Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 47 | Page 76

TO CHANGE YOUR BUSINESS , YOU MUST CHANGE YOUR MINDSET AND THINK CREATIVELY ABOUT THE NORMAL THAT WILL DEFINE YOUR BUSINESS ’ FUTURE .
FINAL WORD

TO CHANGE YOUR BUSINESS , YOU MUST CHANGE YOUR MINDSET AND THINK CREATIVELY ABOUT THE NORMAL THAT WILL DEFINE YOUR BUSINESS ’ FUTURE .

Jim Holland , General Manager , Africa , Lenovo Data Centre Group
sure your business can continue to operate no matter what events transpire .
This goes well beyond considerations around whether your business ’ working processes can be transmitted digitally , such as staff being able to access applications via robust and responsive desktop virtualisation and to a deeper assessment of your digital supply chain and whether bottlenecks could emerge in future .
It ’ s here that considerations around hyperconverged infrastructure ( HCI ), hybrid cloud and Edge Computing come to the forefront .
Regardless of where work is being done and which data sources are being used , low latency and resilience are essential . At Lenovo , we ’ re helping our customers to achieve better performance from remote data-generating devices through our ThinkAgile MX1021 Edge servers . Its small footprint and power efficiency allow for server-class performance at many Edge locations , providing the reliability , high availability and security that ’ s been compulsory throughout the pandemic in essential industries such as manufacturing and healthcare .
Application modernisation
As compute-intensive requirements in areas such as Machine Learning and graphic rendering become standard user expectations , businesses need to have the infrastructure in place to support .
A central piece in modernisation is a re-evaluation of the role of cloud in the business , specifically with the need to access a greater range of capabilities that can ’ t be supported in a legacy environment . We recently conducted an EMEA study to understand the priorities of IT decision makers across major markets , which highlighted that while respondents see cloud as central to their business strategies , they are still facing challenges in accessing the range of services required .
The research found seven in 10 have cloud infrastructure already and a further one in five planning to roll out at least one cloud service in the next 12 months . Only 7 %, however , are currently running multicloud environments . It identified issues around vendor lock-in , cost and compatibility with legacy IT . For example , nearly three in four ( 74 %) respondents cited vendor lock-in as barriers to accessing the range of services they require from various cloud service providers .
Fundamentally , to realise the benefits of a modern data environment , you need to have choice built into your operations – and being able to overcome any internal limitations to maximise the range of applications available to users .
Everything-As-a-service
In the modern world , more and more services are moving to a subscription-based model – just look at the worlds of fashion , music and cars as a few examples . But in the aftermath of COVID-19 , the way you purchase technology could bring huge benefits too . Adopting a different approach to IT consumption models can enable the flexibility and scale you need to adapt to shifting circumstances . Clinging to previous models around owning and maintaining infrastructure and applications is not conducive to adaptability .
Therefore , the expectation that everything will be delivered As-a-service going forward is now more prominent . This includes areas of IT that conventionally have required capital-heavy commitments such as data centre services . Our research , conducted during the COVID-19 lockdown , found that based on their experience over the previous three months , nearly one in three ( 30 %) organisations are more willing to purchase ‘ As-a-service ' technology solutions due to cashflow concerns .
Onwards and upwards
There are certain qualities that will likely distinguish the businesses that come out of 2020 in stronger shape , not least resilience , determination and a firm optimism over the opportunities that lie ahead . Whatever the remainder of this tumultuous year has to bring , enterprises have to make sure that they are still able to deliver for customers .
To do this , they need to think out of the box and detach from the previous thinking that served them in the old normal . If they keep trying to do what they did in the past , they cannot expect the same results under fundamentally changed conditions .
To change your business , you must change your mindset and think creatively about the normal that will define your business ’ future . An ambitious normal . A proactive normal . A smarter normal .
With the right focus , you can create a digital pathway for your business that will endure and thrive in the next normal , giving you the flexibility and choice to navigate unpredictable circumstances . The opportunity to turn your organisation into one that is ready to thrive in the digital economy and serve your customers in a different way is available now – you only need to ask ! •
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