3 Technology Roadmap Examples & How to Create One

Technology Roadmap Examples

Introduction to Technology Roadmap Examples

As companies expand, they often require more complex management solutions to optimize processes and their overall performance. However, adopting new technology is not as easy as it sounds. They require extension research, planning, preparation, and scrutiny before the IT team can implement them.

Just as there are many different kinds of IT processes, there are also various forms of technology roadmaps. Therefore, businesses should review various technology roadmap examples to determine which best suits their needs.

What is a Technology Roadmap?

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A technology roadmap is a document that summarizes how a business should implement new technology during IT projects. A thorough technology roadmap considers both short- and long-term digital transformation goals to optimize predictions.

Although many companies forecast market trends, they can only adapt to changes through proper preparation. With a detailed technology roadmap, IT employees know exactly how, where, and when to implement technologies. Without this plan, businesses are more likely to make costly mistakes, elongate operation downtime, and rely on guesswork.

Businesses need to generate technology roadmaps to avoid errors that can occur while implementing complicated technologies. Companies that jump right into an implementation project have increased risks of software malfunctions, connection problems, and other technical issues. If IT managers aren't careful, these problems can snowball into irreconcilable damages. Therefore, organizations should plan out each step towards the digital transformation to avoid significant threats.

3 Technology Roadmap Examples

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While the term technology roadmap alludes to information technology (IT), there are different types of roadmaps specific to IT elements. By reviewing examples of the different roadmaps, businesses can better understand which model they need.

Technology Roadmap Example

Businesses can develop a traditional technology roadmap to streamline any technology initiative, such as data integration. To successfully integrate all platforms, interfaces, software, and processes within a company, managers need to focus on three primary areas.

  • People - The implementation team must share their plan with shareholders and employees, so everyone understands what to expect. There should also be an onboarding and training process for workers that will work within the changing systems.
  • Technology - The IT team needs to research and determine which system integrator best fits the needs of their existing software.
  • Security - Throughout the implementation process, managers must ensure data is secure by establishing a security plan.

By creating a roadmap with the previous components, companies can successfully integrate systems to create a universal interface.

Architecture Technology Roadmap Example

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With any software, developers must build a robust infrastructure that can facilitate the application's functions. In order to build a stable backbone, developers create an architecture technology roadmap. This type of roadmap also consists of three primary factors.

  • Application Programming Interface (API) - The API component outlines the data specifications of different systems that the business is wanting to integrate. This includes the format, conversion, infrastructures, and other requirements.
  • User Interface (UI) - The UI refers to the user-end of the software, whether from the employee's or customer's perspective. Many businesses conduct user interviews to improve the UI and overall digital experience.
  • Storage and Integrations - Managers must determine if they want to integrate using third-party services and how that will impact data storage. Depending on the software integrator, companies can utilize cloud-based or on-site storage.

Enterprise IT Technology Roadmap Example

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Large corporations typically use enterprise IT technology roadmaps to outline different initiatives within their broad IT department. This allows different teams to share their specific initiative with shareholders. Depending on the type of project, IT workers can prioritize any number of components.

  • Mandatory Capabilities - These capabilities refer to what an initiative requires in order to successfully adopt the technology. This could include storage capacity, integration, and data conversion.
  • Desired Capabilities - Desired capabilities are what a business would like but doesn't necessarily need, including a mobile interface or customized dashboards.
  • Security and Compliance - Businesses require reliable security and compliance to mitigate risks and avoid legal repercussions.
  • Data Recovery - Data recovery is necessary in case of system malfunctions, power outages, or data breaches.
  • Support - Operational support includes automation tools and IT employees on stand-by that streamline processes and resolve issues.

5 Steps to Creating a Technology Roadmap

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Companies can create their own technology roadmap in five comprehensive steps.

1. Set Objectives

First, businesses need to set objectives that they wish to achieve with their initiative. This stage answers the "why" or necessity of the effort. For example, an organization may need data integration to improve information consistency and exchange.

2. Determine the Audience

Next, managers must define their roadmap audience, meaning the people they will present the plan to. Depending on the initiative, the IT team may offer the roadmap to a board of executives, supervisors, or the owner. If the reader is not familiar with IT, the presentation should not include technical jargon. Instead, the language should appeal to the laymen in a comprehensive fashion.

3. Establish the Themes

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After deciding on the primary goals, it is time to develop a plan of action. Managers should focus on the broad steps first before ironing out the nitty-gritty details. This step is typically the most time-consuming due to the research and preparation.

4. Share the Roadmap with Stakeholders

After finalizing the roadmap, the team can present it to the appropriate stakeholders for final approval. It is vital to express the importance of the initiative and how it can enhance the business. Managers should remain open-minded to criticisms and suggestions from the executives, as they may require changes.

5. Assign Team Member Roles

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Lastly, once the executives approve the plan, it is time for execution. Workers should stick strictly to the roadmap to ensure successful implementation. Upon completion, the team must train and onboard employees to the adjustments.

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