In recent weeks we’ve all been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, both personally and professionally. The changes have been swift and severe, bringing new meaning to the Boy Scout motto: “Be Prepared.” While certain sectors, like the restaurant industry, have been brutally affected by lockdowns, we’ve also seen encouraging signs of last-minute ingenuity. At the end of March, national chain The Cheesecake Factory warned that it would not be able to pay rent.
The world of IT operations is witnessing major changes with the Covid-19 pandemic. Gartner’s recent Business Continuity Survey found that only 12% of organizations were highly prepared to handle the impact of the coronavirus. With technology spend expected to decline by 8% this year, IT leaders will need to prioritize the right technology investments to meet customer, employee, and stakeholder expectations.
Zebra Technologies makes mobile computers, barcode and RFID devices, printers and communications software for healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, retail and other sectors. Despite or maybe even because of Covid-19, the company has a strong outlook; its stock rose 25% in April and is up 16% over the last 52 weeks, according to The Motley Fool. The analyst noted that Zebra’s business process automation technologies help “grease the wheels” of companies during difficult times.
Artificial intelligence for IT operations (AIOps) is an emerging technology that can help IT operations teams make sense of operational data. As hybrid infrastructure and cloud-native technologies present new levels of complexity, AIOps is showing great promise in simplifying and transforming digital operations management. In our recent Tech Talk, Five Ways AIOps Can Transform Your Enterprise, OpsRamp’s Eric Cook spoke about the need for AIOps in today’s multi-cloud environments.
We realize that many companies are facing tighter technology budgets right now, yet at the same time IT needs are unrelenting. From supporting remote workforce continuity and productivity to partnering with business leaders on redesigning products and services during the Covid-19 pandemic, IT organizations have some pretty heavy mandates right now.
