Managed IT
Discover which business trends are in 2023 with this episode of Impact’s Modern Business Requirements. Watch the webinar and see what businesses are doing now!
Webinar
4 minutes
Dec 09, 2022
What happened in 2022, and how will those trends change in 2023? The expert hosts explore these ideas, keeping in mind the new innovations coming down the pipeline, the democratization of current tech, and possible recession-changing organizational budgets.
Business trends don’t stop here. Explore more insights to see how you can position your organization for what’s next.
One of the loudest business trends in 2023 was the flood of “solutions” promising to fix every pain point an organization could imagine.
From new SaaS platforms to AI-powered add-ons, businesses were bombarded with tools claiming to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and unlock growth. But here’s the catch: adding more solutions doesn’t always translate to better results.
In fact, the opposite often happens. Each new platform brings its own learning curve, integration requirements, and maintenance demands.
Instead of streamlining workflows, businesses can end up with overlapping tools, disconnected data, and employees frustrated by tool fatigue. The promise of innovation is overshadowed by the reality of clutter.
The most successful organizations in 2023 weren’t the ones who adopted every shiny new tool on the market. They were the ones who strategically evaluated their actual needs, chose technologies that integrated seamlessly with existing systems, and focused on adoption over accumulation. It wasn’t about having more—it was about having the right fit.
Looking ahead, the lesson is clear: sustainable business growth isn’t fueled by piling on more “solutions.” It comes from intentional, purposeful choices that align technology with strategy. Sometimes, less really is more.
In 2023, the way businesses talk about technology shifted dramatically. For years, the conversation was dominated by buzzwords—cloud-first, AI-driven, digital transformation. Leaders felt pressure to adopt whatever was trending, often without fully considering how those tools aligned with long-term strategy.
But this year, the dialogue started to mature. Instead of asking, “What’s the newest platform we should add?” business leaders began asking, “How does this technology actually help us achieve our goals?” The emphasis moved from chasing innovation for its own sake to focusing on measurable impact, ROI, and integration.
This change also reflected broader market conditions. With economic uncertainty and tighter budgets, executives could no longer afford tech that looked impressive on paper but delivered little in practice.
The conversation became less about hype and more about practical application: consolidating systems, improving security, and equipping employees with tools they would actually use.
The shift signals a more thoughtful era in business technology. It’s no longer about who has the flashiest tech stack, but who can leverage technology most effectively to create value, resilience, and competitive advantage.
Your tech stack is more than a collection of tools—it’s the backbone of how your business operates day to day.
But with so many platforms vying for attention, it’s easy for organizations to lose sight of what really matters. Rather than asking, “What else should we add?” a better question is, “What’s working, and what’s holding us back?”
When evaluating your current stack, look for three key things:
A streamlined, high-functioning stack isn’t about having the most software—it’s about having the right software. The best tech investments make work easier, not harder, and help your team move faster without creating silos or duplication.
The bottom line: regularly auditing your stack ensures that technology remains a strategic asset, not an expensive distraction.
In today’s business climate, every dollar is scrutinized. Budgets are tighter, priorities are shifting, and leadership teams want to know exactly what kind of return they’re getting on their investments.
For department leaders, that means one thing: simply saying “we need this” isn’t enough. You need to make the case that your spend isn’t just justified—it’s driving measurable impact.
The first step is reframing the conversation. Instead of talking about expenses in terms of line items, start talking about them in terms of outcomes. For example, don’t just report that you’re spending $50,000 annually on a platform—show how that investment reduced downtime, automated manual tasks, or enabled the team to close projects 20% faster.
When leadership sees a direct connection between your tools and company-wide results, you stop being viewed as a cost center and start being recognized as a value driver.
Data is your strongest ally. Track adoption metrics to prove employees are actually using the technology. Capture ROI figures—like hours saved, errors avoided, or new revenue generated—that clearly tie back to spend.
If you can benchmark your department’s performance before and after a purchase, you build a powerful narrative about impact. Bonus points if you can translate those improvements into dollars saved or earned, since executives speak the language of numbers.
But proving value isn’t just about numbers—it’s also about alignment. Leadership wants to know: Does this investment advance our larger goals? The more you can tie departmental spending to company-wide objectives like customer retention, operational efficiency, or innovation, the stronger your case will be.
Finally, go on the offensive. Don’t just defend your spend after the fact—anticipate questions before they’re asked. Provide regular reports, highlight quick wins, and tell a story that connects the dots between your investments and the company’s future.
When you can show that your department’s spend doesn’t just support the business but actively propels it forward, you’ve done more than justify the budget—you’ve secured a seat at the strategy table.
This is just the start—explore more business insights and discover what’s next for your team by checking out the Insights Hub.
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