If something only has one job, it is critical that it delivers that functionality time and again. However, in the light of the recent banking issues, it made me consider that there are some things we expect from our suppliers, they need to perform the basics and not let us down. Banks should secure finance (and not be above taking the necessary risk assessments), printers should simply print, (but they are always out of ink or paper jammed) and an ERP system should do what it says on the tin and provide Enterprise Resource Planning.
There are two critical criteria that sit above all else; does it do what it says on the tin and how much does it cost? With all the winds of change against us (pandemic, war, inflation, interest rates, banks!!), it is re-assuring to note that the spending on IT is still relatively buoyant. Although the rate of growth in IT spend has decreased in the UK, there are some sectors still in growth such as Cloud and Software, with Cloud software overtaking on-prem in late 2022 and this will comprise two-thirds by 2026 (IDC).
One thing is clear and that is that cost is a critical driver of IT procurement decisions, so everyone in the food chain needs to sharpen their pencils in the current climate, to secure new business.