Here we are at the start of another year, an opportunity to set goals and make plans for the months ahead. This may include a review of your technology stack. Perhaps you know that change is required but have not had positive past experiences. Maybe you have implemented a new technology solution but did not achieve what you wanted from it. If this is the case, you’re not alone! This is a common situation which often arises when software is introduced without a holistic view to how business processes interact with the technology and will therefore be changed by it.
So many technology implementations focus on getting the solution installed and configured, and providing training on how to use it. And the implementation may be successful with this focus, meeting budget and schedule targets. But is the overall project a success? Is user adoption strong? Are business objectives achieved? Is the system being used to its full potential? A successful project is hard to deliver without understanding how the technology changes will impact the day-to-day activities of your team members.
When taking on a technology project, it is critical to also consider the business processes surrounding that technology. Processes may need to be adjusted to reflect new or different functionality in the system. The system may require customizations to reflect business processes that cannot change. New business processes may need to be developed to maximize the benefits to be realized by the technology. Business process analysis and reengineering should go hand-in-hand with systems implementations as technology alone does not improve productivity. Business process reviews can also be important as a standalone exercise.
Business process analysis will typically start with stakeholder meetings and an iterative approach to map the core business processes, determine what systems are currently being used to support those processes, and confirm what’s working and what’s not from the perspective of different stakeholders. With this input, core business processes can be analyzed and areas for improvement identified. Deliverables will often include documentation for both current state (as-is) and desired future state (to-be) processes. These artefacts can be very valuable for current operations and future planning. The future state work should then be incorporated into any planned technology projects to ensure that the system will meet the needs of the business. It is this comprehensive view into how technology supports and aligns with your business objectives that can be a game-changer.
In Triware’s Advisory team, we believe that it’s about more than the technology. We take a strategic approach to your needs to ensure you are getting the best value from your technology investments or introduce process and other improvements to align your operations with your strategic priorities.
Want to discuss how you can incorporate business process reviews into your technology projects? Angela, Shane, or Andrew from the Triware Advisory team will be happy to meet with you.