Kelvin Wetherill - Uploaded on December 15, 2021

There's no doubt that businesses need IT, but do they still need an IT department?

Historically the IT department has always been a separate entity, subject to its own deliverables and budgets, but as technology integrates with every aspect of our lives and business, this approach is starting to seem less and less logical.

A recent Wallstreet Journal article described the situation as follows; 
“Having an IT department is exactly what will prevent companies from being innovative, agile, customer-focused and digitally transformed. That's because IT departments are for a bygone era and are ill-suited to the demands of a digital-first world.”

So, why is it time for a new business IT support model?

1. Greater integration
Separating IT from the rest of the business prevents companies from getting the best out of all workers, forcing them to have competing missions and competing mind-sets. By embedding IT roles and functions within the teams that require them, the ownership is shared, the tech is integrated into the spaces it's most needed and IT solutions are made based on what it needed when it is needed. 

2. Staying future focused
In this new world, successful IT is no longer about building and managing IT systems. It's about integrating technology into every aspect of business. Yes, there will always be a need for someone that can help setup an email account, fix a laptop or provide PC tech support, but the role of tech as a whole needs to be focused on creating systems that are adaptable and user-focused. 

3. More speed & agility
By embedding tech knowledge into teams, it gives greater ownership and motivation to employees and allows them to use tech in the ways that work best for them. Since there's no need to wait around for IT to approve their requests or deal with their queries, they can work faster and with deal with common IT problems as they arise. 

As the IT department transforms to meet the modern world, it makes sense to outsource certain functions to IT support companies with trusted IT specialists that can respond on demand, providing remote or in-person support. NerdApp for Business enables an organization to subscribe to tech support on a pay-as-you-go basis or monthly subscription.