5 ways to build a smarter business

The original SMART system was developed in the 1990s to help computer users avoid unexpected hard drive crashes. In the following decades, the idea of ​​”Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology” flourished and expanded to more than 1 and 0 on magnetic boards. The concept – and the lowercase version of the name – now applies to everything from coffee makers to buildings and sustainability efforts.

Smart devices are easily embedded in consumers’ lives, but businesses often try to integrate this approach into organizational processes and practices. Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine learning make smart devices and systems even more powerful and efficient. Complexity hinders organizational efforts to become smart enterprises that are needed for long-term competition and success. However, best practices have been developed to overcome the complexity.

1. Define guiding principles

Businesses run the risk of wandering aimlessly if they do not create a map to guide them in the right direction. This step is especially important for smart technologies, because they are closely linked. One wrong turn can completely lead you astray.

The guiding principles of the organization should include:

Tikinti – Include sustainability in each step of the process; prioritize efficiency in all areas; to meet the needs of users; adapt to changing preferences; and communicate meaningfully with the user and the community.

Technology – Provide and protect all access points through advanced cybersecurity; learn from data to estimate the needs of users and devices, and ensure accessibility and interoperability within the organization.

Experience – Create inclusive persona experiences for all affected stakeholders, from employees to clients, from managers to communities; personalize user experiences; eliminate user friction and obstacles; and develop an environment conducive to productivity.

2. Take a system design approach

A new model is needed to solve complex problems such as sustainability, taking into account the many systems in which the problem exists. The design of the systems allows you to solve current problems instead of temporarily eliminating the symptoms. Businesses can categorize problems into their own components. Problems that seem large, seemingly uncontrollable, become a number of more manageable problems. Frames then help to rank the interactions that affect how the whole system works.

In this situation, organizations look more closely at the systems, processes, and individuals that need to be addressed, rather than focusing on individual systems or cases of use. The design of application systems takes into account interfaces, architectures, and data points based on the type and context of the problem.

As a result, this approach will result in practical solutions that will be accepted by users and society as a whole.

3. Prefer privacy

The principles of confidentiality by design allow organizations to go beyond existing policies and regulations. In this approach, privacy is the main focus at the design and architectural stages for all business processes, applications, products and technologies. This is especially important in increasingly interconnected systems.

Privacy by design covers a variety of concepts, including:

• Privacy – Make it the default mode.
• Functionality and confidentiality of information – Give equal value to both.
• Complete security – Integrate information throughout the life cycle.
• Transparency and visibility – Present to all interested parties.

4. Define and apply clear safety rules

As with privacy, security must be considered at all stages to ensure user trust. Design provides a way to prepare clear guidelines for safety.

Personal services required for user authentication in a centralized or integrated model. These core services should cover key stakeholders – employees, customers, partners and offer convenience anytime, anywhere.

Zero trust architecture it is necessary to fill the gaps in traditional perimeter-based security that are not designed for today’s hybrid cloud and edge systems. This approach allows the enterprise to apply security controls and inspections to all architectural layers and interactions.

Multiple cloud and data security requires different tools and strategies. Businesses can take advantage of autonomous techniques that will increase security as code, policy as code, and monitoring as code.

5. Adopt a micro change strategy

Businesses often struggle with change because the barriers are too high – or at least seem so. However, more agile approaches make more progress than trying to climb a mountain with one leap. A number of small, irreversible changes can have complex effects and produce exponential results.

Long-term goals are broken down into achievable road points, and workers are encouraged by pushing rather than pushing. Each success is built on the other. Obstacles to change management are beginning to diminish.

This philosophy is essential for smart technology and sustainability efforts. The rapidly evolving nature of technology such as AI, IoT, and the cloud serves smaller and more frequent advances. In addition, sustainability goals are long-term, and there are many intermediate steps between them.

This strategy can also prevent the problems of managing overall change, where employee anxiety and resistance overturn potentially effective plans.

Corey Glickman is InfosysHead of Global Sustainability and Design Consulting Services.