By Callum 
Technology never stops developing, with new and more powerful tools constantly disrupting the industries. Due to this, enterprises find themselves facing a dual challenge: on the one hand, they need to keep pace with innovations to stay ahead of the game but, on the other hand, maintaining stability is important for performance. So, finding a balance between the two is the tricky part. This is where technology advisors come in.
What do technology advisors do?
A technology advisor should be seen as a strategic partner who is there to help organisations make informed decisions about their technological development. Unlike traditional IT consultants, who tend to focus only on the implementation and maintenance side of things, technology advisors take a broader view on how this technology will fit in with the company’s long-term strategy and goals. They aim to find solutions that support the digital transformation needs across the business, from evaluating its current solutions and identifying inefficiencies, to designing roadmaps for years to come.
Essentially, technology advisors are there to help leaders navigate uncertainty associated with innovation. They assess how technologies like AI or cloud infrastructure can improve productivity and customer experience, while ensuring that every investment contributes to sustainable value. They also identify any potential risks early (e.g. technical, operational, strategic), preparing appropriate mitigations for them.
Do enterprises need technology advisors?
For enterprises striving to innovate, the challenge is usually not in having good ideas, but in executing them well. Technological development is a process requiring a specific set of skills – something that the company’s management team may not possess in their current roles. It also requires relevant experience, which they are unlikely to have either.
Technology advisors offer all of those things, working with different companies across different industries. They act as the link between the technical specialists and business decision-makers, ensuring that nothing gets lost in translation. Therefore, their involvement can help this transformation in significant ways, preventing miscommunication and ensuring that the investment is put in the right places to support growth and future scalability.
So, while enterprises do not necessarily need a technology advisor to achieve digital innovation, the majority of them tend to see much more positive results with one. Besides, third-party can bring a completely unbiased perspective over the business, which can be extremely helpful in well-established organisations with stagnant operations.
The core areas of technology advisory
A technology advisor can help with a broad range of different technologies, their strategic planning and execution. The exact services provided depends on your chosen partner, but here are some of the key areas:
AI and data strategy
Helping organisations unlock value from data with the use of artificial intelligence. This not only increases process efficiency, but also helps make better-informed decisions and reduce manual tasks.
UX and product design
Ensuring that technology delivers exceptional user experiences across the board, whether that’s your website or mobile app. This helps strengthen user engagement and improve loyalty.
Cloud and scalable architectures
Designing flexible IT infrastructures that support rapid growth and cost-effective operations. This includes secure cloud architecture design and hybrid deployments.
Innovation and emerging tech
Evaluating and piloting new technologies for your business, from generative AI and ML to IoT. This allows companies to find the tech that will truly deliver a competitive advantage.
Custom software development
Building bespoke software solutions that are not just reliable now, but long-term too. These should be aligned with the business objectives and growth goals.
Legacy system modernisation
In addition to designing new products, technology advisors specialise in updating outdated systems, such as ERP software, to boost operational efficiency, optimise bottlenecks and improve integration capabilities.
IT due diligence
Assessing technology risks and auditing scalability to support such processes as mergers, acquisitions or other strategic change. The advisor will provide tailored recommendations based on an in-depth analysis.
Key players in technology advisory
If you’re looking for a technology advisor, you’ll find a variety of different partners offering a range of services, from niche specialists to large-scale transformation experts. Here are the leading players in this space today:
- Making Sense: With nearly 20 years of experience and over 100 projects under their belt, Making Sense is a well-established technology advisory and product development company, helping enterprises create a lasting impact through technology.
- Accenture: Headquartered in Dublin, Accenture is a global consultancy company offering end-to-end technology and innovation services across 51 companies and a number of different industries.
- Deloitte: Working with some of the largest organisations in the world, Deloitte provides a huge range of services in the technology sector, from strategic advisory to implementation support for large and complex ecosystems.
- Capgemini: With a focus on AI-powered intelligence, Capgemini is a Paris-based company that combines data and design capabilities to deliver sustainable digital transformation.
- ThoughtWorks: A pioneer in agile software development and innovation consulting, ThoughtWorks help enterprises modernise their processes and experiment with innovation as effectively as possible.
Each of these organisations differ in their scale and approaches, but all share the same purpose – helping businesses use technology to create value.
Innovation supported by expertise
Working with a technology advisor is not a must, but it’s certainly an advantage. They play a crucial role bridging the gap between business ambition and a strategic, agile approach, guiding enterprises to innovate with confidence.