As mentioned in Creating a Business Technology Strategy, business technology initiatives tend to be a lower priority among CXOs in the boardroom. However, these projects should be a higher priority since IT services affect employee productivity and company growth. An IT executive, such as a CIO, can bring much-needed IT expertise into the boardroom.
However, many small businesses cannot afford to hire a CIO full-time. At best, they have an IT department that focuses solely on day-to-day operational tasks. A CIO will understand how to use technology to accomplish an organization’s business objectives.
What are the most common business objectives?
- Increase revenue
- Use technology more efficiently
- Acquire new customers
- Improve collaboration with colleagues and third parties
- Enter new markets
- Onboard new employees more quicker
- Reduce capital and operating expenses
Fortunately, these small businesses can bring this expertise on board by hiring a CIO contractor, otherwise known as a virtual CIO. The virtual CIO can be hired on an as-needed basis by paying an hourly rate or subscribing to a monthly plan.
What does a virtual CIO do?
- Create a business technology strategy
- Create security and disaster plans
- Guide industry audits
- Analyze and rework business processes
- Develop policies and procedures
- Facilitate technology changes
What are the benefits of using a virtual CIO
- HR will not have to worry about hiring costs
- Can supplement an existing IT department
- Helps achieve a more competitive advantage in the marketplace
- Enables more informed decision making
- Significantly more economical than paying a full-time staff member
SwiftTech Solutions can offer your business virtual CIO services on an ongoing basis. For more information, please contact us by calling 877-794-3811 or emailing info@swifttechsolutions.com.
SOURCES
MAXfocus. Hone Your Skills to Become the True Outsourced CIO. (2014, February 25). Retrieved from: http://mspmentor.net/blog/hone-your-skills-become-true-outsourced-cio
Barker, I. The rise of the virtual CIO [Q&A]. (2016, May). Retrieved from: http://betanews.com/2016/05/05/virtual-cio-qa/
Baker, A. Life as a Virtual CIO. (2012, October 12). Retrieved from: http://www.biztechmagazine.com/article/2012/10/life-virtual-cio
Rouse, M. vCIO (virtual CIO). (2015, June). Retrieved from: http://searchitchannel.techtarget.com/definition/vCIO-virtual-CIO
Veraldi, J. Three tips for becoming your customers’ virtual CIO. (2013, May). Retrieved from: http://searchitchannel.techtarget.com/opinion/Three-tips-for-becoming-your-customers-virtual-CIO