Video Increase Opportunity and Innovation by Simplifying the IT Supply Chain

With the accelerated pace of change in the new digital economy, organizations that want to gain and maintain a competitive advantage need more than a great idea – they need to execute on that idea. McKinsey defines innovation as “creativity plus delivery”i. So, according to their definition, if you cannot be creative at scale, execute the ideas efficiently and effectively and, of course, deliver it to the consumer, then your company isn’t innovating.

Today, a large portion of IT budgets and IT team time go to maintaining current infrastructure. With almost every company in the new economy having a technology component, IT departments are tasked with both supporting and growing the business. IT department time and resources are being pulled in two different directions. Automating the IT supply chain frees staff to innovate, speeding processes and time-to-delivery.

The Insight study found that 59 percent of IT professionals who feel their IT supply chain is not optimized report that a more effective, streamlined supply chain would free employees to focus on innovation projects that would drive business.

According to McKinsey, 84 percent of executives believe that innovation is vital to their growth strategyⁱⁱ. Insight found, in our 2019 Insight Intelligent Technology Index, that as “organizations strive to leverage technology to accelerate existing processes and drive down costs, the importance of a modern IT supply chain cannot be overlooked. In particular, organizations that simplify the processes of procuring, maintaining and replacing technology can reduce the time devoted to operations and redirect resources to future growth.”

 In fact, the Insight study found that 59 percent of IT professionals who feel their IT supply chain is not optimized report that a more effective, streamlined supply chain would free employees to focus on innovation projects that would drive business. Fifty-four percent believe an effective supply chain would decrease the time spent on troubleshooting and repair work, allowing for more time to contribute to business growth, innovation, and revenue generation. Finally, 63 percent say a streamlined supply chain would make their workforce more efficient, allowing time for more meaningful work.

Efficiency isn’t What You Want;
it’s What Your IT Supply Chain Needs

Only 16 percent of IT team respondents have fully automated procurement in place.

IT professionals seem to grasp the relationship between an effective supply chain, business growth and competitiveness, yet many haven’t fully implemented a streamlined IT supply chain. The desire to become more efficient is evident in the Insight study:

• 47 percent of IT decision-makers want to make improvements in how they use providers to streamline hardware lifecycles, while 47 percent want to improve the e-procurement process.
• Only 16 percent of IT team respondents have fully automated procurement in place.
• Additionally, there is a strong desire to move towards practices that give IT professionals more control by implementing self-service e-commerce platforms and software asset management tools and services.
• Lastly, 45 percent of IT professionals are looking for analytical resources that will allow them greater visibility and insight into IT supply chain management.

If the need and the desire are so evident, what is stalling the adoption of new IT supply chain processes?

Loyalty to legacy technology, the initial cost of system overhaul and the legwork involved may all be factors. However, spending some budget upfront on the areas where you spend most of your time now will free your team up in the future. Through simplifying processes for procuring, maintaining and replacing technology solutions, you will drive down costs and time out of operations. Moreover, by optimizing your organization's IT supply chain, you will reduce the time it takes to run your business, leaving more time for innovation, enabling transformation for future growth.

One Small IT Supply Chain Saves 250 Hours

A Montreal-based travel application developer expanded from 25 employees to 500 employees in just two years. As the company developed and more coders came aboard, company-owned devices became the norm, and the IT department had trouble keeping pace with the escalating workforce and the number of devices that needed to be configured to company standards. When the business expanded to a new location, but didn’t expand its IT staff, the process of procuring and deploying their Apple devices became slow and inefficient. That’s when the company reached out to Insight for their expertise.

Insight’s Supply Chain Optimization team visited the client and examined its existing challenges. Immediately, the Insight team suggested implementing Apple Business Manager to make it easier to automate deployment, delegate administrative privileges, and manage app licenses for every Apple device in the company. The Insight team also helped the client integrate Apple Business Manager with a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution so the company's IT team could quickly and seamlessly manage Apple products. The company now also procures its devices through Insight, at more significant cost savings to them.

The process of deploying Apple devices used to take the client approximately 45 minutes per machine. Now that the company has a streamlined deployment strategy, it's reaping significant time and cost savings. The client can procure and deploy products to 500 employees in just 15 minutes - those changes save 250 people hours that can now be spent on growing the business.

Invest in Your IT Supply Chain Now, Reap the Rewards Later

IT professionals need to stop thinking of IT supply chains as cost centers to be managed and made more efficient. Instead, think of your IT supply chain as a business advantage—with the potential to differentiate your company from the competition. IT decision-makers who embrace consolidation, automation, and e-procurement processes that streamline IT supply chain management will help drive their company’s growth and innovation. Explore how Insight can transform your business’s IT supply chain and give your company a competitive advantage.  To discover what other technology trends can help your business gain a competitive edge, download the full 2019 Insight Intelligent Technology Index report.