Decentralize and automate – The key to a more efficient IT department
Many industries are being impacted by rising interest rates, economic downturns, and uncertainty, which has left a mark on the landscape. In times of uncertainty, there are several paths to take—stay the course, try to adapt, or experiment with something entirely new. There may be a belief that “staying the course” is the safest option, but let’s challenge that by asking—what do you think the cost of doing “nothing” really is?
If you’re among those looking to adapt or explore new approaches, we have an efficient and powerful suggestion that could be the key to success: decentralization. But let’s get specific. We often encounter IT departments that are constantly pushed to do more with fewer resources. This is where decentralization and automation can offer a solution. By distributing the workload and implementing smart automation tools, companies can not only relieve their IT teams but also increase efficiency and reduce costs. In this article, we explore how automation and decentralization can help your organization achieve exactly that.
What do we mean by automating and decentralizing?
Automate: Free up time and resources
Automation is a key factor for companies looking to maximize efficiency. It’s not a new concept, but it’s an important one that makes a real difference when implemented. By automating everything from simple tasks to complex processes, time and resources are freed up, allowing your IT specialists to focus on more strategic activities. Repetitive and time-consuming manual tasks can be automated, enabling the IT department to concentrate on innovation and enhancing core business operations.
Decentralize: Empower the right people
Decentralization involves distributing workloads and responsibilities to different parts of the organization, which can bring numerous benefits. Here are a few ways this can help relieve the IT department and improve overall organizational efficiency.
The major benefits
Distribution of risks and responsibilities
By delegating responsibility to business-centric individuals in various departments, companies can spread risks more effectively. When more people can manage their areas, processes, and tasks, the risk of bottlenecks—often created when the entire load falls on the IT department—is reduced. This approach also builds a more resilient organization, where multiple individuals have the knowledge and skills to manage critical systems and processes. Anyone who has been deprioritized by IT knows how crucial this can be, especially during busy periods or vacation times.
Flexibility and speed
When different departments have the ability to manage and adjust their processes with user-friendly tools, organizational flexibility increases. Business-centric individuals can quickly adapt their workflows without waiting for IT department availability. This leads to faster decision-making and a more responsive organization that can immediately react to market changes or internal needs. In today’s fast-paced world, the ability to keep up often defines the gap between success and falling behind.
Engagement and ownership
When employees gain more control over their work processes, their engagement and sense of ownership increase. Providing staff with the tools they need to manage and optimize their tasks fosters a more motivated and productive workforce. This also encourages innovative solutions and improvements that might not emerge in a more centralized structure.
Efficient use of IT resources
By reducing reliance on the IT department for routine tasks and minor adjustments, IT specialists can focus on more critical projects and strategic initiatives. This means IT resources are used more efficiently, leading to faster implementation of new technologies and improvements across the organization.
Tools that breathe flexibility and adaptability
Automation solutions often provide a flexible platform that can be tailored to specific needs. Whether your company needs to automate customer service requests, handle data integrations, or optimize internal processes, the right solutions can be scaled and configured to meet evolving demands. This flexibility allows your company to react quickly to market changes and stay ahead of competitors.
User-friendly solutions: no IT background required
A common misconception is that this type of decentralization requires deep technical knowledge. In fact, modern tools are designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, meaning even non-technical individuals can use them effectively. However, this places a requirement on providers to deliver solutions that are easy to understand and use.
Industry example: Automation at Nordnet
A concrete example of how automation can make a difference is Nordnet. By automating several previously manual processes, they achieved over a 50% increase in conversion rates and significantly relieved their IT department. This demonstrates the power of automation tools when used correctly. Read the full customer case here.
Start now to relieve your IT department
By decentralizing and automating, companies can relieve their IT departments, freeing up time and resources for more strategic tasks. Automation tools provide a flexible and user-friendly solution that can be tailored to your needs, enabling your company to quickly adapt to changes and improve efficiency. For many years, Sweet has offered solutions aimed at automating business processes, with our proprietary automation engine, Sweet Automation, as the hub driving our more visible solutions—Sweet Forms and Sweet CRM. Regardless of the solution combination, we can attest to the value of allowing business-centric individuals to streamline processes without IT’s involvement, creating truly strong and efficient organizations.
Are you ready to ease the burden on your IT department and maximize efficiency in your organization? Explore the market’s automation tools and find the solution that best suits your needs. Don’t miss our guide, “Efficient Automation – 6 Key Steps to Choosing the Right Tool,” and our other case studies, where you can gain insights into how other companies have successfully implemented our automation solutions.
