Less Legacy through IT standardization

Uniform systems will relieve the IT. That has always been the desire of CIOs. The associated automation enables repeatable processes in quality and in the shortest time. Linked to this is a new expectation of customers and employees.

You want an intuitive user interface and fast search functions, which can be found records from different areas and can take advantage of applications across divisions. Controlled degradation of legacy systems is therefore not a question of "if" but "how".

Inventory: In some areas, existing legacy system is quite useful, for example, if it only comes to the transaction is a defined records. However, to develop and deliver applications quickly, they are often a hindrance. IT managers need to keep the various application scenarios in mind.

Know what needs to change

A radical change should be accompanied only by an experienced IT. Not only the system landscape looks in every company is different, the requirements are depending on the sector. The Banks make changes conservatively and in small increments, which is also due to the very strict compliance requirements. Modernize a much greater dynamics, systems and applications, however, appears in the field of marketing, HR or Facilities Management. But be careful, out of sheer euphoria can rapidly a new problem with silo applications arise.

Datacenter: Great break, promising future?

The Hybrid Cloud is a reality in many companies. But why more and more CIOs opt for a hybrid environment? An article by Erich Vogel, Cloud Leader, Computacenter.

This survey has drawn in recent months large sections of our industry: "The Hybrid Cloud 2014" by IDC. The result is an illuminating and for the other at the same time for the unexpected: a further 27 % plan used or implemented in the past two years public cloud services More than half of the 2014 surveyed by IDC organizations their introduction. IDC also observed that the "early adopters" with a pure private cloud approach much more pull now Hosted private clouds or public cloud services into consideration.

Analysts summarize: The Hybrid Cloud is already a reality in many companies. The Reasons? In times of "d’ conomy!" - As this year's CeBIT, the upheavals of society addressed by IT - must be adapted to individual than ever a company's processes. The CIOs kept their data and applications to date preferably in its own data center, especially large enterprises build their infrastructure consistently. They consolidate, virtualize, rely on automated operation and invest in convergent structures.

Labor market study: The Head Hunter of IT

Fears of CIOs and CTOs to lose their best IT staff to competitors take to. The term "skills shortage" may be debatable, but the fear of losing good employees is, in fact risen year on year according to a survey.

Regardless of the question whether there is a shortage of skilled workers in the IT industry, more and more chefs fear of losing their best employees. This is the conclusion a recent labor market study commissioned by the staffing agency Robert Half Technology, at the 200 CIOs (Chief Information Officer) and CTO (Chief Technology Officer) took part in many countries. 79 % of CIOs and CTOs are in custody, losing in 2015 their most talented employees of competing firms.

Compared to last year this figure has increased dramatically in 2014 feared barely two-thirds (65 %) of IT managers - and thus 14 % less than it is today - the departure of their IT professionals.

Industry 4.0 makes IT a production factor

The fourth industrial revolution is in full swing. Here IT is an important factor of production and changes the role of IT departments in the manufacturing sector. IT outsourcing can help in achieving the "smart factory".

The demands on IT as part of Industry 4.0, many medium-sized companies in many countries in front of an almost impossible task: IT departments are often neither in size nor in terms of skills and budget set to such profound changes, at the same time there is a lack of qualified junior staff. An alternative to the costly and lengthy construction of such internal expertise make IT service.

Outsourcing of IT is not a new recipe. Classic IT Outsourcing (ITO) has been operating for many years. Currently, many companies are in a phase of re-sourcing: Existing, comprehensive ITO contracts are renegotiated, sometimes terminated. The trend observed in the sourcing advisory asks outsource individual services, perhaps even with different IT service providers.

Sustainable Management contact on all channels

In modern enterprises, the CIO has no choice: They must bring its IT into shape. With the onset of digital transformation traditional IT processes come under scrutiny. Especially in charge of customer service are facing major challenges. The contact center in the cloud increases here the efficiency and ensures fresh impetus.

The consultants Capgemini be stated: At present, the efficiency of IT is "high on the list of requirements of CIOs". Next is emphasized: "They should also take care greatly about improving business processes. At the same time the pressure of the departments, to provide faster and more flexibility to respond increases, "said the expert. In other words, the jack of all trades is required.

Naturally, therefore, that currently employs many boardrooms with the cloud. A current example is the transfer of jobs to the virtual world. 61 % of PAC interviewed by analysts these days in many companies to show "cloud-savvy". That means they use to plan or discuss cloud solutions for applications in the Workplace environment. So e-mail, document sharing and conferencing applications are already available from more than one in five businesses cloud-based.

And the plans of the company for the development and expansion of cloud solutions in the relevant fields of application indicate a progressive dissemination. So in most job applications is expected to grow the cloud customer base by 20 to 30 % over the next two to three years. This trend also the contact center industry in particular is not excluded. A customer service solution from the cloud increases massively the efficiency, reduces the cost and parallel - provided it is placed in the required quality - optimizes the customer experience. Here are some examples.

How to optimize your IT budget

"The profit lies in purchasing". A well-known slogan, which is among diehard merchants and freshmen in business administration equally known. Far too often this rather simple approach is also transferred to the budgets of IT departments.

Across all industries know CIOs and CTOs, the demand for cost discipline or even budget cuts. In the age of global competition and tight margins an understandable demand, but which is difficult to comply with. Even the highest quality and reliability of the infrastructure required by the operational units at the same time.

A simple change in strategy CTOs and CIOs could, but significantly reduce the cost of network infrastructure and thus improve returns for their businesses. However, these opportunities often remain untapped, while cost-conscious managers are some good alternatives open. For example, if the end-of-life of a Cisco router, announced no further features are implemented from that date and it remains a year in which the system is still available for purchase.

In the next step, it is no longer possible to transfer the system to a new maintenance contract. Here at last leaves of OEM customers with the product finally out in the cold. Due to the short life cycles of these business practices created for the customer in very high costs.