1.
THE PANDEMIC HAS ACCELERATED THE PROCESS OF DIGITALISATION, FORCING COMPANIES TO BE INCREASINGLY AGILE, FLEXIBLE AND READY FOR CHANGE, ESPECIALLY TODAY, NOW THAT SMART WORKING HAS BECOMING AN EVER MORE WIDESPREAD MODE OF WORKING. HOW DO COMPANIES NEED TO FACE UP TO THESE CHANGES?
The pandemic is, surely, an event marking an unexpected moment of transition, and one which requires a prompt response. From the start, companies that adopted monolithic strategies with complex customisations, over time weighed down the system, and were less flexible when facing change. This event has shown the value of flexibility and resilience.
Being agile has never been so important, especially as we face sudden changes. Having the option of finding adapted technology to deal with rapidly evolving situations - that is one of the stimuli which is prompting organisations to start to change the way in which they approach the Enterprise Solutions architecture.
By their very nature, Enterprise Solutions guide companies towards achieving more efficient solutions, following the logic of best fit technology, and contribute to the development of a modular approach via new technological integration platforms.
The pandemic is, surely, an event marking an unexpected moment of transition, and one which requires a prompt response. From the start, companies that adopted monolithic strategies with complex customisations, over time weighed down the system, and were less flexible when facing change. This event has shown the value of flexibility and resilience.
Being agile has never been so important, especially as we face sudden changes. Having the option of finding adapted technology to deal with rapidly evolving situations - that is one of the stimuli which is prompting organisations to start to change the way in which they approach the Enterprise Solutions architecture.
By their very nature, Enterprise Solutions guide companies towards achieving more efficient solutions, following the logic of best fit technology, and contribute to the development of a modular approach via new technological integration platforms.
2.
WE LIVE IN AN ECONOMY BASED ON DATA, AND WE ARE CALLED ON TO DERIVE MAXIMUM POSSIBLE VALUE FROM DATA. FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE PROCESS, WHAT ARE THREE COURSES OF ACTION YOU WOULD SUGGEST TO A CIO?
In order for a company to grow in a sustainable way, the effective use of data is a must and Enterprise Solutions can chart the way. In this sense, in terms of what might be suggested to CIOs, here are some initiatives that cannot be missing:
Explore the issue of modularity, and verify how it adapts to your own operating model - Migration from a rigid infrastructure to a modular and dynamic infrastructure allows a company to achieve better operating efficiency and lower TCO. Taking an incremental approach, modularisation allows IT to decide earlier which processes to decouple, and when to transform the entire infrastructure into a digital ecosystem with agile tools and technologies such as Platform as a Service (PaaS).
Improve the alignment of ERP functionality with company's needs and the priorities of the business - IT can guide a company in designing and automating processes, without forgetting that the modular approach is one which allows ERP to be modular, open, flexible and centred on business with a view to responding quickly to a multitude of challenges.
Integrate a design strategy into the plan for adopting digital solutions - The latest Gartner data on IT priorities in 2021 shows that over 72% of CIOs envisage maintaining or increasing the percentage share of digital solutions supplied by software vendors. Faced with a vast range of new emerging technologies, winning strategies have to prioritise "best-in-class" technologies which reinforce development of the company, and create value for the long term.
In order for a company to grow in a sustainable way, the effective use of data is a must and Enterprise Solutions can chart the way. In this sense, in terms of what might be suggested to CIOs, here are some initiatives that cannot be missing:
Explore the issue of modularity, and verify how it adapts to your own operating model - Migration from a rigid infrastructure to a modular and dynamic infrastructure allows a company to achieve better operating efficiency and lower TCO. Taking an incremental approach, modularisation allows IT to decide earlier which processes to decouple, and when to transform the entire infrastructure into a digital ecosystem with agile tools and technologies such as Platform as a Service (PaaS).
Improve the alignment of ERP functionality with company's needs and the priorities of the business - IT can guide a company in designing and automating processes, without forgetting that the modular approach is one which allows ERP to be modular, open, flexible and centred on business with a view to responding quickly to a multitude of challenges.
Integrate a design strategy into the plan for adopting digital solutions - The latest Gartner data on IT priorities in 2021 shows that over 72% of CIOs envisage maintaining or increasing the percentage share of digital solutions supplied by software vendors. Faced with a vast range of new emerging technologies, winning strategies have to prioritise "best-in-class" technologies which reinforce development of the company, and create value for the long term.
3.
ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS COMBINES VARIOUS AREAS OF BUSINESS PROCESSES, AND THUS VARIOUS ASPECTS OF A COMPANY'S BUSINESS. HOW DOES OUR APPROACH AND WHAT ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS HAVE TO OFFER HELP OUR CLIENTS ON THE JOURNEY OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION?
Digital transformation is a concept which is increasingly becoming a reality, but often it is focused on auxiliary and secondary processes. Enterprise Solutions go to the heart of digitalisation, because they are normally used in the main management processes, and so represent a tool for achieving genuine digitalisation. To this end we have put together a targeted strategy called Digital2Evolve, which is intended to guide companies into real digital transformation.
Using Digital2Evolve we analyse the processes managed by information systems, steer the choice of new digital suites, and identify customisations, with a view to restoring them to the standard, where possible, or to transforming them into new digital customisations on cloud platforms.
Via consolidated knowledge of processes, enabled for the use of technology, we support managers as they make decisions on investments and on the integration of SAP, Microsoft and Oracle systems. Our offer includes both strategic services, and operating consultancy, strategic design, project development, but also enabling tools, such as Smart Solutions, Activation Services e and Lifecycle Management.
Creativity and versatility are the "Lego" blocks which allow you to make additions and changes based on the requirements of the project you want to implement. We have also adopted the same concept for the IT architecture, as a modular approach allows companies to add each solution piece-by-piece, creating a model which evolves along with digital technology and with their business. That being said, at any moment in the process of technological development it is possible to integrate an application or a tool, obtaining an infrastructure which is adapted for the future.
Digital transformation is a concept which is increasingly becoming a reality, but often it is focused on auxiliary and secondary processes. Enterprise Solutions go to the heart of digitalisation, because they are normally used in the main management processes, and so represent a tool for achieving genuine digitalisation. To this end we have put together a targeted strategy called Digital2Evolve, which is intended to guide companies into real digital transformation.
Using Digital2Evolve we analyse the processes managed by information systems, steer the choice of new digital suites, and identify customisations, with a view to restoring them to the standard, where possible, or to transforming them into new digital customisations on cloud platforms.
Via consolidated knowledge of processes, enabled for the use of technology, we support managers as they make decisions on investments and on the integration of SAP, Microsoft and Oracle systems. Our offer includes both strategic services, and operating consultancy, strategic design, project development, but also enabling tools, such as Smart Solutions, Activation Services e and Lifecycle Management.
Creativity and versatility are the "Lego" blocks which allow you to make additions and changes based on the requirements of the project you want to implement. We have also adopted the same concept for the IT architecture, as a modular approach allows companies to add each solution piece-by-piece, creating a model which evolves along with digital technology and with their business. That being said, at any moment in the process of technological development it is possible to integrate an application or a tool, obtaining an infrastructure which is adapted for the future.
4.
THE ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE MARKET HAS DEFINITELY GROWN. WHAT ARE THE TRENDS WHICH, IN YOUR VIEW, WILL CHARACTERISE HOW THE MARKET WILL EVOLVE IN COMING YEARS?
The fulcrum of digital evolution consists in the intelligent use of IT innovation in such a way as to respond to the rapid progress in technology, at the same time ensuring more flexibility and a faster time-to-market, which will become of the main challenges for the software market in coming years.
Notwithstanding the crisis during the time of pandemic, more and more companies are embracing the digital economy and, thanks to this, are accelerating the transformation of data into company assets. Besides a marked increased in the demand for ERP software among small and medium-sized businesses, we envisage a major need for operational efficiency and transparency in company processes.
But what I envisage to be the new turn which this market will take will be to abandon the trend to use Enterprise Solutions as development environments, and to consider the major value of the flexibility which standard systems have to offer.
To help companies to evolve in this direction, we are training people with new skills with a view to creating those hybrid professionals (vis-a-vis current classifications), that is to say, in a position to combine diverse elements. I am thinking of mixed architectures, enabled by the standardisation of connectors in the cloud environment, but, above all, with a capacity to combine the in-depth knowledge of vendors' solutions with a consensual approach. To this end, we have created new teams which are making this kind of competence available to clients.
The fulcrum of digital evolution consists in the intelligent use of IT innovation in such a way as to respond to the rapid progress in technology, at the same time ensuring more flexibility and a faster time-to-market, which will become of the main challenges for the software market in coming years.
Notwithstanding the crisis during the time of pandemic, more and more companies are embracing the digital economy and, thanks to this, are accelerating the transformation of data into company assets. Besides a marked increased in the demand for ERP software among small and medium-sized businesses, we envisage a major need for operational efficiency and transparency in company processes.
But what I envisage to be the new turn which this market will take will be to abandon the trend to use Enterprise Solutions as development environments, and to consider the major value of the flexibility which standard systems have to offer.
To help companies to evolve in this direction, we are training people with new skills with a view to creating those hybrid professionals (vis-a-vis current classifications), that is to say, in a position to combine diverse elements. I am thinking of mixed architectures, enabled by the standardisation of connectors in the cloud environment, but, above all, with a capacity to combine the in-depth knowledge of vendors' solutions with a consensual approach. To this end, we have created new teams which are making this kind of competence available to clients.
5.
WE ARE WITNESSING THE COLLAPSE OF DATA SILOS ON VARIOUS DIFFERENT MARKETS, WITH AN INCREASE IN CROSS-SEGMENT COLLABORATION. HOW CAN WE HELP OUR CLIENTS TO BUILD NEW DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS?
Also, in terms of the historic differences in processes between the various markets, increasingly we are rediscovering how it is necessary to look beyond traditional limitations and to consider solutions which have been thought up for various different segments. If we think about how much typical retail processes are taking hold in the banking segment, I believe we have a very clear example.
It is about accessing the right technology with a view to seeing new synergies and opportunities emerge in a more agile ecosystem of innovation. Digital tools and processes which we provide are used for simplifying the IT infrastructures and building a smart, data-driven company which is always operational, customer-centred, efficient and responding to ongoing changes.
As Advanced Enterprise Platforms, our internal organisation aims to break down every barrier, and to bring together experience and competence from every segment and solution. This naturally favours this less segment-based approach, which points to an ongoing improvement in services provided, applying an approach to company management which uses new technologies and digital services. Therefore, we guide companies towards a multiform and interconnected ecosystem which will actively contribute towards generating data to be used by all business segments.
Also, in terms of the historic differences in processes between the various markets, increasingly we are rediscovering how it is necessary to look beyond traditional limitations and to consider solutions which have been thought up for various different segments. If we think about how much typical retail processes are taking hold in the banking segment, I believe we have a very clear example.
It is about accessing the right technology with a view to seeing new synergies and opportunities emerge in a more agile ecosystem of innovation. Digital tools and processes which we provide are used for simplifying the IT infrastructures and building a smart, data-driven company which is always operational, customer-centred, efficient and responding to ongoing changes.
As Advanced Enterprise Platforms, our internal organisation aims to break down every barrier, and to bring together experience and competence from every segment and solution. This naturally favours this less segment-based approach, which points to an ongoing improvement in services provided, applying an approach to company management which uses new technologies and digital services. Therefore, we guide companies towards a multiform and interconnected ecosystem which will actively contribute towards generating data to be used by all business segments.
Pietro Maradei
With over 35 years of experience in the IT sector, in particular in the field of SAP solutions, Pietro collaborates with the Market Business Units in identifying the introduction paths to ERP or Extended ERP solutions that best meet the needs of companies and in reengineering of business processes, in collaboration with Software Vendors and other System Integrators.
As Director of Advanced Enterprise Platforms, the Competence Center of SAP, Microsoft, SalesForce, Workday and ServiceNow which has more than 1,400 resources, he makes available its knowledge and expertise in the topics of business and commercial management and organization, negotiation, relations in negotiations complex, local and international partnerships.
As Director of Advanced Enterprise Platforms, the Competence Center of SAP, Microsoft, SalesForce, Workday and ServiceNow which has more than 1,400 resources, he makes available its knowledge and expertise in the topics of business and commercial management and organization, negotiation, relations in negotiations complex, local and international partnerships.
Contact us
marketing@eng.it
Tel. (+39) 06-87591