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The year 2020 highlighted the importance of adopting advanced technology to achieve and retain business success. For example, without certain types of technology, employees would not have been able to work remotely or pivot events from in-person into virtual models.

Now comes the tricky part. The critical role of technology can no longer be dismissed as “the basics needed to function.” The onus is now on Chief Information Officers (CIOs) to convince financial decision-makers that IT can fit their budgets.

The budget issue is arguably the biggest challenge facing CIOs in 2021, but it is certainly not the only one.

Disconnected Employees

2020 required most companies to rely on technology to function. Unfortunately, this trend caused feelings of disconnection among employees who had never worked remotely exclusively before the pandemic.

Employees who prefer to work alongside their colleagues in an office found themselves physically separated from their teammates at home. Managers struggled to foster a sense of unity and engagement with teams that were now spread out. Employees and managers alike grew frustrated with platforms and software unfamiliar to them and, in the worst-case scenario, tended to crash. Wi-Fi networks became overloaded, leaving teams without a way to work or communicate.

CIOs are responsible for recommending the technology that is user-friendly, stable, and capable of supporting many different devices. When properly implemented, IT characteristics improve employee productivity and minimize frustration, as employees can work uninterrupted. CIOs should also ensure that training sessions are scheduled with the entire workforce for every new technology the company adopts.

Siloed Data

Silos are never an asset in business, whether referring to employees (as referenced above) or data. A vast pool of data is one of the most powerful tools companies must nurture and expand revenue opportunities. Sorting through the information meticulously and analyzing it is critical to maximizing the value it offers.

CIOs should dismantle data silos across the organization by doing the following:

  • Advocating for transparency and visibility of data
  • Building a roadmap that displays every single data entry point
  • Gaining a crystal-clear understanding of how data interacts across different departments
  • Creating a single, cohesive data management system
  • Integrating systems that share data to optimize its value

Data Security Threats

The acceleration of working arrangements to remote, multi-cloud and network solutions and the Internet of things (IoT) has increased the need to formulate effective data protection forms. As distributed teams and cloud data storage become a permanent reality for organizations, so do significant data security threats.

Cyber attacks and fraud rose steeply in 2020, as cybercriminals capitalized on a tumultuous time. Companies that let down their guard too often found themselves the victim of data loss and/or compromise. Additionally, with remote users gaining entry and access to sensitive data, IT needs to be aware of potential data breaches, security leaks and/or vulnerabilities.

The consequences of cyberattacks can be devastating. Data breaches are costly in more ways than one, from the loss of consumer trust to weakened profitability. Securing data should be top of mind for CIOs for this reason. Doing so will be no easy task, but it is well worth the effort. Implementing governance frameworks and mature processes is no longer optional. It is necessary.

Looking Ahead

 Getting a firm grasp on what the future holds for CIOs and their role will help prepare them to tackle the challenges that present themselves:

  • Digital infrastructure will serve as the operating system for organizations.
  • Intelligent capabilities to anticipate and learn from customer behaviors will become the norm.
  • A rapidly growing number of companies will transition their data storage to hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructures.
  • CIOs will be tasked with designing next-generation digital platforms that bring infrastructure and applications into the future and include capabilities that provide flexibility.

CIOs are facing challenges in 2021 that many never imagined they would. That said, while the challenges are significant, advances in technology offer inspiring evidence that CIOs can make great strides if they remain innovative and use knowledge gleaned from the past to inform future decisions.

Uncertain times call for creative thinking. Contact Gavel International to be inspired with solutions that connect and engage your people.

 

Kris Maynard
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