In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, a robust digital strategy has become a critical component for business success. This importance is underscored by both commercial and operational imperatives. From a commercial perspective, a well-defined software and IT strategy enables organisations to harness digital transformation initiatives, drive innovation, and create competitive differentiation. By leveraging advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data analytics, companies can unlock new revenue streams, enhance customer experiences, and optimise product offerings to meet the ever-changing demands of the market.
On the operational side, an effective software and IT strategy ensures the seamless integration of technology across all facets of the business, thereby enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and improving agility. It facilitates streamlined processes, improves decision-making through real-time data insights, and supports scalable growth by providing a flexible technological foundation. Additionally, as cybersecurity threats continue to rise, a well-structured IT strategy is vital to safeguarding digital assets, ensuring business continuity and resilience.
In essence, the convergence of commercial and operational benefits makes software and IT strategy not merely a technical consideration, but a fundamental driver of business value and sustainability in the digital era. Organisations that prioritise and invest in a strategic IT roadmap are better positioned to navigate complexities, seize opportunities, and achieve long-term success.
In my role, I define and implement digital strategies for business growth and optimisation.
Here’s some of my recent blog posts
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Designing with Intention: Reflections from UX Brighton’s AI-Powered Future
UX Brighton’s “UX and AI” conference (1st November 2024), covered a broad spectrum of perspectives on how AI is transforming user experience, design, and human relationships. A few common trends emerged from the discussions, revealing both opportunities and serious challenges AI poses to UX design. https://uxbri.org
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Whats Skills Do I Need to be a Great Manager?
Imagine two people guiding a group through a dense forest. One is constantly checking the map, ensuring everyone stays on the path, measuring progress, and making sure resources are used efficiently. The other is pointing towards the horizon, motivating the group to keep moving forward by sharing the vision of the destination and encouraging them…
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Leveraging the Gartner Hype Cycle to Navigate Emerging Technologies
In our ever evolving technological landscape, businesses are continually challenged to discern which emerging technologies will deliver genuine value and which are merely transient trends. The Gartner Hype Cycle offers a strategic framework to evaluate these technologies systematically, enabling organisations to make informed decisions about where to focus their attention.
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Guidance for Strategic Problem Solving
In strategic consulting, success is often defined by a consultant’s ability to analyse complex problems, synthesise large amounts of information, and communicate actionable insights effectively. While technical and analytical skills are crucial, some key consulting skills are foundational for creating meaningful impact: the Pyramid Principle, Persuasion, MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive) framework, and several other…
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The strategy of adding value: the build vs buy dilemma.
In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, companies face a critical choice when developing new systems: should they build everything in-house (or outsourced) or buy components from existing 3rd party vendors? This decision, while seemingly straightforward, has far-reaching implications for a company’s competitive advantage and its ability to deliver value to customers. Leveraging Michael Porter’s principles,…
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Protecting Your Digital IP with Mid-Layers: Adding Value While Maintaining Flexibility with Third-Party Systems
In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, businesses often rely on third-party systems to enhance their operations, streamline processes, and offer innovative services. However, this reliance can expose companies to risks, particularly when it comes to protecting their intellectual property (IP). One effective strategy to mitigate these risks is to develop mid-layers—software layers that add value to…
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Balancing Technology and the Human Side of Change
Digital transformation is more than a buzzword; it’s a critical pathway for organisations looking to stay competitive and relevant in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world. While much of the focus on digital transformation revolves around technology—such as the adoption of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and data analytics—the true challenge often lies in managing the human side…
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Navigating the Challenges of Standardisation and Digital Enablement in Airline Alliances
Airline alliances, such as the Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam, have long been a strategic mechanism for airlines to expand their global reach, optimise route networks, and offer seamless travel experiences across multiple carriers. However, as the aviation industry undergoes rapid digital transformation, these alliances face significant challenges in standardising and digitally enabling their member…
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Insights from Phocuswright Europe 2024: You, Me, and the Machine
Attending Phocuswright Europe 2024 was a transformative experience, immersing me in the latest trends, technologies, and innovations shaping the future of travel and hospitality. This year’s event, held in the vibrant city of Barcelona, gathered industry leaders, tech innovators, and forward-thinking professionals to discuss the evolving landscape of travel. Here’s a rundown of the key…
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How RPA Can Drive Efficiencies in Business Operations
In today’s fast-paced business environment, organisations are continually seeking ways to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve accuracy. One transformative solution gaining traction is Robotic Process Automation (RPA). Platforms like Automation Anywhere, UiPath, and Blue Prism are leading the charge in revolutionising how businesses operate by automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks. This blog explores how…