Demand Driven Architecture
We will be publishing several discussion articles over the next few months about UK enterprises ensuring their software platforms are fit for purpose in the post-Brexit world. With so many external variables affecting business performance, how can enterprise software be used to enable and support cost control and business growth?
A good software platform represents your enterprise in the digital world, it will support and even enable business priorities. When considering the health of a software platform, senior managers will rely on advice from their technical teams, but we think it does no harm in seeking a second opinion from a technical partner.
The first question in every technical health check should be: is the software platform helping or hindering our enterprise priorities?
Enterprise software platforms matter for business success. This is as true for the public sector as it is for the private sector, because whether its profit, education or health that drives an organisation, there must be a solid software platform to deliver high volume and high-quality services. The examples I will give in this article relate to the SAP system, but the principles could apply to all enterprise systems.
Like everyone, I despaired that the NHS was a victim of last weeks cyberattack. The impact on people has been real and unfortunate. The NHS institutions in question were running Microsoft but this could happen to any software platform.
The problem many enterprises have with their software platform is not so much cost of ownership but rather the “cost of change”. If an enterprise cannot restructure or innovate because it is held back by its own software platform, it can lose its way. Complex and ageing systems mean prohibitive costs as well as longer timelines when it comes to supporting agile business changes. The 3-step plan for enterprise atrophy is to stop innovating, stop patching and build a full English breakfast of bespoke interfaces.
Do not do that.
So, what should enterprises do to maintain a software platform agile enough to support dynamic business?
1) Keep innovating – in the direction of simplicity and supporting enterprise priorities. Keep the system as simple as possible with a focus on customer experience, both internal and external, including data and reporting. Also, if there is a large workforce in the enterprise, use the software to align the workforce with the enterprise priorities. If there is a large customer base, are the business leaders supportive of simplified CRM 2.0 systems? We will discuss these topics in subsequent articles.
2) Keep patching your software platform with the latest updates – this will look after compliance and security issues. Speak to your platform partner about getting this right, you want to be on the cutting edge, but not on the bleeding edge. This is all about security and functionality patches, payroll legislation service packs, the correct tools for the new “right to be forgotten” GDPR regulation and the list goes on. It’s the new reality, with the threat of cyber based attacks becoming more common place, software patching holds even greater importance and cannot be ignored.
3) Stay away from bespoke interfaces. These ‘dinosaur’ interfaces have a direct relationship to cost of ownership and can tie an organisation up in knots. Standard API’s and connectors are the way to go when integrating. Use published and supported interface types (e.g. ALE/iDocs, BAPI’s, Connectors/Plug-ins and SAP Gateway) and insist that any third-party system offers API interface connectors.
The UK business challenge right now is to gear up for change. We know change is coming following the Brexit decision and as this takes form over the next 2 years, UK PLC (and the public sector) will need to navigate through uncharted waters. There be dragons ahead, but for the nimble there will also be security and even reward. Now is the time to revitalise ageing IT systems and ensure your software platform is as flexible as your business needs it to be.
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