The pandemic revolutionised the way many businesses operate. From customer experiences to supply chain management, Covid-19 sped up digital-first ways of thinking. As organisations now tackle and navigate the cost-of-living crisis, IT leaders are under increasing amounts of pressure to do more with less, while ensuring operational agility.

Investments in new technology must be carefully considered to ensure high business scalability, productivity and efficiency. The New York Times reported that despite the economic downturn, investment in technology has remained durable and is a trend that doesn’t seem to be shifting any time soon. The Times also reported that 62% of those surveyed said that tech spending at their companies would be at the same level in 2023 as the year previous, if not higher.

Technology investments – such as AI, IoT and machine learning – offer a range of benefits that drive business change. That said, perhaps one of the most evident ways organisations can do more with less is through automation.

As identified in a 2022 IT Leaders Pulse Report by MuleSoft (child company to Salesforce), nearly all senior IT leaders (98%) said that the ‘Great Resignation’ created skills gaps in their organisation’s IT functions, causing them to turn to automated and self-serve practices to plug the gaps. It has also been reported that 58% of organisations are automating tasks and processes, while 53% of non-technical employees can now leverage automation tools to meet their own needs.

So, how do we measure the success of these automation investments? Key performance indicators for many IT leaders now lend themselves towards employee productivity levels, cost reduction levels, customer experience and employee experience. If automation is implemented correctly, data and applications can be connected quicker while increasing productivity and reducing user errors.

Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, defined doing more with less as “applying technology to amplify what you’re able to do across an organisation so you can differentiate and build resilience.” Organisations that use Microsoft 365 to digitally connect their workforce can simplify IT management and reduce licensing costs by more than 60%, compared to a patchwork of point solutions.

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One single unified platform also means organisations benefit from a seamless, native deployment while eliminating redundant capabilities. Organisations who use Microsoft 365, coupled with Windows 11 Enterprise, are reported to spend up to 25% less time on device management – freeing up significant time to spend on other value-add activities. Improved productivity is achieved as a result, and a culture of collaboration and connected experiences is promoted.

Incremental Group, a Microsoft gold partner and member of its exclusive Inner Circle, is bringing together industry experts to discuss how organisations can maximise digital investments during these difficult times. Incremental’s upcoming Fusion Forum takes place in Edinburgh on 14 March, 2023 and is open to technology leaders and super-users.

Register via Incremental’s website.