The role of IT in the modern organisation

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Over the past few decades, IT’s ability to facilitate organisations’ various business processes has increased drastically. It has gone from basic office tasks, such as storing files, to inventory management systems or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). Every organisation must make sure to implement IT in a way that maximises its benefit, depending on the organisation’s unique requirements and processes. From multi-national corporations who maintain mainframe systems and databases to small businesses that own a single computer, IT always plays a role.

 

IT’s impact on the following areas:

Communications – IT plays a vital role in enabling efficient communication between employees, suppliers, customers and business partners. Most organisations use email as their primary means of communication. One of the early drivers of the internet; it is a simple and inexpensive tool. However, recently other forms of communication have emerged. These include: video conferencing, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP), live chat services like SKYPE and smartphones. All these communication tools make it much easier and faster to transfer information within the organisation, as well as externally.

 

Data Management – The introduction of IT in the business world reinvented how organisations store their data. The days of having large file rooms filled with filing cabinets and having to mail documents are long gone. Today, companies store digital documents on servers and use databases to store and manage their data. Employees can send and retrieve data from the centralized system, which saves time and improves decision making.

 

Management Information Systems (MIS) – Storing data is only beneficial if it can be used effectively. Nowadays, most organisations use data for their strategic planning process. MIS is used to track sales data, expenses and profitability. This data is then used to analyse and compare revenue and profitability over time, return on investment and then set future targets or areas of improvement. Through this system, data must be accessible at any given time. MIS reports, therefore, summarise a large amount of data, which enables quick decision making.

 

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) – This is a system that records interactions with current and potential customers, in order to promote long-term customer relationships. In recent years, IT has played a vital role in how companies create and manage profitable customer relationships. A CRM system stores every customer interaction. Thus, when a customer has an issue, a customer support representative has access to the customer’s previous purchases, shipping information and all the details that allow the issue to be dealt with. Each interaction would then be stored on the CRM system and can be recalled if the customer contacts the company again.

As the world becomes smarter, progressive companies are now focusing on innovation that improves customer experiences and drives business growth. Modern organisations must be proactive in their approach to technology and embrace the changes brought about by IT. Innovation goes beyond creating new products, it is an integral part of every business process and makes organisation more efficient and efficacious. Shifting from the old model of IT as a separate business function to this new model results in a thriving enterprise.

Why Telecommunication is a vital tool for businesses

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Telecommunication involves exchanging information over a network, which has helped businesses grow substantially. Networking means connecting with other businesses and clients to maximise one’s growth opportunities. The channels of telecommunication include: email, telephone, social-networking sites, websites, blogs, software-sharing and web-conferencing programs. Every business must realise the importance of making the best use of these modes and take advantage of emerging opportunities, in order to reach a broader audience.

 

Roles of telecommunication:

 

Customer service – the telephone and email remain a vital part of a customer service strategy. By using call management techniques, one can handle incoming calls quickly, even when all lines are busy. Moreover, one can route calls to the employee with the skills needed to deal with the respective issue. Alternatively, callers can be given the facility to choose from different options available, depending on the type of inquiry. Email can also be used to communicate and correspond with customers and business partners alike. It is used to promote products and offers, through newsletters, or deal with customer complaints and get feedback.

 

Collaboration – efficient internal communication is vital in every business. Telecommunication allows information to be shared internally and across different departments. It helps improve performance in areas such as, new product development, customer relationship management and day to day problem solving. This collaborative complex problem solving makes up most of the work for many employees.  Furthermore, telecommunication enables project teams to move forward and make decisions efficiently, even when other members cannot attend meetings.  These members can join a teleconference or web conference. All they need is a smartphone and internet connection.

 

Remote working – many employees, especially in sales and service teams spend most of their time visiting customers, travelling or working from home. Mobile telecommunication is thus an essential part of their work, which allows them to work productively on the move. Surveys show that 40% of businesses state that more than a third of their employees are remote or mobile workers. This shows how vital telecommunications has become for most modern businesses.

 

Businesses must determine their telecommunication strategy, that is, how telecommunication will benefit the company most. An example of a successful strategy would be to use web conferencing to build a relationship with a company based in a foreign country before expanding operations to the said country. Furthermore, telecommunication can be used to cut overhead costs by using software that allows employees to work remotely and collaborate on projects from different locations. Moreover, a virtual assistant could be used instead of hiring a full-time assistant, to set meetings and book appointments remotely. For such services and information you contact Clamtech on +356 2090 8800 or by email on: [email protected]

When investing less pays more! Outsourcing Cybersecurity adds value to your organisation!

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Many organisations make the wise decision to hire a Managed Service Provider (MSP) that handles their cybersecurity. Although, there are still many small business owners who don’t understand that they must act on cybersecurity. This goes beyond installing an off-the-shelf anti-virus software and calling it a day.

 

As the cyberthreat landscape becomes more complex, most companies are finding it very challenging to keep track of new issues and protect their data. Moreover, hackers are growing more sophisticated when committing such crimes. The growth of the Internet of Things (IOT) also results in more businesses using smart devices connected through networks, which give hackers more potential entry points.

 

These security breaches result in significant damages to the company, ranging from data loss, server downtime and loss of clients due to bad publicity and reliability. SMEs are faced with three options for dealing with such security breaches. Firstly, they can attempt to manage cybersecurity internally, by hiring in-house security professionals, including a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Alternatively, they can use the services of a consultant that would recommend a combination of security solutions. These would then be installed and managed by internal staff. The third and most common option is to outsource all cybersecurity to a Managed Service Provider.

 

Benefits of outsourcing cybersecurity:

 

  • Having a team of dedicated security professionals– these people are in high demand and without using the services of an MSP it may be impossible to hire them. The company would have constant access to security experts for immediate response. These experts are also always up-to-date on all the latest threats and security practises.

 

  • Better threat detection and incident response time– the team of experts that monitor your system 24 hours a day are able to respond to threats in real time. A Managed Detection and Response platform (MDR) is often used, which gives fast insight for quick response.

 

  • Advanced technology – new modes of cyber-attack require new defence tools. It takes time to train internal staff to install and use these tools efficiently. New software is also expensive to buy and maintain licensing and support.

 

  • Threat intelligence – outsourced threat intelligence platforms provide a detailed analysis of the company’s intelligence profile. This delivers precise and actionable threat intelligence indicators. This platform also deals with threats before they become breaches. With companies having many sources of data, it is extremely difficult to develop and maintain such a system in-house.

 

  • Independent validation of cybersecurity posture – outsourcing provides an independent analysis of the organisation’s vulnerabilities and weaknesses in systems and applications that internal IT staff may not have picked up. MSPs are specialised in, not only uncovering hidden risks, but also training internal staff to lower the risk of vulnerability to a cyber-attack.

 

When a company decides to outsource, it is vital to choose the right cybersecurity provider that has the means and expertise to meet all the requirements long term. Furthermore, advanced tools and expert security teams are needed for a comprehensive cybersecurity solution. Finally, the MSP chosen must be dynamic and constantly stay ahead of emerging cyber-criminal tactics.

 

For more information regarding this service, kindly contact Clamtech on +356 2090 8800 or by email on: [email protected]