Why IT should be a core part of your business

Using emerging technologies to future-proof your company

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Technology is the core engine to transform your business in today’s world. From AI to cloud-native platforms, emerging technologies are redefining how companies operate, compete and most of all, grow.  

In the work we do with our clients, we see a clear shift in the role IT plays in the growth of companies. While IT was a supporting back-office enabler in the past, it transformed into a strategic partner. Actively shaping the future of your organisation. 
 

Why your IT leader should sit at the strategic table 

This shift means IT leaders are no longer waiting for business directives. They should be proactive, insight-driven, and business-savvy. A concrete example: your CEO should not ask you, as a CIO or IT manager, to start integrating AI into the operations. The IT team should already be working on it, and you should demonstrate how it contributes to the business. However, always bear in mind the risks of AI for your confidential data.

Continuing on the AI example, as a modern CIO, you monitor the technological landscape, identify the strategic value potential, and proactively guide your business colleagues on where and how to act.  

The applications that come with these steps go far beyond deploying AI for basic productivity tools like meeting transcription. It’s an understanding of how AI can: 

  • Transform customer service into intelligent, real-time experiences. 
  • Automate critical decisions in supply chains, pricing, or fraud detection. 
  • Drive entirely new business models through platform-based ecosystems. 

Strategic IT leaders anticipate transformation. They don’t just support it. They design and lead it. 

Nicolas Simonnet

IT has become a crucial part of doing business

As technology becomes increasingly embedded in every aspect of value creation (KPIs, compliance, time-to-market), the line between IT and your business activities disappears. In nearly every sector, the most successful organisations are those that treat IT as a capability woven into their DNA. 

How fast your company can innovate, respond to customers and scale operations is directly tied to the maturity and agility of your technology landscape.  

It’s no longer enough to keep systems running or manage infrastructure. Technology must shape the way you think about your markets, clients and performance. 

Whether it’s delivering hyper-personalised customer experiences through data, or enabling ecosystem partnerships through cloud-native platforms, IT is now the foundation upon which business reinvention is built.

A change in mentality – or leadership

To rise to this challenge, the IT function itself must evolve. Leadership in this new era demands more than technical expertise. It calls for business fluency, strategic foresight and an ability to connect digital innovation to tangible outcomes. 

CIOs and their teams must become agents of change, able to break down silos, foster a culture of experimentation, and drive cross-functional alignment. They must translate emerging tech into competitive advantage, while building resilient, scalable architectures that support continuous evolution. 

It’s about moving from a mindset of delivery to a mindset of co-ownership, where IT shares responsibility for growth, customer success, and innovation. The organisations that succeed will be those where IT doesn’t follow the business, but becomes part of your business. 

How BDO helps you transform your IT department

To help you through this transformation, you can rely on BDO’s pragmatic and business-aligned approach. 

Our approach includes:

1
Strategic alignment & roadmap definition
The right technology strategy supports your growth ambitions. By working with CIOs and business leaders, we translate emerging trends and create a concrete roadmap aligned with your business objectives.
2
IT operating model transformation
Your IT organisation will evolve from siloed service delivery to cross-functional, agile value streams. You'll see increased speed and collaboration through new roles, decision-making models, and ways of working that break down barriers.
3
Technology enablement
From software deployments to data architecture and AI use cases, you get the support and guidance to select and implement the right platforms. We ensure scalability, resilience and business impact.
4
Capability building & governance
Your IT teams will become stronger in the capabilities needed to lead: product development, business engagement, value measurement, and adaptive governance. We also ensure alignment across business units and key stakeholders.
5
Change enablement
Your success still relies more on people than systems. You'll see lasting adoption and ownership through the cultural and organisational shifts that drive long-term value delivery.
Technology is no longer an enabler. It is a crucial part of your strategy, your way forward, the way you make the difference.

Is your IT ready to lead? 

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