5 Critical Technology Problems IT Consultants Can Fix

Businesses must leverage technology strategically for long-term success, not merely adapt. IT consultants ensure that IT strategy supports business strategy, and promotes creativity and efficiency that can address fundamental issues. Here are five major issues they solve helping your business get the right foundation for success.

1. IT and Business Disconnect

The Problem: Misaligned IT and business goals lead to inefficient spending and missed opportunities.

How Consultants Help:

• Assess existing infrastructure and identify inefficiencies.
• Develop roadmaps that align IT with business strategies.
• Implement performance tracking to measure IT’s contributions to business objectives.

Example: A global oil and gas company, Woodside, collaborated with IBM, leveraging information technology consulting expertise to capture and utilize decades of institutional knowledge. They adopted an AI-driven solution that improved decision-making processes, resulting in increased operational efficiency and alignment between IT capabilities and business objectives, thanks to the knowledge and experience of information technology consultancy.

Benefits:

• Prioritizing technology investments ensures maximum ROI.
• Strengthening communication between IT and business teams fosters innovation.
• Measuring IT’s impact improves strategic decision-making.

Tip: Align IT projects with business milestones to ensure technology investments directly support growth objectives, not just upgrades.

2. Tech Advancement Challenges

The Problem: Adopting new technologies can overwhelm internal teams and disrupt operations.

How Consultants Help:

• Assess emerging technologies for alignment with business goals.
• Run pilot programs to test tools in controlled environments.
• Develop change management strategies to ease transitions.

Example: Amazon has implemented headless commerce to boost its platform’s flexibility and scalability. This approach helps Amazon offer personalized shopping experiences across devices, reinforcing its competitive edge.

Additional Strategies:

• Use tools like Kubernetes for container management.
• Leverage AI/ML models for predictive analytics and insights.
• Plan gradual rollouts to minimize disruption.

Tip: To reduce risks and develop internal champions for new tools, begin with modest, cross-departmental pilot projects.

3. System Failures and Downtime

The Problem: Outdated infrastructure, poor monitoring, and weak disaster recovery plans cause costly downtime.

How Consultants Help:

• Implement 24/7 system monitoring using tools like Prometheus and Splunk.
• Develop robust disaster recovery plans and conduct regular drills.
• Perform preventive maintenance to extend infrastructure lifespan.

Example: Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) partnered with EPAM and Microsoft to execute a cloud migration strategy. The change improved system reliability, reduced downtime, and boosted operational efficiency, supporting LDC’s cloud transition.

Benefits:

• Improved customer satisfaction through reliable services.
• Cost savings from minimized disruptions and efficient recovery.
• Extended infrastructure lifespan through proactive maintenance.

Tip: Regularly test disaster recovery plans to ensure your team can respond quickly, minimizing disruptions.

4. Productivity Issues and Cost Cuts

The Problem: Inefficient workflows and manual processes limit productivity and inflate costs.

How Consultants Help:

• Analyze workflows to identify bottlenecks.
• Implement automation using tools like Ansible and Azure DevOps.
• Establish performance monitoring frameworks.

Example: Netflix, the global streaming service, migrated its operations to the cloud to enhance stability and availability. This change made the mean time between outages even greater a factor and contributed to reducing outages and therefore improving the service reliability for its users.

Key Improvements:

• Automating workflows eliminates redundant tasks.
• Integrating systems removes data silos, improving collaboration.
• Performance tracking drives continuous efficiency gains.

Tip: Use AI-driven insights to automate tasks and enable real-time workflow adjustments, ensuring scalability.

5. Resistance to New Technologies

The Problem: Employees often resist adopting new tools, hindering productivity.

How Consultants Help:

• Develop tailored training for various skill levels.
• Create communication strategies to keep stakeholders informed. 
• Establish feedback systems to address adoption challenges.

Example: Deloitte assisted a large academic hospital in migrating to the cloud, improving patient care, streamlining operations, and enhancing employee experience. This calculated action addressed reluctance to adopt new technology by outlining their obvious advantages and offering all-encompassing assistance during the shift.

Additional Support:

• Offer ongoing workshops and refresher courses.
• Use gamification to incentivize user engagement.
• Monitor usage patterns to identify areas for improvement.

Tip: Early technology selection should involve important stakeholders to promote ownership and lessen opposition.

Why IT Consultants Are Essential

An IT consultant is more than a problem solver; they are strategic partners driving long-term business success. From aligning IT with business goals to fostering innovation and ensuring operational stability, their expertise helps your organization stay competitive, optimize operations, and achieve sustainable growth.

Next Steps:

• Conduct an infrastructure audit to identify immediate gaps.
• Work with a consultant to prioritize key projects.
• Create a long-term growth strategy.