IT outsourcing without layoffs

That an IT outsourcing must bring in the SME sector not personnel cutbacks with it, shows an example of laser welding technology specialists. The outsourcing was carried out hereม even in close cooperation with the employees. The result: a completely newly formed IT, which has grown also the future demands of the industry 4.0.

The occasion for the IT outsourcing at Ferro Forming was anything but pleasant: the end of 2013 the IT, which specializes in laser welding technology company had failed. The site could be several days not to call, e-mail traffic was paralyzed. The reason: Because of serious safety deficiencies, the systems had succumbed to a virus attack. The head of the company decided to completely re-establish the IT with the help of an external consultant. Targeted outsourcing security should be ensured, achieved cost savings and IT be better tailored to the company.

Counteract Anxiety

For the IT staff that decision was the cause for disquiet. They feared for their jobs and fell into a fearless attitude. Exactly this effect, however, was designed to avoid. Because the company's own experts have been and continue to be used. As an external consultant for IT topics Axxcon had to convey that instead of dismissing waiting for new challenges. In addition, the external consultant wanted to do as an interim manager in a few months again superfluous.

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.

TCO Calculator for Office 365

On Premise or rather a practical cloud solution for Office? The TCO Calculator mod of IT services to help IT decision-makers to find the right solution. These 20 questions must be answered, which are then tool-supported and evaluated manually.

Whether IT decision makers should resort to a locally installed or a cloud alternative of Microsoft Office is not always so easy to clarify. Many parameters must be considered when making that decision, to find the most cost effective solution for a company. With an online TCO calculator for Office 365 would like to help in this decision mod IT Service IT managers. The free cloud computer of the overall IT service provider in the SME sector compares according to the supplier the total cost of ownership of OnPremises solution and the cloud alternative of Office products from Microsoft for each individual company.

20 Questions

In order to perform an accurate TCO analysis, requires mod IT Service some information about the company. According to the IT service provider with locations in Einbeck and Hannover has an IT manager online answering 20 questions first, this process takes about 15 minutes. For example, ask the TCO Calculator Information size of the company and the status of the current license agreements.

The engineers have to be communicative

Industry 4.0 is much more than just a question of technology, but also in personal political terms a real challenge. But German companies are as far in this regard? We spoke to Nicolas Vermersch, managing director of the recruitment company Page Group.

Mr. Vermersch, soon again Hannover Messe, considered the world's leading exhibition for the industry 4.0. Therefore, I quote Fair Board Dr. Jochen Köckler who said, many top managers would now ask: Is my company fit for the fourth industrial revolution? Fit for industry 4.0 - the companies are even when it comes to personnel policy?

We note that the issue of industry is 4.0 arrived in the personnel departments of enterprises. When demand analysis personnel departments often find that they have very good engineers who take care of the issue already. These people exchange information with the IT department and other departments of on the subject. There are more interdisciplinary project teams about 4.0. And for the management of these teams of people are now especially looking for: leaders who can steer interdisciplinary projects, the thinking in processes and in communication.

Industry 4.0 - the better CIM (Computer Integrated Manufacturing), recently wrote a colleague. With CIM, the computer was on the clock, the software replaced the executive - in theory. Works does not. Is the industry at 4.0 now different or better?

CIM is a concept that is now part of Industry 4.0. It is important to limit not only to the 4.0 industrial productions. Industry 4.0 includes many different departments and has direct effects on the relations between the partners in the supply chain. Therefore, it is now particularly important to reduce internal silos and for companies looking for employees who have a good overview of the processes - and the expertise of the engineers. These candidates will be sought strengthened.

According to a study by the Fraunhofer IAO in Stuttgart is one of the main obstacles to the implementation of IT innovations in manufacturing, the lack of ability to change within the organization. See the similar?

Investments in new IT systems are worthwhile

The IT systems in medium-sized businesses are changing: Three out of four medium-sized companies in many countries are going to introduce a new IT system or have reorganized their IT landscape recently. These investments payoff: companies that invest heavily in their IT, achieve a higher return on sales than SMEs that take less money for IT in the hand.

These are the findings of a recent study by the management consultancy Kienbaum of IT systems in the SME sector. For the study Kienbaum surveyed 85 medium-sized companies in all industries.

"Our study shows that medium-sized companies to improve their competitive position by implementing new IT systems. By implication, this means that many companies currently have the opportunity unused to increase its return on sales by investing in their IT, "says Heinz Linss, an expert in IT system implementation in Kienbaum and author of the study.

Important divisions neglect the issue of IT

Many medium-sized companies have not yet realized the importance of the IT system for the company's success: For example, one in ten SMEs does not know what this will cost him IT at all. In critical areas, many companies neglect also the quality of their IT systems: The SMEs surveyed are the least satisfied with the IT systems in design, engineering, marketing, sales and purchasing.