How to Become an Agile Organization in 10 Stages

Agile transformation has become an increasingly popular term across the corporate sector. A transformation process for any organization, the goal of an Agile transformation is to make the organization quick on its feet and adaptable to change.

Agile | áʤɑjl
able to move quickly and easily

In broad and simplistic terms, the goal is for the organization to become agile, in its whole and all its parts so that it can be more efficient and thrive in case of unprecedented challenges. In the modern fast-paced world, where a few months bring about a new update on something or the other – it is important that any organization is prepared to deal with fast-changing environments. Agile transformations are designed to be for software corporations but the transformation is more of a philosophy that can be adopted by any organisation.

An agile transformation is a set of values which guide the organization on what to prioritize. These include things like: customer interaction gaining importance, an increase in collaborations and a decrease in planning, processes and too many layers and hierarchies in the management and operations.

This kind of a transformation is a mammoth task as it requires a change in mindset and the approach to working day in and day out. At the core of the transformation, a mindset change is must.

The agile transformation is divided into many stages – let us walk you through them and show how we can aid you with them:

1. Spot the Agility

Some of the existing values or practices of your company might be agile in nature and might be matching your end goal – spot them. TM Systems can kickstart this process by helping you identify what kind of progress has been made by these pockets of agility which makes it easier to convey to the rest of the company what needs to be done going forward and what are its advantages.

2. To be or Not to Be Agile

The next stage before we actually start the agile transformation is to determine whether this is the right time for your company to undergo this kind of a change and the pros and cons of it. These things can also be weighed in on by learning from other organizations who are already in the process of transforming.

3. Get Set Go – but form a team first!

Such an extensive transformation would require a dedicated team as it is never-ending in nature. Most companies start with having few people from different departments who identify with the agile ideology to start leading the change.

4. Leading by example and applying methodologies

This kind of a fundamental change needs to come from within. This is where smaller teams that have achieved agility can share their experiences and inspire. There are also many tools and methodologies, like Scrum, that TM Systems can intervene with to give agile tasks a boost.

5. What’s life without a few challenges?

The next stage of the agile transformation deals with challenges and how the company bounces back from them while keeping up with agile processes. Here again, TM Systems can support your organization by suggesting a framework or tools to follow.

6. The whole and its parts

Getting smaller teams and then departments to be agile is an achievement in itself. However, the biggest challenge is to get all the teams to collaborate with each other and work in a way that the whole company can be agile. This requires non-hierarchical workflow and communication throughout the organisation.

7. Chase the real agility

Since agile transformations have become the popular token word – it is misused and misinterpreted quite often. Even while being in the process of agile transformation – the organization could be led astray by what seems like agility but at its core it isn’t. Our constant can keep your organisation in sight of the actual goal and not be distracted.

8. It takes a village

In the software industry – agile transformations can be realised in the main teams with more efficiency and then, the task is to get all the back-end departments – like finance, HR, etc. to get into the fold. Otherwise, they prove to be a threat to any agile change that has come about.

9. To stand on one’s own feet

To measure the success of any agile transformation process – the words “transformation process” need to be removed from the equation. Once the crutches of process and tools and framework are removed and the employees no longer “have to” follow an agile protocol – do they still follow it? This proves to be a great test to see if your organization is agile or not.

10. Hit the jackpot!

A successful agile transformation will ultimately lead the organization to innovation that shakes the market – either in terms of creative processes or output. Your organization may find a way of doing existing things in a way that yields better results, or it comes up with a product or service that is creative, or it simply challenges a certain norm – all leading to major revenue growth; that is achieved by creating value in some way or the other.

As you can see, agile transformation is a long process but worth every ounce of effort one puts into it. While agility can only be achieved by a mindset change that alone is never enough or reliable – the organization requires more tangible ways to bring about the change. This is where external support comes in – TM Systems can offer this support with tools, methodologies, and a framework so that you simply execute the change instead of planning it.

Network infrastructure and IT infrastructure are the building blocks of any kind of IT service that a company opts for. Both infrastructures provide the essential elements for having an efficient technological system and thereby, an efficient workflow.

Before we set out to understand the differences between the two, it’s important to understand them individually, first.

Network Infrastructure

All the elements that establish network communication and connectivity within a company comprise the network infrastructure. As a whole, network infrastructure enables operations, management and maintains internal and external connectivity.

IT Infrastructure

This refers to both the hardware and software components that help run a company’s operations. These operations can range from internal systems to external user (or client) based systems.

Now that both types are well understood, let us explore them in more detail and know the differences between the two. For any company that is hiring the expertise of an IT consultancy team, it is essential to understand these terms, what they mean, and what they stand for as they are what hold up the system that your company possibly runs on. If you’re still in the process of looking for an IT team, it is even more important to know these terms as you can then know whether they have expertise in one or both.

The differences between Network Infrastructure and IT infrastructure

Since we already know the function of both infrastructures, let us get into the details of what makes up these two infrastructures. Both, network and IT infrastructure comprise of software components and hardware components.

For network infrastructure, the software includes components such as an internet connection, operating systems, IP addressing, network security and firewall. Whereas, the hardware comprises components like LAN cards, routers, switches, cables, etc.

For IT infrastructure, the software includes elements like data management applications, customer relationship management software (CRM), applications that boost productivity, and operating systems. The hardware components include computers, storage and data centres, servers, computers, etc.

As one can see, there are some overlaps between the two and in fact, network infrastructure is an integral part of IT infrastructure. One cannot function without the other for an efficient system. However, network infrastructure is a part of the bigger and broader term of IT infrastructure that caters to a fully functional IT service.

A full IT service requires an infrastructure setup of both – network and IT infrastructure. You can get the same diverse range of IT services from TM systems, check out our website here.

Websites are one of the crucial building blocks in creating your brand. For it to be a turning point for your venture, your website needs to do several things – like, make a lasting impression, facilitate interaction, build business relations, and generate revenue, among others. Since there are so many expectations from a website, the preparation for it should be systematic and well thought out. Here is a checklist for you to use before you jump into designing a website:

Define a purpose

In order to achieve what you want; it is important to know and define what you want out of this website. Sit down with yourself and your team to define the purpose of the website – is it to establish a presence, or build interaction, or generate revenue, or a combination of those? Once you have your purpose written down – all the other decisions fall in line automatically.

How much are you ready to invest?

Websites are crucial tools and require a good amount of your time, effort, and money. Before you think of getting it designed – you should think about the amount of money you are ready to invest and more than that the time and effort it will also require.

Choose domain

You should decide the domain name for your website as soon as possible. Domain names cannot be duplicated so if you know what yours is going to be, get it immediately.

Choose a reliable host server

Knowing the technology behind your website is important as that is the hidden strength resource which keeps it running. Choosing the right host for where your website will reside is a significant step so consultation of an expert IT team to make these decisions is strategic. Overall, the first two steps will make a huge impact on your decision for this one as your purpose and investment capacity affects it the most. Make security a priority.

Create your brand

In case you don’t already have one, this is the right time to design your service or product as a brand. What this essentially means is to decide on what you want to communicate the most about your work and reiterate that in elements like, brand logo, name, colours, and what you have to say about that.

Know your audience

Any well-established brand knows exactly who their customer is and what they like, which is how they create a brand experience for their valued customers. Your website should also do the same – if your work is with young children for example, your website needs to connect to their parents, whereas, if it is for young adults, it needs to connect to them. If your customers are more likely to post on social media, your website should facilitate an easy way to do that, and so on. Knowing your audience prepares you in the best way possible.

Decide your content

Once you have an idea of what you want to communicate (brand) and who you want to communicate it to (audience), the next step is to decide how many pages or sections your website will have and what will be in each of those in terms of what information to include and where.

Decide on an intuitive flow

A natural intuitive flow of content and graphics on a website is truly a mark of great design as it simply nudges the reader along without any harsh interruptions that could lead to loss of interest.

Colours and font are your first impression tools

The previous few steps will give you an idea of what kind of a colour palette and font style will communicate what you want to and make a lasting brand impression.

Keep it simple

While deciding on the few previous steps, it is likely that one overdoes it as there is a lot to say about the passionate work you are doing. However, use this as a thumb rule and revisit those steps – make sure you are not overcomplicating it and that it is simple, easy to use while fulfilling your purpose.

Back to tech: make your website accessible

The last step is to figure out the accessibility of your website – is it mobile-friendly, is it accessible through all kinds of browsers? Many users open websites from their phone and if the website is mobile-friendly it creates an impression that your company is well updated with technology.

Cross-browser functionality of your website is important if you are catering to a wide audience as your website should function well no matter where your user opens it.

Choose your fancy wisely

When it comes to website-designing, the world is our oyster but it is important to know if it suits our diet! If you’re choosing fancy functionalities for your website – for example, plug-ins, chatbots, social media link-ups – only do so after knowing if it falls in line with your service and brand and whether your audience needs it.

As websites are so crucial for building a brand’s image, the whole process of designing it can be overwhelming, especially on your own. TM Systems make this a lot easier by being there every step of the way and advising you according to your needs.

Business, all over the world, has a new modern pace now – modern business models are scaling up faster, use different kinds of resources, and have an efficient edge to them.

To keep up with this pace of modern business – one of the things that is turning into a priority for existing business companies is cloud transformation. Existing companies of any scale and from all kinds of fields are considering or in the process of moving to the cloud.

However, what does moving to the cloud really mean?

Cloud transformation is a process of moving your business from local servers into cloud servers that exist in data centres around the globe. It involves migrating all the applications, software, and data that your business might be using to exist and run on the cloud instead of computers. The scale and extent of cloud transformations vary according to the end goals you wish to achieve for your business.

Tech experts have long predicted the accelerated rise of cloud transformations and the Covid pandemic has fuelled it further. As companies started remote work with most of their employees, cloud servers and cloud computing gained even more popularity.

Why move to the cloud?

Cloud transformations have become a necessary step as one’s business grows. Many companies are opting for cloud-based services to make their business operations more efficient and slowly phase out of IT infrastructure. Cloud-based services are a great alternative as they offer more efficient delivery systems, interaction with customers or other businesses and day-to-day operations.

Here are some of the benefits of moving your business to the cloud:

1. Data-storage and sharing

One of the biggest changes when your business will undergo a cloud transformation would be the way you store data and share it with your customers and other businesses. However, at the same time data security is also one of the biggest worries associated with it.

2. Flexibility and scalability within your organisation

Flexibility in scaling your business is another major benefit of switching to cloud computing – it allows you to scale up or down depending on your circumstances and start projects or lessen your workload without worrying about your IT infrastructure.

3. Central network security

While data security is a reasonable worry when it comes to cloud computing, having a central network security system means it is easier to track any issues and also control the same.

4. Accelerated market access

Cloud computing ensures that the access your business has to the market is accelerated hence giving you the option to seize that opportunity if you want.

5. Overall efficiency of day-to-day operations

Research has shown that companies that have moved to the cloud have seen an increase in productivity compared to the ones that still use local servers.

6. Cost-effectiveness

Cloud transformation is shows to reduce IT infrastructure costs by almost 25% – as it directly results in your business requiring less technological gadgets, less staff to manage that technology and less repair or data recovery costs.

These are only some of the benefits of moving to the cloud. This is not to say that there are no challenges on your way to it – however, at the end of the day it saves you money and increases the efficiency of your business. Head on over to our website to know more about how and why you should make the move!

Every growing business that is in the process of developing its online presence is highly invested in digitalising their business as well. A few of the steps of digitalizing involves making certain systems and operations digital and there are two main ways to do that.

The first is a web application, a software program one that functions from a web server. They can be accessed by the user from a browser with an active internet connection. Web apps range from simple browser applications like presentation tools, e-mail software, word processors, etc to more complex systems like project management software that helps business teams manage day-to-day operations, online forms, video-editing, etc.

The second is a mobile application, a software application made to be accessed from a mobile device like a phone, tablet, or a smart watch. Mobile apps have developed from being basic assistance to productivity such as calendars, e-mails, etc to mobile games, retail apps, GPS, booking tickets and much more.

In order to know which is right for your business, it is important to understand the many differences between the two:

1. Web apps are accessed from a browser and adapt to any device you open them on, whereas mobile apps are made for specific platforms, the most common being the Apple OS or Android for a device.
2. Web apps do not need to be downloaded and installed as they open on the browser, whereas mobile apps need to be and then they get access to your device’s resources, like the GPS, camera, file storage, etc.
3. Web apps always need an internet connection as it is accessed from a browser, whereas mobile apps can work offline with limited functionality.
4. Web apps update themselves, where as, mobile apps need to be updated by the user from the app store.
5. In today’s digital world, smart phones are used by almost everyone and hence the accessibility to a mobile app is much greater than web apps.

Now that you know the difference between the two kinds of apps, you can determine what is better for your use. One of the first steps to doing that is defining who your target audience is and what is its agenda as that plays a crucial role in determining your choice between web and mobile as that is what will define its functionality, purpose, and the complexity needed. Purpose and target audience go hand in hand. For example, for universities like CEPT, IIM-A, NIFT Ahmedabad, NID Ahmedabad, all our clients – a web app was a better fit as they needed a better system software for internal use like an attendance / grading portal or a backend for the libraries. A client like Sandesh required a mobile app only as the purpose was for them to reach customers. There are cases where a company might need both for different purposes and audiences. For example, DHL, one of our clients, the idea was to digitalise the existing systems for the customers and the employees – so for internal employee use a web app was a better fit for them and for customers, a mobile app was better as it was more accessible, gave access to GPS to track location, etc. Similarly,

Hence, in the choice between mobile app and web app, your decision should be based on who the app is for, what purpose it is serving, and what would be its main functionality.

Still confused? We can help you out, Contact us.

As the tech industry grows, it has become a significant part of other industries including their processes and systems. No industry exists without using technology in some capacity. Most companies now need a team who can set up IT systems, maintain them, and update them upon requirement.

‘Information Technology’ (IT) services ensure your workflow and systems operate with optimum efficiency as well as productivity. Here are few of the many advantages to consulting an IT team:

1. Increased efficiency with a great ‘Return on investment’ with system maintenance and solving everyday bugs.
2. Ensuring data security with regular back-up of both and cybersecurity, if needed.
3. Client servicing – better technology also means a smoother customer experience communication.
4. Be up-to-date with new technologies without doing all the research yourself.
5. Customised software – the process, target, and work of each company is different and many times, existing software doesn’t fulfill them. An IT team considers your goals to create a customized solution.

Now that we have understood the significance of having an IT team, let’s figure out how to pick the right one. Many factors come into play – some require introspection of your goals and needs and some require you to ask the right questions. Here are a few that you should be considering while making this important decision:

1. Recognize your needs

The first step before you look for IT teams to associate with, is to figure out what your company’s short and long term goals are. On doing this, you will get an idea of what you need to get there and what the missing puzzles are, some of which can be filled in by tech solutions and that is what you need to keep in mind, going further.

2. Gather referrals

Asking fellow colleagues and companies in the field which IT teams or companies they are working with will get you honest insights into how a certain IT company might be working and contributing in your field.

3. Choose between local vs foreign companies

Partnering with a local IT company vs an off-shore IT company is a decision that will define your way forward. One of the biggest factors that will determine this is your budget for IT solutions and whether you need in-person support or not.

4. Find out that they specialise in

IT companies come in diverse types – knowing what they specialise in and whether that aligns with your goals and needs help you pick a perfect match!

5. Experience in the field

Depending on the size of your company and other factors, – you can determine whether the IT team you hire needs to have a lot of experience beforehand or not. In any case, an IT team that has more experience will mean they know how to overcome unforeseen challenges and be more adept at aligning themselves with customised solutions. If your field is specific to something – find out if they have experience in that particular one.

6. Choose which kind of support you need

IT teams generally work in either a break-fix way, a retainer support, or a desktop or server support and as per your needs you would have to choose which one works best for you, with the budget you have.

As we see, there are many factors to consider when choosing the right IT team, hopefully this list helps you keep some of the most crucial in mind while choosing your perfect match! TMSPL strives to meet each of these criteria and ensures high-quality efficiency for your company and its customers. Check out our work and clientele here.

Start-ups have gained a lot of momentum in the last two decades and understandably so. They are the hub of collaborative efforts leading to innovation and development. The kind of culture it has created is also more open-minded, welcoming of newcomers, and all kinds of ideas. This is also one of the main reasons why more and more of the general masses feel like they can step into this world. It has made people more open and ready to put their ideas out there – ultimately increasing the number of start-ups we have coming up.

The younger generation is taking a lot of inspiration and are eager to step into the world of start-ups, despite knowing the rate of failure. All of this is based on sheer determination, belief in oneself and a positive approach and while it is important – it is also crucial to know what you can do to be a success.

One of the main factors for start-ups that are successful and the ones that do not quite make it is its execution of their idea. This is quite a broad concept but however innovative and unique an idea might be – ultimately, its execution is what matters.

The question then, would be, how to execute in the best way possible?

Since most start-ups in any industry use technology as part of their process or their service to a customer – the answer to this question is found in the perfect match of an IT Team.

The right IT team will not only get your start-up up and running, but it will also do these:

1. Strategize and pair your service/product with the right technology

The most significant role an IT team plays within a start-up is their ability to understand your idea / product / service and design a whole execution process for it. This is quite unique to your idea and hence the IT team you select needs to be one that will go in-depth and understand what your idea needs to flourish.

2. Custom services

Having an IT team will ensure that your product/service has custom software and other solutions for your company’s needs – not just for the end user but also for your internal workflow. Having an IT team will ensure that your product/service has custom software and other solutions for your company’s needs – not just for the end user but also for your internal workflow.

3. Security and Efficiency

Many start-ups fail because of minor everyday errors like losing out on data, not securing it well enough. Some fail because their day-to-day efficiency is interrupted, and the execution of the idea suffers. Both would be taken care of by an IT team.

If your service or product doesn’t get its perfect match in the execution process – your start-up will run into issues later on. An IT team gives you a chance at strategizing the execution with the right tools and then also taking care of the execution step-by-step. TMSPL’s IT services are well renowned for their executive success and could be just what you need to make your start-up a success!