Technophobe? Fear Not

Technology has broken free of the back office to drive customer service, strategy and sales. But if you’re a non-tech ceo, how can you make sure you’re not left behind?

- Domini Stuart

For years, technology has been integral to the day-to-day operations of our organisations. Now, it’s shaping their future.“Emerging technologies are driving different lines of profitability, greater efficiencies, lower costs and increased customer satisfaction,” says Andrew Tucker, CEO of ITonCloud. “The digital world and business are becoming inextricably intertwined. No CEO can afford to ignore that.”

Albert Ma, CIO and Vice-President at Toyota Financial Services in the US, believes that IT is now as much part of the organisation as any other business unit.

“We have seen a shift from back-office activities, like process improvement and optimised efficiencies, to more customer-facing, revenue-generating capabilities,” he told the magazine CIO UK.

Yet, according to a recent global survey carried out by Gartner, only 20 per cent of CEOs are taking a digital-first approach to business change.

“There’s still a disturbing lack of awareness,” says Tucker. “I often talk to CEOs at conferences and events and they have little idea of what technology is available, what it can do or how little it can cost. These days, most services can be outsourced so there’s no need for the hefty lump-sum investments that were once barriers to progress.”

So how much do non-tech CEOs need to know about technology to lead effectively in the new, digital environment?