Tough Economic Times?
So, what's a CIO or IT manager to do when it looks like the economy is going into the tank? What's the best strategy to pursue? Do you ignore the pending economic downturn and forge ahead with your planned technology upgrade and implementation projects? Do you move forward with that proposed Vista desktop upgrade? Do you put everything on hold? Whether you're the CIO or IT manager of a small business, government department, school, college, university or global enterprise, tough economic times will touch us all!
It's during tough economic times that we find out whether CIOs and IT managers' strategies have been on the mark. It's easy for CIOs and IT managers to have a "good economic times" strategy. But, what is the best IT strategy to pursue when times are tough? That's easy! You do what the great CIOs and IT managers do all of the time - focus on being strategic! Tough economic times actually provide the opportunity and motivation to move forward with strategic technology investments rather than delaying these projects.
Tough Economic Times CIO and IT Manager Top Priorities
- Deploy technology that's strategic.
- Focus on what's critical.
- Leverage current investments to create competitive advantage.
- Decrease costs.
- Do more with less.
We've seen priority lists like these before. But how much time and effort do we really focus on them. Great CIOs and IT managers don't just talk about these objectives, they focus on them and they execute them.
Tough economic times provide focus. Maybe it's this focus that will provide the motivation for companies to separate the strategic projects from the "toys for the boys" and "make work" projects. Migrating from one email system to another is not strategic. Migrating from one Directory system to another is not strategic. Migrating from one version of NetWare or Microsoft Server OS to another is not strategic. Migrating from Windows XP to Windows Vista is not strategic. Deploying an archiving solution is not strategic. These are "evolutionary" projects - definitely not "revolutionary".
Evolutionary Versus Revolutionary Solutions
In good economic times, evolutionary solutions and incremental changes are what keeps IT departments busy. It is these types of evolutionary projects that keep staff counts and costs high. In tough times, CIOs and IT managers need to pursue "revolutionary platforms and solutions". So what are the criteria that define strategic IT solutions to pursue during tough economic times? Revolutionary IT solutions are platforms that:
- Revolutionize the way technologies work together (It's all about collaboration integration and cross-platform support.)
- Leverage your existing technology investments (You already have all kinds of technology. It just needs to become strategic.)
- Deliver quick wins (Remember that long, drawn out projects are for evolutionary times.)
- Turn data into information (Present information to key employees and execs so they can act strategically.)
- Integrate information from different applications so its immediately available (CRM or third-party database integration to GroupWise)
- Relieve business process integration pain (line-of business process and collaboration integration)
- Move from proprietary file, print, application and database servers to open source systems (move to Linux-based systems)
- Move from costly proprietary applications to open source-based solutions (eg. Microsoft Office to Open Office)
- Transition IT user account management tasks from highly skilled, expensive personnel to less expensive clerical staff (Allow less expensive department clerical staff to carry out assigned user account management tasks)
- Allow expensive IT staff to focus on being strategic (allowing you to do more with less)
So where can you find IT Solution Revolution Platforms? Well, you won't find it with the big companies like IBM or Microsoft. They want you to keep doing business the way you always have. They want you to rip and replace, to keep following the evolutionary good economic times strategies. It's agile, focused companies like Omni that bring Solution Revolution platforms to the market.
So how can we help? Omni delivers three GroupWise Solution Revolution platforms that should be at the top of your tough economic times list. These applications have been implemented by great CIOs and IT managers in good times and in bad. They are tried, tested and true. And, they deliver even better value during tough economic times.
View our web site at www.omni-ts.com to find out more information about the following three IT Solution Revolution platforms:
Riva GroupWise Collaboration Integration
- Leverage automated GroupWise Policies and Reports to allow you to manage GroupWise accounts and manage content like never before. No more manual updating of calendars, shared folders, proxy access, address books, etc. Riva allows GroupWise to manage itself based on eDirectory changes
- Deliver dynamic distribution lists, secure distribution lists and managed personal and department signatures with Riva Applications
- Use Riva CRM and Third-party Integration for GroupWise to integrate GroupWise into the heartbeat of your company's business processes. Align your line-of-business CRM and GroupWise. Synchronize CRM contacts, appointments, tasks, project tasks, notes, phone calls, opportunities cases, and quotes to GroupWise. Use GroupWise like it's never been used before!
- Deliver long-standing line-of-business and process integration pain relief
Omni eControl
- Deliver delegated user account management for Novell eDirectory, GroupWise and Microsoft Active Directory and Exchange - from a single browser
- Replace ConsoleOne, iManager, Microsoft Management Console, Task Pads for service desk and delegated non-technical staff
- Use a single web interface to manage multiple eDirectory, Active Directory, GroupWise and Exchange systems
- Remove excessive supervisor rights to your Directories, file systems and mail systems with eControl "ZERO-Rights" implementation.
- Three-hour full service installation - delivers an immediate win and return on your investment.
- Full Audit Log - all account changes are written to an audit file to support reporting and regulatory compliance.
- Provides immediate pain relief.
Desktop Multiplier for SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop
- Replace up to 10 Windows workstations with one multi-station Linux desktop
- Lower your application licensing costs (move to Open Office)
- Reduce your electricity and air-conditioning costs by more than 60% (think Green AND save money)
- Reduce infrastructure and hardware costs (cabling, switches, furniture, UPS)
- Reduce personnel and support costs (up to 10 times fewer machines to install, maintain and recycle)
About Omni
Omni, "The GroupWise Integration Company", delivers a portfolio of revolutionary management, security, mobility, messaging and Linux desktop solutions that provide integration for enterprise users of Novell GroupWise, SUSE Linux, and mixed Novell and Microsoft networks.