From artificial intelligence to edge computing to programming languages – the IT industry is constantly producing new trends. Many companies fear missing out. But if you stay calm, you can often score points here.
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Change of perspective: For a long time, the question was which technology could best solve one’s own problems. Something like that was called a business case. Today, companies often try the opposite approach – looking for use cases for new technologies. You want to use the popular solutions as quickly as possible. They orient themselves towards the tech giants or competitors and often do not pay attention to whether their technology portfolio fits their own requirements or not, argues the IT service provider Avision.
The fear of missing something important often overshadows rational decisions. However, practice shows that the reflexive adaptation of a new technology rarely offers companies added value and can also have negative consequences. A strategic technology introduction, on the other hand, creates space for sustainable and practical solutions. Four experiences show the mistakes of the past and a possible way out.
1. Early adopters pay a lot of money
Those who are the first to use new solutions invest financial resources and time in technologies that are not yet fully developed. The competition later learns from the mistakes of early starters and can draw on best practices and experience. For example, patient companies have benefited from being early adopters in the cloud and have been able to use mature solutions and also avoid the mistakes they initially made.
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2. Many hypes turn out to be wrong
Even if manufacturers’ marketing campaigns praise new technologies, not every solution can keep its promise and market relevance. For example, Microsoft stomped its cross-platform framework Xamarin for the development of mobile applications because it had already been overtaken by the successor technology. Strategic technology introduction means relying on future-proof solutions and critically questioning hype. So instead of focusing on short-term trends, it’s worth focusing on sustainable innovations that shape the market in the long term.
3. Some technology fails to meet expectations
If a new technology makes a decisive breakthrough, excessive expectations – and disappointments – often follow. The market research company Gartner reported this trend for the first time in the so-called Hype Cycle outlined, which ends with the establishment of realistic expectations and the eventual acceptance of the technology. The blockchain illustrates this principle: After initial euphoria for blockchain-based solutions, large financing rounds and start-ups, the enthusiasm quickly died down. High costs, problems with implementation or a lack of results caused disillusionment. Today, companies are using blockchain for specific applications, relying on practical best practices and setting realistic expectations for the technology.
4. There is strength in calm
Rushed, knee-jerk decisions are rarely advisable, and adapting new technologies makes no difference. Even if the fast-moving IT industry gives a different impression, companies should take time to analyze trends and compare them with their own requirements. It usually pays to wait for a fully developed version of a new solution rather than throwing money out the window unnecessarily on experiments.
Conclusion: Strategy instead of activism when introducing technology
The right background knowledge puts fear of technology into perspective. It does not make sense to mirror the technology portfolio of other companies or competitors in order to ensure your own competitiveness. To avoid blind technology activism, companies should look inward and ask themselves which technologies they really need to solve their problems. This way they don’t lose sight of their actual goals and strategies.” Jf
The author
Quelle: ©Avision
Nadine Riederer is CEO of the IT service provider Avision, which specializes in software revival.
