IT has other benefits for businesses that are not just supporting people with computer problems. (If it is, it might be time to re-hire or look for a new outsourced IT provider!)

A good IT department will have plans to actively improve your company by using a strategic approach towards IT. If implemented correctly, an IT strategy can make all the difference to your business development.

There are many different kinds of technology strategy, including deployment strategy or cyber security strategy.

An IT strategy is a plan that outlines technology objectives, principles and tactics to support business operations and further its development. It will show your key stakeholders and IT team the steps needed to reach intended business outcomes and support daily operations with an overview of costings.

For example, we've worked closely with a legal firm to develop a flexible IT strategy and roadmap that benefits their business by anticipating potential roadblocks or route changes. Armed with this understanding of their business, we are always ready with a considered IT solution just for them.

An IT strategy should cover:

• Future activities
• Critical updates
• Costs
• Business benefits.

A good IT strategy can be a business advantage. It will keep your daily operations running smoothly and highlight investments for growth. However, a poor approach towards IT strategy not only leads to missed opportunity, but it can also cause direct harm to your business.

First and foremost, your IT strategy must be supportive of your business's daily operations. Planning for the future does not mean you have to invest in all the latest tech innovations, especially if they don't suit your business. Be realistic with your ambitions!

If your business has hardware that is slowing down its daily operations, your IT strategy can immediately create added value with an improvement plan or investments in new hardware.

Not only should your IT maintain the day-to-day operations: It should also be carefully aligned with your business development plans. Consider your business' future priorities: Are you planning a more mobile approach? Do you need a seamless digital customer journey? Your IT department can help!

By aligning your IT strategy with your business development, your IT team is aware and prepared to with their own IT solutions. Make sure your IT leadership is present in strategic business development meetings.

Anyone who picks up your IT strategy should be able to read and understand it. Although developed and implemented by IT specialists, an IT strategy shouldn't contain jargon or confusing tech terms.

Using too many IT buzzwords overcomplicates the document and runs the risk of misinterpretation or alienating key stakeholders. Keep it simple, brief and understandable.

Staying ready for any unexpected changes will help your team remain prepared... and there will be potential roadblocks! This means reviewing AT LEAST annually if not more frequently.

By remaining flexible, your strategy can adapt to any changes in business direction or critical IT updates. If your IT team has an agile mindset already - they will expect challenges or changes and overcome them easier.

To write a truly effective IT strategy for your business, you need to be aware of the financial side of your plans. Not only of any costs but also the return on investments and a margin of error for any additional expenses.

This will also become a future metric to the efficacy of your IT strategy. By monitoring clear trends in improved performance, cost reduction or even over expenditure, you can inform the next plan of action for your IT.

You need to have BOTH critical updates and future initiatives covered in your IT strategy. Start with a section on the systems and processes that are vital to your daily operations. These are the critical updates to your IT architecture and cyber security! They need to happen immediately to prevent business outages.

Although you need to keep daily operations moving, you also need to be aware of any future developments that could affect or benefit your business. This includes upcoming patches, end-of-life systems or new technologies.

It's all good making plans, but someone needs to action them! Scheduling your IT strategy is the best way to ensure that projects will be completed on time and on budget.

To get moving, make sure your IT strategy covers the overarching goals and includes start/end dates for specific projects. You don't need to include every single individual action. Just an overall what needs to be done, when and by whom.

Our workplaces are becoming more and more digital. Not only in processes but also in the working environments and online collaborative platforms. As businesses shift towards digital transformation, the need for a strong IT strategy will only rise.

The benefits are numerous, from streamlining your daily operations to ensuring you make the right technological investments for business development. Developing an IT strategy now is a smart way to stay one step ahead of your competitors.