Chuck Pol, President & Country Chairperson, Vodafone AmericasWith the digital landscape evolving rapidly, new generations joining the workforce and business priorities changing with new technological advancements, this year will be an important one for the Chief Information Officer.
"Cybersecurity must continue to be a top priority for the CIO, and all IT decision-makers involved in an organization"
We are in an era of major technological change, and organizations are being challenged to keep pace with each new development. In turn, customers continue to demand more from their interactions with businesses. As organizations evolve, the CIO will be at the center of all transformation and change, playing a major role in ensuring organizations can stay competitive.
As 2017 begins, there are seven key trends, related to the workplace, innovation and the economy that the CIO should be aware of in order to ensure their organization remains relevant and successful in the changing world.
Leveraging the As-A-Service Economy
Businesses are constantly re-inventing themselves and changing ways of working as new business models challenge traditional processes. As companies work to improve their businesses practices, they should consider right-sizing operations, platforms for co-creation to boost innovation and personalization of production, and better operational performance. These considerations align with the shift toward the “as-a-service” economy, in which renting is preferred over buying. The CIO must lead the charge with IT to implement the tools that make renting services possible.
Capturing the “Liquid Workforce”
Socioeconomic and technological influences, along with employment trends, are making an impact in ways people think about work. The new generation of workers is known as the “Liquid Workforce,” given that they often move between jobs, companies and even careers. Many members of this workforce are educated and informed, and they are motivated to seek out the opportunities that will advance their careers and help them succeed as quickly as possible. They are loyal to the tools they use to do their jobs, rather than a job itself. CIOs must be aware of this shift in thinking and way of working, and provide access to the tools this generation demands, or they may risk losing the talent war with competitors.
A Seat at the Table in the Gigabit Society
Digital transformation continues to pressure today’s CIO, but one of the most important keys to success in digital transformation efforts is pervasive and reliable connectivity. Organizations that offer sophisticated connectivity capabilities, both internally and in communications with their customers, will meet current demands and differentiate themselves. Part of ensuring this type of connectivity involves secure, gigabit communications, rather than the copper-based legacy infrastructure that will not be sufficient to support business needs in the long run. The CIO will play a role in bringing high-speed connectivity to their organization.
The Emphasis on Data and Analytics
While data and analytics have played an important role for many years, many companies are behind the curve with regard to how best to analyze data and how to implement insights gleaned from the data they collect. Most CIOs are the C-Suite member who is closest to company data, so it is important they to begin to use this data to their advantage by leveraging it to drive their business forward.
The Potential of Artificial Intelligence
CIOs must consider the benefits of incorporating artificial intelligence, specifically machine learning, into their business processes. Machine learning offers the potential to ingest large amounts of information to provide insights, and as companies shift their entire processes and data stores into a digital environment, CIOs can build processes that offer tailored recommendations and services, and speed, that may not be available as part of current operations.
The Importance of Cybersecurity
Cybercrime has long been a concern for businesses leaders, and it will continue to be top of mind this year. Given that businesses continue to move toward becoming fully digital, and more devices, such as smartphones, are being added to the workplace, there is potential for an increase in cybercrime. Cybersecurity must continue to be a top priority for the CIO, and all IT decision-makers involved in an organization.
The CIO as the “Strategy Officer”
The CIO should increasingly play a role as strategy officer within their organization. The CIO is at the center of technological transformation within their business, and must ensure that technology is considered in all top-level business decisions. Additionally, the CIO is in a unique position to recommend new technological advancements to the entire business, given that they are aware of what emerging technologies are available and how they can be implemented to benefit the business.
From the introduction of a new generation of workers, to increased importance placed on artificial intelligence, to the growing importance of cybersecurity, the new year will present many opportunities and challenges for the CIO. As new technologies continue to change the way organizations operate and challenge traditional ways of thinking, the CIO will play an integral role in driving their business to success in the digital age.
