Avery Dennison Corporate / How IT Shared Services Are a Digital Metropolis Helping Companies on Their Transformation Journey

How IT Shared Services Are a Digital Metropolis Helping Companies on Their Transformation Journey

How IT Shared Services Are a Digital Metropolis Helping Companies on Their Transformation Journey

In an organization's vast information technology landscape, an IT shared services function acts as the metropolis that provides essential services to the rest of IT, business units and other functions.

This article originally appeared on LinkedIn.

Just as a metropolis ensures the well-being of its constituent cities, shared services play a vital role in enabling and safeguarding a company's digital ecosystem, enabling seamless business operations, and powering the digital transformation journey.

By consolidating resources and streamlining processes, shared services can help companies scale operations, reduce costs, increase efficiency and drive innovation. As digital transformation continues to accelerate, shared services will continue to be a valuable tool for businesses looking to stay competitive and agile in the face of change.

While companies have different organizational models, IT shared services functions typically include security, infrastructure and operations, architecture, project and portfolio management, compliance, sourcing, and vendor management. Some services may be decentralized and other services shared.

Despite their importance, IT shared services are often not fully understood or appreciated within organizations. Their impact on the company's digital ecosystem and transformation journey is immense, yet their value may go unnoticed. It is crucial for organizations to recognize and appreciate the vital role played by IT shared services to leverage their full potential and achieve digital success.

Similar to a metropolis deploying robust security measures to maintain order and protect its citizens, the security team tirelessly protects assets, data, and systems. The team implements cutting-edge protocols, develops policies, and ensures compliance to secure an organization in the face of sophisticated cyber threats.

As the backbone of a company's technological landscape, infrastructure and operations (I&O) ensures high availability, reliability, and performance of data, networks, servers, and endpoints. Like the infrastructure that connects and supports various cities within a metropolis, I&O manages the day-to-day operations, troubleshoots issues, and optimizes the digital infrastructure, enabling seamless business operations across departments.

Enterprise architecture (EA) is the visionary force that aligns technology capabilities with strategic business objectives. Similar to how a metropolis relies on a well-defined architectural plan, an EA team establishes standards, guidelines, and roadmaps to ensure coherence, scalability, and interoperability in the technology landscape. 

These IT shared services form the essential building blocks of a company’s digital transformation journey, providing operational and innovative services, project and M&A support, and the protection required to navigate the digital realm.

In the same way that a metropolis explores new trends and conducts experiments to improve the lives of its citizens, an EA team actively assesses and educates employees on emerging technologies. They create an environment of continuous learning and experimentation, allowing employees to leverage cutting-edge technologies for digital optimization and transformation.

The project and portfolio management and compliance teams play a crucial role in ensuring IT projects' success, efficiency, and compliance, similar to how a metropolis ensures compliance with regulations and policies. They provide the necessary support to deliver projects effectively and align with compliance requirements, ensuring smooth operations and mitigating risks.

IT sourcing and vendor management act as reliable gatekeepers in the technology metropolis. They handle the procurement, negotiation, and management of technology vendors, ensuring the company engages with capable partners who align with strategic goals. Effective vendor management drives efficiency and allows a company to tap into external resources and expertise to support digital initiatives, just as a metropolis collaborates with trusted partners to enhance its infrastructure.

These IT shared services form the essential building blocks of a company’s digital transformation journey, providing operational and innovative services, project and M&A support, and the protection required to navigate the digital realm. 

It’s important to celebrate and recognize the collective effort and contribution of IT shared service teams in an organization's success. These teams are the unsung heroes behind the scenes, working diligently to ensure the smooth functioning of IT operations and enabling digital transformation. By leveraging these services, organizations can drive digital innovation, enhance operational efficiency, and deliver immense value to an organization, much like a thriving metropolis that enriches the lives of its citizens.

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