The beginning of a new year always brings on a slew of business tech predictions. Here at NPI Technology Management we are following three-and-a-half key technology developments that have the potential to impact your employee satisfaction and revenue growth. These trends might seem simple, but they are expected to really pack a punch.
CFOs need to commit a part of their time to looking at technical solutions that increase ROI.
Identity Access Management
According to Jim Lippie, chief analyst and Clarity Channel Advisors founder, identity access management will become a standard part of the basic security landscape. The current state of “password sprawl” found across many businesses is driving this issue. Streamlining identity access will ease the burden on employees and will likely increase their productivity and overall satisfaction.
In a later blog I will explore multi-factor identification which is an emerging trend that will likely gather steam this year. As the quest to make technology environments as secure as possible continues, businesses are looking for new ways to control access to sensitive information.
Democratization of Information
Democratization of information is the ability for small-to-mid-size businesses to access business intelligence data. This was originally predicted by Gartner in 1999 but has been slow to take hold. But with the development of analytical applications as well as cloud-based technologies, these businesses are now able to access big data without investing in expensive IT infrastructure, in-house management or data warehouses. Leveraging big data insights and predictions without an investment in extensive in-house data infrastructure allows companies of all sizes to grow their revenue and remain as competitive as international corporations.
Application Overload
Using an over-abundance of applications can lead to employee confusion. Applications are available for many aspects of business–from marketing and sales to HR and finance. The explosive growth of applications has occurred because they are easy to access, quick to learn and affordable due to the pay-as-you go model. However, with improper planning, a business can find themselves with software that performs overlapping functions as well as unused software robbing network storage space. This can results in confusion, lost productivity and employee dissatisfaction.
So which is the ½ trend?
As this year unfolds, CFOs need to commit a part of their time to looking at technical solutions that are well-managed and responsive to growth. The time taken to explore the potential before committing money can lead to better ROI and employee performance.
