Rob Schaeffer is president and chief revenue officer at e360, an enterprise IT services company that has provided cloud, infrastructure, security and digital workplace solutions and managed services to hundreds of public and commercial organizations for more than 30 years.
With technology constantly evolving, CIOs are constantly challenged with how to balance planning for the future while meeting the demands of day-to-day business, especially in government organizations.
Public sector organizations aren't the only ones that face budget constraints — commercial businesses do too — but government CIOs also need to adjust their IT investments to meet the ebb and flow of budgets, which are typically enacted annually or semi-annually.
A recurring lack of funding predictability not only makes long-term planning difficult, but also creates uncertainty for short-term projects that are critical to keeping IT operations current.
The era of predictability is over
By many measures, the challenge of predicting future IT needs has become significantly more complex over the past two decades.
Twenty years ago, technological advances followed a relatively linear and predictable path. Hardware improvements (characterized by the introduction of faster processors and larger storage capacities) drove software evolution. CIOs could typically plan and budget for technology refreshes every three to five years, aligned with the release cycles of the major hardware and software vendors. This provided a degree of planning predictability and minimized business disruptions.
The advent of the Internet and cloud computing disrupted this predictable pattern. The Internet accelerated the pace of software development and distribution, making software updates available faster and more frequently. When Amazon Web Services' commercial cloud launched in 2006, it gave companies an innovative way to invest in the latest technology as a service rather than capital expenditures, and it allowed government agencies to deploy new infrastructure and software solutions without large upfront investments.
New challenges for CIOs
These, plus innovations such as advances in software-defined networking and mobile communications, and the proliferation of new forms of cyber threats, are forcing CIOs to adapt to an increasingly unpredictable and ever-changing technology environment.
And of course, the complexity is being compounded by the new generation of artificial intelligence that cloud and IT providers are introducing into their solutions. In other words, a big challenge for CIOs is knowing which technologies to bet on.
As an organization that specializes in working closely with leading cloud and technology providers to actively service hundreds of enterprise accounts, we have learned from experience that no matter how much technology changes, CIOs need to pay attention to the following to set themselves up for success:
- Embrace a culture of experimentation: Encourage the adoption of new technologies on a small scale so that they can be tested and evaluated before making large-scale investments.
- Adopt a flexible technology architecture: Choose technology that can be easily integrated and extended to increase agility and responsiveness to change.
- Invest in continuous learning: Stay up to date on emerging technologies and industry trends to ensure your organization is ready to adapt to change.
- Partner with an experienced technology vendor: Leverage the expertise of technology vendors to stay ahead of the curve and identify the most promising solutions for your organization.
Navigating the rapidly changing world of IT
It is perhaps more important than ever for government agencies to work with technology partners that not only have extensive technical knowledge, but also experience working with government enterprises and understand their unique needs.
For example, working with an experienced partner like e360 helps agencies understand the complexities of modern technology, identify the right tools for the job, and implement solutions that deliver tangible results. This includes taking a holistic approach and providing a combination of:
- Technical and human expertise: e360’s team of skilled professionals boasts extensive experience across a wide range of technologies, ensuring agents receive expert guidance at every step of the process, acting as an extension of their business.
- Customer Centricity: e360 makes it a priority to listen to its clients and understand their unique goals so that it can design solutions that meet both their immediate needs and long-term objectives.
- Strategic Partnerships: e360 partners with top technology providers such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) to give agencies access to cutting-edge solutions and ensure compatibility with existing systems.
- Comprehensive service: Offering a full range of specialist consulting and managed services, from workforce management and modern infrastructure to cloud solutions and cyber security, e360 is a one-stop shop for all agencies’ technology needs.
- Proven Results: Having served over 400 clients last year, e360's successful track record speaks to the company's ability to deliver value and build lasting relationships.
e360 works with many state and local organizations, but it is especially easy for public sector organizations in California, for example, through pre-negotiated contracts with the state that streamline procurement, ensure competitive pricing and simplify the process of acquiring HPE technology.
In the face of rapid technological change, government agencies cannot afford to be left behind. But they are also increasingly taking chances on the best technology to meet their needs now and in the future. By partnering with e360, government agencies can harness the power of innovation to maximize their technology investments and better serve their constituents' needs.
Learn more about e360 It helps organizations navigate today's rapidly evolving technology environment.
