IT complexity is increasing.

Many SMEs struggle to understand their IT infrastructure and - as a result - make the most of it and develop it further. Representative research by data & integration specialist AMIS Conclusion shows that 41 per cent of those responsible for IT find current IT solutions and technology too complicated. Half of respondents also say their current IT landscape does not provide optimal support. IT complexity is expected to increase further in the coming years. According to AMIS, this could lead to serious problems.

André van Dalen, Managing Director of AMIS Conclusion: “Many IT landscapes are outdated. They consist of makeshift integrations, with extensive development built on ageing technology. Systems have also become difficult to understand because new additions are constantly being bolted on. Companies often think: ‘It works, so leave it alone’. IT developments were already moving quickly, and the coronavirus crisis will undoubtedly accelerate them further. Organisations that already find their IT solutions too complicated are certain to encounter problems more frequently in the future.”

The research supports Van Dalen’s comments. Nearly half of respondents believe their organisation lacks a properly functioning IT landscape. Almost as many say there is room for improvement in how much their organisation invests in new and improved IT solutions. Six in ten respondents also say IT maintenance needs to improve. Whether this call for action will be heard remains to be seen: more than half say that optimising IT is not a priority within their organisation.

A majority of respondents normally make an active effort to stay informed about IT developments, for example by attending seminars and conferences. However, two thirds of respondents in the AMIS survey say developments move so quickly that keeping their knowledge up to date and deepening their understanding is difficult. Six in ten participants also say their education was too general to prepare them for today’s challenges.

Despite the difficulties SMEs currently face, respondents rate their overall IT knowledge favourably, giving themselves an average score of 7.2 out of 10. Whether this score reflects reality is open to question. In the AMIS survey, more than 500 participants were asked two questions to test their knowledge. More than nine in ten answered both questions about recent developments incorrectly.

AMIS was founded in 1991 and has a long history as a specialist in data-driven IT. Customers with large volumes of data and/or complex data and process structures can turn to AMIS for advanced IT systems. Guided by the themes Connect, Synergise and Signify, AMIS provides a wide range of IT services, including data and application integration, application development, databases and data platforms, streaming data, Internet of Things, Machine Learning and visualisation. The company has 110 employees and has been part of the Conclusion ecosystem since 2012.