How to Develop the Right Strategy While Keeping Up with Constantly Changing Technologies?

Tarkan Ateşoğlu, Group Manager of Information Technologies at Lila Paper, spoke about how to establish the right strategy while keeping up with constantly changing technologies. Ateşoğlu said the following:

“In all the technologies we have acquired and used to date, you can do better when you approach things not with the mindset of ‘let’s acquire the technology, let’s switch to the technology,’ but with the mindset of ‘let’s solve a need, let’s do what that need requires.’ Therefore, my general thought here is that there are really two issues. One is, how am I managing the business in the technologies I initially used in my existing processes? Where am I getting stuck? Where do I need to improve? When looking at this, we think with the existing technology. But at the same time, it is also important to look at it with the perspective of this developing new technology. That requires knowing the technology. Now, it is also necessary to keep up with the new, developing, and constantly changing technologies that we don’t know. Therefore, what we need to do is first be aware of this technology and at the same time review and rethink our needs in the existing process. Therefore, I can create value by rethinking these needs with this technology and looking at it that way. That’s why at Lila Paper, we try to create value by rethinking our processes. Along with this, what was one of the topics we discussed earlier?” Business units need to be involved in this. We need to start with small projects, at least those that can demonstrate tangible value, and then expand to ensure awareness of this technology. In other words, we need to spread artificial intelligence within the company through technology adaptation programs. We need to identify and cultivate our curious colleagues. Because what’s our advantage today? It’s not necessary for an IT team to accompany these differences. We need to involve them, explain the technology to them, and create true champions. We need to take action to ensure understanding and expansion. Just observing isn’t enough. Even if we don’t achieve great success in a “use case,” we need to take action. When incorporating any technology into the company, you must always look at it from a value-oriented perspective. What value am I creating with this, what is my goal, and you must develop a strategy related to that, and then proceed with the project. What’s the challenge with artificial intelligence? This technology is constantly changing. We have a problem with knowing. What’s easy? Even business units can make assessments without needing any additional resources once they start using this technology, and then we can improve this layer further. Therefore, we need to ensure this collaboration. Within the company, we need to expand this awareness among our tech-savvy colleagues, while also enabling them to integrate this knowledge with their business process needs. In this sense, perhaps we need to create champions within the company. We need to do it small, but growing. And to grow, we need to have a truly clear goal and a well-planned strategy.