How to get your IT house in order
Your to-do list for getting your IT systems cleaned and polished.
Evaluate your infrastructure.
Integrating your business over the Internet is ultimately a network issue. Can your current setup run your software long enough to deliver the ROI that software makers promise? Your infrastructure should dictate the scope of your applications, not the other way around.
Optimise existing systems.
Before investing in new solutions, make sure that what you already have in place really works. Take a close look at cobbled-together Y2K fixes in your ERP system and e-commerce storefront.
Integrate, integrate, integrate.
Standardise on a single company database and also consider migrating to XML. Get your core systems in sync before worrying about integrating with partners and customers.
Outsource where it makes sense.
Look to outsource not just to cut costs, but also to boost efficiency and reduce the pressure of menial administration on your IT staff. But be smart about it and stick with commodity services, such as storage and email.
