Less complexity and lower costs through platform consolidation –
transformation management in operations
Greater efficiency, higher quality and lower costs for the IT and telecommunications infrastructure across all platforms – that summarises the objectives of T-System’s Business Services “Operational Efficiency” initiative being carried out within the framework of the strategic program „Focus on Growth“. One of the projects is „BS Consolidation“ in the operational area, which is a combination of the two sub-projects to consolidate the network platforms and to consolidate the IT system. „Fewer platforms for fewer products, with better processes and lower costs for transport and network access“ is how the project manager Kai Seim summarises the objectives of his sub-project. Alongside the specialist competence in platforms and IT required, competence in project, program and change management are the main prerequisites for the successful consolidation of not only platforms but people too.
Platform consolidation – the core subject in network and IT management
Most companies now view their network and IT infrastructure as one of the main pillars of their business activity. However the CTOs, CIOs and their IT employees are faced with the conflict between constantly increasing demands concerning efficiency, performance and limited budgets. Significant amounts of excess capacity, growing competition and increasing control by the company’s management are putting the CTO operations’ budgets under even more pressure. The operational units thus not only face the problem of having to adapt existing infrastructure, platforms and IT systems to suit new and changed customer and market demands, but they also have to fulfil the greater shareholder expectations concerning return on capital employed with accompanying improvements in or at least maintenance of the QoS. The objective is to improve efficiency by optimising the use of platforms and ICT.
Platform consolidation is a powerful tool for realising the full potential of the network and IT infrastructure in this context – particularly in a post merger situation. Consolidation deals with the simplification and optimisation of the existing infrastructure in the company, including all the technological, applications and system management processes. Consolidation projects traditionally result in reductions in operational costs along with improvements in efficiency, performance and service levels. Potential cost savings resulting from consolidation can be:
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