The role of technology as a facilitator, a conduit to successful business activity, spans across almost every enterprise organisation, including healthcare, education and government. While the applications of technology vary across industries, the benefits – when successfully implemented – are pervasive. Ultimately, organisations are faced with only two choices: adapt and maintain pace with the rate of change, or risk being left behind.

This two-part series contains commentary from Data^#3 leaders on tomorrow’s challenges, with insight on how businesses can best position themselves for what lies ahead. In part 1, we discussed Technology: The Growth Quotient and Adoption and Change Management. Today, we’ll cover Managed Services, Data and AI.

Full-Circle (Managed) Service

As technology rapidly evolves, business needs are transforming in front of our eyes. Customers are increasingly seeking partners who can assist with supporting and managing their business technology, throughout the entirety of the journey.

With such a volume of technology and applications available, the complexity has increased in tandem. “We now have more tools, with less available expertise,” said Garrett MacDonald, Chief Marketing Officer for Data^#3.

With simplification and automation being the key headline of technology, ensuring the right skillsets are applied is necessary to realise those benefits.

“As the pace of change accelerates, our customers need trusted partners who have the depth of expertise to help transform and manage their business. Across consulting, adoption, and managed services, we are increasingly finding that customers are seeking end-to-end assistance and guidance,” said Baynham.

“Customers are looking to simplify, to reduce administrative costs and improve business outcomes. As a result, they are increasingly looking for both depth and breadth of expertise. Where Data^#3 meets that need is through our spectrum of offerings; combining technology from world-class vendors with deep internal knowledge to assist our customers in solving their challenges, at all stages,” he said.

MacDonald added that this rings true for Data^#3’s position over time, “Consistently, where our business has exceeded expectations is the value that we’ve been able to add to customers when they invest in technology.

“Our premise has always been, and remains grounded in, assisting the customer in extracting the most value from their technology solutions.”

The shifting paradigm is reflected in demand for managed services offerings: support services such as Enterprise Managed Services, Cloud Management and Managed Security Services are all on the rise. In 2020, Data^#3 joined the ranks of only four Australian partners to achieve the Microsoft Azure Expert Managed Services Provider distinction.

“Our customers are seeking assistance in making sense of what’s available to them” said MacDonald. “With such an enormous volume of information to meet any given need, customers are looking for a partner who can assist them with making sense of that information- an honest translation of the tool or solution in a context that works for their business.”

With the velocity of information at no risk of slowing, the need for holistic servicing, lifecycle-based assistance and managed services will continue to grow. Time-poor and resource-constrained organisations will require professional expertise at all stages of their journey. “The norms are shifting – what customers now expect from their providers does not look at all like it did yesterday,” Baynham said.

Data and AI

“Ultimately, data and customer experience strategy lie at the heart of the future advancements,” said Tan. Jarrett agreed, echoing that most organisations are yet to see the true power of their collective data sets.

“Once the foundational elements – connectivity, security, data management and governance – are well and truly in place, it’s then that the opportunities emerge to leverage data to its fullest,” Jarrett said.

Big data is not a new concept, however the path to efficiently and effectively maximising its use is still one that many are trying to navigate. Data and analytics are the key accelerant of an organisation’s digital and transformation efforts. Yet, in 2019 Gartner found that fewer than 50 per cent of documented corporate strategies mention data and analytics as fundamental components for delivering enterprise value.

“The rate of current change means that the existing skills gap will continue to widen,” said Graham Robinson, Group Practice Manager for Data^#3. “Combined with the staggering amount of data that is being produced across current and impending technologies, organisations are grappling with the challenge of how to understand and best leverage the data within their environments.”

Jarrett said the benefit of amplified data and analytics is a window to new and emerging opportunities. From automation to artificial intelligence, new customer offerings, solutions and products, data must have a seat at the table to guide long-term decisions.

In the future, data and analytics will become the centrepiece of enterprise strategy, focus and investment. Organisations must ensure that data is cleaned, measured, safeguarded, mined for insight, and harnessed appropriately.

Extending far beyond the remit of a CIO or CTO, harnessing the power of data is a mandate for the entirety of today’s modern organisation.

Join us at JuiceIT Digital 2021

In 2021, Data^#3 brings you JuiceIT Digital. The Future in Focus: The Journey to resilience and adaptability. JuiceIT Digital is a unique opportunity to learn first-hand how your organisation can become stronger, more adaptable, and more resilient. Successfully harnessing technology advancements to drive change in 2021 and beyond will be challenging, but full of exciting advancements for technology professionals.

Join us for a 2-day digital event, with sessions from Data^#3 and world-leading technology vendors including Microsoft and Cisco – as we discuss insights on the future of technology, and how to prepare for what lies ahead, technology intelligence, data governance, risk and compliance and workforce talent of the future, among many other topics.

To learn more or register today, visit: www.data3.com/events/juiceitdigital2021