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Companies need to overcome the challenges of scaling operations and embracing new technologies to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market, says Mandla Mbonambi, CEO of Africonology.
Modernisation remains a challenge. Legacy systems, employee change management, upgrading infrastructure, unplanned vulnerabilities, and rising costs all make modernisation complicated and expensive.
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However, without agile and flexible technology architecture, companies are at risk of being disrupted and their innovation interrupted. It sounds trite, says Mandla Mbonambi, CEO of Africonology, because every technology company issues dire warnings about how companies can be left behind if they don’t invest in operations and new technologies, but it is true.
Digital innovation and barriers to adoption
And what makes this even more frustrating, is that companies know this is true. Digital does bring innovation and it does allow for the organisation to scale, but there are barriers to adoption that continue to impact on transformation. As Gartner highlights, the digital business ‘demands different skills, working practices, organizational models and even cultures.’ Companies are also struggling with legacy systems, costs, and silos.
“Legacy systems weren’t designed with modern scaling requirements in mind,” explains Mbonambi. “They often operate in silos, lack integration capabilities, and can’t handle the data volumes required for modern business operations. Plus, the cost of maintaining these outdated systems is increasing alongside their limitations.”
Companies trapped in a cycle of applying temporary fixes
Companies are finding themselves trapped in a cycle of applying temporary fixes rather than implementing comprehensive solutions that will allow for true scalability. Of course, digital transformation has emerged as the key to, as the cliché goes, unlocking scalability and fostering innovation but it goes beyond just the technology. Companies need flexible, future-proof architectures that are relevant to where they are now, what they can afford now, and what they need now. These architectures must be capable of evolving along with these needs while reimagining legacy processes and systems.
“So, the question remains, how can companies overcome the challenges of scaling operations and embracing new technologies while remaining competitive – and this isn’t just in terms of innovation, but also costs?” asks Mbonambi.
“Cloud readiness is the foundation of modern scalability,” he answers. “Cloud has become fundamental to achieving meaningful scalability but the journey requires careful planning and expertise.”
Reducing manual intervention; accelerating business processes
Machine learning, advanced analytics and AI have also proven invaluable cloud allies. They bring operational efficiencies that not only enhance competitiveness but optimise processes, provide real-time insights, and reduce manual intervention while accelerating business processes. These tools can be applied across multiple industries, company sizes and environments to reduce costs, refine operations and allow for scale at the pace of innovation.
“Within this move towards implementing relevant technology, you also need to address issues such as culture, data integration and security,” adds Mbonambi. “Many employees naturally resist change, particularly when it comes to new technologies so a successful transformation requires well-planned change management that includes training and communication.”
This needs to be balanced with smooth-as-butter data integration from multiple sources across the business. You need modern integration platforms and standardised data architectures to maintain data quality and accessibility as your operations grow. In addition, every part of this process needs to run through rigorous security, particularly as scaling means managing larger volumes of data. You need to implement robust security measures from the start that keep the business at pace with change.
Africonology’s Cloud Readiness and Digital Transformation
“Africonology’s Cloud Readiness and Digital Transformation services are designed to help companies navigate this transition, and the challenges that come with it,” says Mbonambi.
“We help organisations keep pace with the rate of technological change while ensuring they invest in a modern, flexible infrastructure that scales with their needs. Our strategic approach ensures your sustainable growth.”
Partnering with an experienced service provider gives organisations access to expertise and tools that ensure they’re in a strong position to adapt to future challenges and opportunities. Africonology offers a comprehensive digital transformation strategy that prioritises scale and gives your business the space it needs to embrace new technologies at the right speed, and without being left behind.
