Outsourcing the C-Suite: A Way to Save Smart

TIM JEWELL

CPA.CITP

BPKZ

tjewell@bpkz.com

bpkz.com

Topic: Technology

Do you have a technology plan that will carry you into the future? If IT is an area you’d rather avoid than try to figure out, maybe it’s time to think about using the services of a Chief Information Officer (CIO). Outsourcing your CIO saves you time and money while keeping your company on the forefront of the technology that can make a big impact on your bottom line.

Expertise in Business and Technology

CIOs have a background in both business and technology and are able to integrate the needs of the business with the capabilities of IT. One of the first things a CIO will do is to interview the department heads to find out how technology is working for them, how it isn’t, what they need and how IT can support each department. Because CIOs have experience in finance, they can determine a technology budget. The CIO will also prioritize the projects based on the benefits derived making sure the plan is carried out in the most effective and cost efficient manner - all while looking at the big picture.

Full-Time Experience, Part-Time Salary

By outsourcing your CIO, you’re getting the knowledge without the expense of a full-time salary. Outsourced CIOs have typically worked with many different businesses across multiple industries. Having a broad scope allows them to decipher how different strategies will affect your business now and in the future. You’re paying for a wealth of knowledge and experience, but only when you need it.

IT and Management Liaison

A CIO can be the liaison between IT and management and analyze and explain the cost and business benefits of IT projects in a way that management will understand. Having management’s buy-in when starting a project is crucial to its success. Management is grateful to the CIO for laying out the financial and business impact and IT is grateful the CIO was there to push their project forward. The CIO is a neutral who brings both parties together for the betterment of the business.

Financial and Strategic Vision

An outsourced CIO will bring to the table a strategic vision utilizing your current technology and anticipating what your company will need to grow in the future. Expect them to develop and manage a rolling budget (usually three years) and strategy that integrates technology with the vision and direction of the company. A CIO will also assist the IT department with projects making sure everyone stays on task and within budget.

If your company is ready to derive the benefits of technology, outsourcing a CIO could drive your efforts without the expense of a full time employee. The job of a CIO is to ensure your technology, now and in the future, is doing what you need it to do in the most efficient and cost effective manner. Consider outsourcing a CIO - it is a wise investment in your technological future.