As organizations head into 2022, IT professionals are faced with budget constraints, a low inventory of skilled workers, and ongoing supply chain issues. Minimizing these challenges with a comprehensive, strategic plan is the key to realizing a successful digital future.

During the Rimini Street-sponsored virtual thought leadership discussion, Your Enterprise Software Blueprint: Building Business Resiliency and Funding Innovation Securely, on December 2nd, the conversation centered around technology modernization, developing a vision for your enterprise future IT architecture, and augmenting resources to creatively fill IT skills gaps.

Check out five key takeaways below:

1. Keys To Technology Modernization

Vinitha Simon of Western Governors University observed that technology is evolving faster than ever. With this accelerated pace, to stay relevant in the market, organizations must evolve. “You have to transform your mindset, you have to have an open mind, to be able and willing to experiment, fail fast, and learn,” she said, “but at the same time, know your non-negotiables: you want a resilient, highly available application.”

Vinitha emphasized that a hands-on, collaborative approach is key and that architects can no longer isolate themselves from the rest of the organization.

2. Customer-Driven Innovation

Organizations are updating their approach to modernization. “We’re looking at our customer and [seeing] what they want,” shared Jeff Shepard of American Greetings, “then taking a look at what we need to invest in and investing our modernization efforts and dollars into those technologies.”

This customer-focused mindset enables American Greetings to concentrate on improving areas that will benefit consumers as well as the bottom line.

3. Upscaling Internal Talent

As an academic organization, Western Governors has a unique advantage in finding and retaining IT staff. “We’re creating a Center of Excellence model,” said Vinitha, “the key is to invest in our associates and alumni to ensure that they can help fill in this tech shortage that everybody [is] facing.”

By having a few highly talented individuals with focused specialties, they are able to serve as internal consultants and uplift the IT staff as a whole. This model is easily translatable across industries.

4. Reskilling Resources

American Greetings is relying more and more on third parties to help innovate and implement new technology. “We find the boutique firms to come in right away and augment our staff to get the projects done, and then we train up the staff so that we can support afterwards,” said Jeff.

With this shift in workflow, it has become necessary for staffers to learn how to effectively manage third party providers. By sharpening project management skills and building a strong foundation for the relationship, superior results can be achieved.

5. Showing The Business Value of IT Solutions

“We have to fight a little harder for our funds now that we've initiated so many transformation projects,” shared Jeff, “so we got a full seat at the table with the business units.”

While it took time for his unit to be viewed as more than a “utility,” they are now being seen as a vital part of the business in which to invest.

Curious to hear more? Check out the full panel discussion and more topic-based video clips from the event by filling out the form at the top of this page.