along with strong buy-in from the business function and commitment from leadership.

Intelligent Demand Management

This helps business units develop a clear understanding of the IT resources—and cost drivers—that are needed to keep day-to-day IT operations running and to take on new projects, so managers can maximize value with informed decisions, effective resource allocation, and efficient use.

Application and Data Simplification

Companies look for ways to consolidate and decommission applications and clearly define interfaces—or replace them with less complex alternatives— and to simplify the data landscape.

Infrastructure-Technology-Pattern Reduction

Companies embrace opportunities to minimize the number of unique configurations of hardware and software, including middleware and databases, and to automate deployment, such as through standardization.

Simplified IT Organization and an Enabled IT Workforce

Companies can remove bottlenecks by trimming management layers, optimizing spans of control, and ensuring an effective interface between the business function and the IT department. They can also ensure that the IT staff is an appropriate size and that staff members have the requisite expertise and digital skills, such as mobile development and user experience design.

Effective Governance and Simplified Processes

Good governance models position IT as a strategic partner of the business unit while streamlining IT processes. IT functions can also leverage agile methods, such as scrum, to speed up application development.

A Shared-Services Model and Optimized Sourcing

Companies pool demand for both external and internal resources as needed and establish a sourcing model tailored to the strategy.