The Role of the CIO in Building the Connected Enterprise

CEOs trying to accelerate digital business transformation have their strongest business partner already sitting at the decision-making table: their chief information officer (CIO).

A transformational CIO can align the C-suite on digital strategy, facilitate change across the enterprise, and use emerging and proven technologies to innovate and drive agility.

Pivotal Role of CIO

CIOs are well-positioned to lead digital transformation and to design operating models that leverage data for deeper insights. The CIO:

• Is at the centre of the convergence between operations technology (OT) and information technology (IT). 
• Likely has spearheaded other enterprise-wide efforts, such as ERP deployment.
• Can bring transformation to scale through emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, robotics, automation, and virtual and augmented reality.

Sense of Urgency

Every organisation is a technology organisation these days. CIOs have to keep operations running and hit revenue and growth targets, as well.

Every organisation needs to be data driven and, while many companies are data rich, they are lacking insights from that data.

Our company specialises in using information to expand human possibilities. We do it for our customers, and we do it for ourselves. Our work to connect the imaginations of people with the potential of machines helps us, and our customers, become more intelligent, connected, and productive.

While some thought that digital transformation would have the greatest influence on the outside – for customers – there is just as much change, value, and benefit for employees.

Accelerating the Work

The CIO brings perspective for both internal and external audiences; you need to balance both to take full advantage of the next industrial evolution.

Success requires sifting through an abundance of data for insights. Each company I encounter is on a different journey and level of maturity. The pandemic has accelerated the migration to the cloud at scale, and people are looking to connect their enterprise and leverage data to develop insights that drive decisions around growth and profitability as well as sustainability and energy management.

The most progressive are using digital transformation to create new products and get better connected with customers. The trend once most prevalent with retailers is now a driving most industries: personalisation of the customer experience.

While CIOs and CEOs are at the centre of transformation, this is a cross-functional initiative that requires a different mindset for senior leaders and across the company. The conversation around the Connected Enterprise has moved from manufacturing and supply chain to the C-suite for connectivity and consistency of data so you can scale to realise the benefits.

Expanding Human Possibilities

Digital transformation was a priority before the pandemic; it’s even more so now. The CIO will be the visionary and the primary driver; the person who will spearhead the implementation and the engagement throughout the organisation.

This time is a test of intelligence for humans and machines. The foundation of our company is our ability to improve the quality of life by making the world more productive and sustainable.