In 2017, the IT department at the IT system house Bechtle a comprehensive transformation. The example shows: An IT company must also adapt its internal structures and processes in terms of IT to the requirements of digital transformation and reform them. How the IT transformation at Bechtle Wolfgang Schnober, who supported the transformation, summarizes the reasons for this, the methods used and the results Bechtle has achieved so far in two articles on the TCI blog. Part one outlines the reasons that made it necessary to transform the internal IT department and the goals Bechtle has set itself.

Putting innovations and visions on the agenda

Like many traditional companies that have grown considerably in recent years, Bechtle AG was faced with the challenge of optimizing its IT processes and bringing the company up to date technologically. Topics such as cloud services and data management had been neglected in internal IT for far too long. The reason: resources were tied up in day-to-day business, as the company's strong growth placed high demands on IT. Innovation management therefore tended to lag behind.

The new CIO manages IT transformation internally

However, innovation is a key prerequisite for corporate success in the digital transformation. Rapid technological developments ensure that disruptive changes cause entire business models to disappear from the market. In order to meet the demands of the market in the future, the Executive Board decided to transform internal IT. An overarching goal, combined with a vision for the entire company, was to form the starting point. In order to manage and support this process, Bechtle AG brought in a new CIOinitially as an interim manager, then permanently in the company.

IT department as a driver for a sustainable business model

Digital transformation is also a major challenge for one of Germany's largest IT companies. After all, digital transformation means much more than just setting up a digital infrastructure within the company. Although this plays an important role, it can only be effective if the appropriate cultural framework is in place. At Bechtle, the IT department and its transformation played a key role in driving this change. The focus of the IT transformation was therefore always on the future-oriented alignment of Bechtle's business model itself.

Key position IT department: realignment of the overall IT organization

The focus of the IT transformation was never just on the objective of optimizing IT itself. Rather, the overarching vision of a business-, service- and project-oriented organization that is able to support the business with its future challenges. In particular, the innovative strength of Bechtle AG was an important goal. To this end, those responsible around the CIO asked themselves the following questions for IT:

• Who is our customer?
• What drives him and what are his challenges for the future?
• How are we positioned to meet these challenges?

Implementing customer orientation

In this context, consistent customer orientation played an important role in internal IT. The aim was to further improve services and products in an agile process through dialog, feedback loops and iterations in order to make IT an internal driver of innovation.

In the course of the transformation, the IT department of Bechtle AG became a partner that takes up the needs of the business and fulfills them. There is now also a "Business Account Management" department that represents internal customer relationships and solves tasks such as process consulting, innovation processes and value management. This shows how the IT department has evolved from a fulfiller of requirements to an active driver, as you can see in in this interview.

In order to implement the IT transformation in a sustainable and goal-oriented manner, TCI used three methodical approaches in collaboration with Bechtle AG: The Enterprise Transformation Cycle (ETC), the Business Canvas model and the Golden Vision Circle according to Simon Sinek. Part 2 of the article on the IT transformation at Bechtle AG explains how these methods were used in the IT transformation process and what results the project achieved.

Source cover picture: © adam 121 - Fotolia.com