In the dynamic world of technology solutions, staying ahead of trends is crucial. ePlus, a leading technology solutions provider, has harnessed FIBRES to enhance its ability to identify and track long-term technology and market trends.
Here’s how FIBRES helped ePlus' IT organization transform their approach to trend analysis, strategic planning, and partnerships with their business stakeholders.
Identifying the need for long-term trend analysis
When ePlus began seeking a solution, they identified the necessity of enhancing their IT risk assessment practices to encompass continuous analysis of long-term trends and market shifts. Traditional point-in-time assessments aligned with other corporate risk and compliance activities might be constrained by shorter-term focus.
The company aimed to explore strategies to enhance their foresight in light of the rapid evolution of technology and market dynamics, encompassing challenges, threats, and opportunities.
Mike Bates, VP of Enterprise Architecture, elaborated, “We required a methodology that addresses immediate risks and tactical initiatives, while also anticipating emerging trends to gauge their long-term implications on our business.”
Why FIBRES stood out as a trend radar solution
ePlus set out to look for a digital trend radar solution that would allow them to expand the time horizon of their trend and technology scouting.
Bates highlights, “Other solutions we evaluated had similar functionality, but FIBRES stood out with its strong capabilities, configuration flexibility, ease-of-use, excellent support, and affordability. We were able to quickly customize our own trend radar.”
After thorough research and consideration, they chose to collaborate with FIBRES to pilot a potential solution.
"We worked closely with FIBRES to pilot the solution, resulting in a production-ready system before making our final decision. The team helped us set it up, configure it to our needs, and input our data. Having a production system running before signing a contract was fantastic. The time and support the team provided were exceptional, and the ongoing support has been phenomenal,” says Bates.
Some of the features that influenced ePlus’ decision included:
- Customization flexibility: Classification and categorization of trends along custom dimensions, allowing for detailed analysis and reporting.
- AI recommendations: AI to surface recommended items (e.g., news articles and signals) from FIBRES data sources for research and trend linking.
- AI-generated draft trends: AI to quickly generate a ‘draft’ trend, including a picture and summary based on the title.
- Curated news and signals: Curated news articles and signals/trends available through FIBRES data sets.
- Web Clipper feature: The ability to import and link our own signals from the internet using the browser Web Clipper feature.
- Export capabilities: CSV and PowerPoint exports.
Broadening the scope beyond IT
Using FIBRES, ePlus was able to expand its trend analysis focus beyond just technology trends to include people and process trends.
“As an IT function, trend analysis is often technology-focused. The FIBRES platform has allowed us to expand our focus on people and process trends across the enterprise, which may not necessarily have a technical focus,” says Bates.
Integrating trend analysis into strategic planning
FIBRES will facilitate a more integrated approach to trend analysis at ePlus by linking trends to business strategy and capabilities, and optimizing beyond IT.
Once trend analysis is no longer isolated within IT as a risk activity, it lays the groundwork to integrate it into other enterprise planning functions, such as strategic planning and capability assessments.
Bates says, "The accelerated proliferation of emerging trends requires us to continuously manage them, linking them to strategic priorities and decisions so that we can seize opportunities to adapt with a focus on long-term change.”
All the relevant trends, structured
In FIBRES, ePlus is actively curating its own technology trends and shifts in the market. The system's flexibility allows them to maintain various narratives for each trend, including a summary description, analysis, recommendations, and initiatives. ePlus also categorizes their trends and technologies based on various criteria.
These customizations ensure that ePlus maintains a uniform trend library that meets their specific needs.
According to Bates, "With the radar categories we can assign to trends, we can distinguish those that are parked, those we're observing, those we're planning, and those we're actively pursuing."
Improved collaboration and ownership
One of the most significant advantages of FIBRES is the centralization of the trend analysis process. The platform has also improved collaboration and trend ownership across the enterprise.
"The best thing about FIBRES is that we now have a centralized platform and have moved away from Excel. Understanding and tracking how trends evolve is crucial. We’ve already conducted a lot of research, and this gives us a nice place to put all of it. We can continually update it and conduct further research in FIBRES,” states Bates.
Enhanced reporting and visualization
Custom classifications allow ePlus to perform deeper analysis across the trend portfolio for prioritization and planning.
With FIBRES, ePlus can export data in CSV or PowerPoint formats to create comprehensive briefing books.
“This allows us to use data exports to generate dashboards and reports, such as visuals to compare trends by deployment risk and suggested action, or any other custom dimension,” Bates elaborates.
Trend analysis is for everyone
Mike Bates recommends FIBRES to anyone involved in strategic planning, enterprise architecture, and project/demand management. Internally at ePlus, he sees opportunities to expand the use of a centralized trend analysis solution.
“With multiple custom radars, it's versatile to support different departments. We have interest from not just IT, but also other business areas. Others in the enterprise acting as “trend spotters” can have their own radars which feed into a consolidate radar,” he says.
Conclusion
FIBRES has empowered ePlus to develop a robust, integrated approach to trend analysis, enhancing their ability to adapt to long-term changes and aligning trends with strategic business objectives.
This partnership exemplifies how innovative tools can transform enterprise architecture and strategic planning processes, allowing ePlus to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Mike Bates
Mike Bates, VP of Enterprise Architecture at ePlus, is a certified TOGAF and ArchiMate practitioner. He specializes in developing principles, strategies, roadmaps, and architectures. Mike collaborates with IT and business stakeholders to define Business, Information Systems, and Technology Architectures, ensuring alignment with organizational goals. He oversees the Enterprise Architecture Repository and leads Enterprise Integrations. Mike holds a BS from Pennsylvania State University and an MBA from George Mason University.
About ePlus inc.
ePlus leverages technology to create transformative business outcomes, offering a robust portfolio of solutions and a range of consultative and managed services. With over 30 years of success, ePlus guides customers through adversity and change. As a trusted advisor, ePlus provides expertise in artificial intelligence, security, cloud, data center, networking, collaboration, and emerging technologies, along with a full portfolio of managed, professional and consultative services. With comprehensive lifecycle management and flexible payment options, ePlus's 1,890 associates focus on positive customer experiences. Headquartered in Virginia, ePlus has locations in the US, UK, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
