All About

While 74% of businesses say they want to be data-driven, only 29% connect their analytics to action. Collecting data is one thing, but using it to create actionable insights is the only way to move forward with data-driven plans.

Commonly, the role ensuring IT and business alignment is a CIO. But for many SMBs, filling such a role is not feasible. That’s where a vCIO comes in. A Virtual Chief Information Officer, vCIO, has the important role of understanding how businesses can leverage IT and technologies and offer strategic IT guidance, planning, analysis, and management.

Along with helping teams and the company overcome hard times, an innovation culture can also be a powerful tool to retain the top-tier employees, since they will feel they share in shaping the future of the organization. But, how do you know whether your company is allowing this type of culture? And, how can you help your team continue to cultivate innovation in your small or medium business throughout the years?

You don’t need to be in the IT industry to know that technology is essential to every aspect of business. We all get it – IT is important. The problem is that discussions about IT focus too much on technology and all its bells and whistles. It’s time to change that focus.

In this blog, we are going to focus on something different (and more important): business operations and outcomes.

"Work smarter, not harder" is a phrase that often gets a bad rap. After all, it often conjures up images like that of Homer Simpson using a toy bird to type for him. Putting nuclear meltdown-causing Homer Simpson to one side, most of us could find ways to work smarter.

Most small and medium-sized businesses operate with limited resources. Aligning information technology and business goals maximizes these resources because it helps teams work together towards common goals. This important strategic business concept is commonly known as IT-business alignment.

Take a look at four ways your Connecticut SMB will benefit from aligning technology and business goals.

Spending on technology can either be a sound investment or a costly expense for SMBs. So, what are the issues to take into account to determine whether an IT expense is an investment or a cost for your company?

Take a look at some of the questions we believe you should ask yourself before taking the plunge on a new service, tool, or solution for your Connecticut SMB.