How dynamic is your network?

The first thing to do is to reflect on what these results imply. In some cases, the rate of adoption may surprise you. In others, you will be further ahead than you might have thought. Although you may be ahead or behind the market with certain technologies, do these technologies represent a key area of focus for your business objectives? What do you need to review, where do you need to move forward and how do you move forward? We asked our independent analysts to make some broad recommendations for next steps based on your overall network maturity.

First, interview all internal stakeholders to get an understanding of your business and technology requirements. Take a look at whitepapers and research into Dynamic Network Services use cases to identify quick wins. Monitoring the uptake of technologies by similar companies (this report will guide you to a certain extent). Then review your current network and connectivity costs and work with your service provider to establish the best way to identify the right pace of change, maximising the opportunity for change. If appropriate, look for a partner who can provide a stable core network, along with a roadmap to the latest network technology.

These recommendations are based on your current state of adoption, and don’t address your specific business or industry. For a much more in depth look at your objectives and next steps, BT Advise can help you define a network technology roadmap for your business. Over a 4-10 week period (depending on complexity), we work with you through a four stage process.

• Prioritise business objectives and define success. We facilitate a workshop – “Envisioning the future” and get a high-level understanding of existing technology capability
• Discovery and insight into current network capacity and usage, assessing the current network, mapping current applications and analysing existing contracts.
• Identify strategic options and projects, through some high-level architecture design, encompassing new technology approaches and identifying business opportunities.
• Finally, we deliver a defined network project roadmap, outlining key benefits and risks.

The final output is a blueprint for a future network that delivers the right support for your business strategy. Your Account Manager can arrange an initial discussion with BT advise to start the process.

First, evaluate your technology and business capabilities against your current POC roll-out plan. There has been a lot of mergers/acquisitions in the industry; make sure you are aware and understand any impact on future plans. Next, assess technology options for security and WAN flexibility enablement; then review whitepapers and talk to analysts. Identify potential quick wins during a POC roll-out to demonstrate benefits, especially those around WAN. Look to work with a provider who can accelerate necessary change, while retaining core infrastructure, as well as delivering the latest network technology.

Develop rapid POC assessment to get a picture of how your business aligns to your technological capabilities. Next, identify quick wins based on time-to-market and agility. As the organisation shifts to digital, establish which network/connectivity technologies will help improve customer experience – for example, web-load time or mobile support. Implement an ROI and TCO calculator to determine any opportunities. You’ll need to analyse security and automated provisioning and assess current technology to understand the readiness of your network and connectivity options. Work alongside your provider to make sure the pace of change of your network matches the needs of your digital objectives - and ensure you have the right partners for your transformational services. Look for those that can provide proven value.

Draw together lessons learned from the POC and start mapping the critical areas to support full development. Next, work with vendors and analysts to establish market best practices and how they relate back to your business objectives. Review best practice for technology architecture design. Conduct a user-experience survey to see how satisfied users are at present.

Review the use cases for zero-touch provisioning and the improvement of agility that may help open up any new market opportunities. It is key to have the right expertise and experience is in place to ensure any new technology works as a one network solution. Work with a provider who demonstrates the ability to invest in all areas of network development to make sure that demands continue to be met as your network evolves.

Actively meet with technology vendors and providers to understand potential road maps that relate to your business objectives. Talk to industry analysts to establish the leading best practices and use cases. Next, identify any potential quick wins using new network and connectivity technology. Continue to drive trials and POCs with new use cases, while ensuring you’re maintaining the right balance of performance, cost, security and service. Work with a provider who can support your wider IT services that can keep up with your accelerated rate of change, particularly focusing on new security vulnerabilities and cloud options.