As businesses expand exponentially due to the proliferation of digital and social media, as well as the Internet of Things (IoT), the role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) is likewise growing. As connection points increase and partnerships develop, the data that’s accumulated in a day, hour, or even minute, is at an all-time high. As a result, the CIO is now responsible for not only the information technology and software systems required to keep an enterprise running at top capacity, he or she is also looked at to ensure multiple touchpoints are operating smoothly and that all employees have access to the data they need to perform their critical job functions.
Digitalization and Data: Business Platforms Expand Across Layers
According to Gartner’s 2016 CIO Agenda Report, which surveyed 2,944 CIOs across 84 countries, CIOs expect digital revenues to grow from 16 percent to 37 percent over the next five years, and public sector CIOs anticipate digital processes rising from 42 percent to 77 percent over the same timeframe. To capitalize on this opportunity, executives are laying the groundwork now, turning from a multi-layered, fixed-system approach to a single, unified business platform capable of providing the centricity necessary to support a growing and evolving network of both internal and external resources.
Perhaps no one is better suited to lead this sort of operational transformation than the CIO. According to the Gartner report, nearly 40 percent of CIOs report that they are the appointed leaders of digital transformation in their enterprise, and 34 percent are designated as the innovation leaders. Moving forward, while specific business models and approaches will undoubtedly vary from company to company, one standard remains true—a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system capable of organizing and streamlining data across the enterprise is a must-have.
CRM and the CIO: The Importance of Ease, Efficiency, and Entry
The emergence of digitalization doesn’t just make it easier for companies and clients to connect—it also enables suppliers to forge more direct relationships with the businesses they support, and helps partnerships flourish. To this end, a centralized CRM system is key to managing the multiple types of information transmitted across the enterprise.
By investing in the solutions that keep employees informed on real-time updates, CIOs can help provide the type of visibility their teams need to perform at peak capacity. Furthermore, CRM-powered automation means that personnel are spending less time performing manual operations and more time connecting—leading to the data-rich, meaningful relationships that drive and fuel business growth. As dimensions and duties of their role continue to evolve, CIOs are critical to fueling this type of connection—and the time has never been more ripe for success.
Source:
“Building the Digital Platform: Insights From the 2016 Gartner CIO Agenda Report,” Gartner Executive Programs, 2016.
NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT
