Talk to our recruiting expertsBusiness automation and workflow optimization based on SaaS or custom software development are long-lasting trends. The global digital transformation market is growing at a 13% compound annual growth rate, which means more companies are investing in software to support their business operations.
Despite all the benefits, the rapid expansion of technologies doesn't always deliver the expected outcomes. Companies choose wrong stacks or fail to align it with their business goals. Such decisions may result in substantial technology investments that don't pay off as expected.
If that's your case, a business technology assessment can help detect inefficiencies and create a more strategic approach to software infrastructure. Learn the signs you might benefit from a business technology needs assessment and how it is conducted.
A business technology assessment evaluates a company's current technology infrastructure, systems, and processes to determine how they align with business goals and identify areas for improvement. A cross-functional team that is usually provided by an external consultancy runs an audit to determine an overall technology health rating, estimated business impact, and major issues. Then, it provides practical recommendations on how to achieve the desired goals, with prioritized changes and short-term vs. long-term initiatives. Despite being comprehensive, a business technology assessment usually covers specific areas for in-depth research.
According to McKinsey research, 57% of respondents at top-quartile organizations stated that their senior tech leaders participate in strategic planning. At bottom-quartile organizations, only 17% do that. Top performers are also more likely to engage digital and business-oriented teams in technology delivery.
This difference illustrates the practical benefits of aligning technology with larger corporate goals and shows why business technology assessment matters. By running an expert audit of their existing systems, companies can:
In other words, business technology assessment can make software-dependent workflows more efficient. By implementing changes and a data-driven approach to software adoption, you streamline the work of in-house teams, boost business performance, and enhance customer service.
The optimal moment to consider technology assessment services is before you plan the next digital transformation and make a considerable investment in technology. Such an audit helps understand the current situation and ensure your tech strategy will help achieve the outlined goals. Here are some other signs it may be the right time to run a business technology needs assessment:
Thanks to business technology assessment, you get a more realistic value of software investments. You understand the current position and obtain a clear roadmap to modify or optimize operations based on strategic objectives.
Experienced engineering vendors tailor the business technology assessment process to a specific use case, as not every business would benefit from the same type of audit. Below, we outline the standard flow you can expect when running a business technology assessment.
An assessment team estimates the scope of work, narrowing it down to a problematic business unit or system. They interview stakeholders to clarify the pain points, strategic goals, and expectations. End users can also be involved to identify the practical issues with an existing tech infrastructure. It’s critical to combine multiple data sources to build a comprehensive picture, from basic issues to corporate-level bottlenecks.
At this point, engineers identify legacy systems, technical debt, and performance issues. You receive a current-state architecture overview with an application and system inventory. Tech experts also assess the overall system indicators, including security, scalability, reliability, and cost.
After evaluating the technology landscape, the team completing an assessment outlines key business processes, identifying manual workflows and automation opportunities. They also evaluate user experience to see whether the end-users are satisfied with the software and find it convenient. It's also necessary to check data quality and governance, as well as the security measures in place.
The team compares the current state of the system with the expected business results and best practices to detect the gaps. They may use a structured maturity model to make sure the results are objective and comparable. We recommend breaking the assessment into more specific domains (e.g., Architecture, Infrastructure and Cloud, Security, etc.) to evaluate them separately.
Assessors analyze the direct business impact of technology issues to detect weaknesses and see which updates can bring the most significant change. They create a report with prioritized recommendations, a development roadmap, estimated ROI, and risk reduction impact. Then you can rely on these findings to decide which software decisions would have the highest positive impact.
Scalors is an engineering company offering custom development services tailored to specific business goals. We can audit your existing systems and deliver a personalized plan to enhance their operation, whether through optimization or implementing new solutions. Scalors can complete an engineering project end-to-end or provide to grow your in-house team.
Fill out a brief contact form for free consulting. Tell us about your case and learn how we can help achieve your business goals through software implementation.
