How Metals IT Leaders Can Create a Proactive Tech Culture
In 2025, adopting a technology mindset and culture is crucial for metals companies. Because AI technologies are rapidly evolving and transforming the way employees work, a digital-first approach to business is essential. Rethinking the role of IT in this transformation is critical.
Historically, IT leaders have been viewed as technical support rather than business strategists, but this mindset is changing. Over the course of the past two decades, chief information officers have more regularly begun to report to chief executive officers rather than chief financial officers or chief operating officers. Metals companies that do not fall in step with this approach risk falling behind.
One way metals IT leaders can help their companies link IT and business strategy is by having regular meetings with key leaders in the company to receive feedback on what technology is being used and how it’s going. Without these conversations, IT leaders often remain in a supportive role, receiving requests from department leaders and users about what they need or might not be working.
Meetings that foster feedback can help a metals company take a more proactive approach to problem-solving regardless of where the company is in its digital transformation journey.
Insights in your inbox
Discover how metals businesses are stepping into the future of the industry by subscribing to Metals 4.0.
Strategies for business and IT leaders
Regular meetings between IT and business leaders help the company establish a technology strategy or review results compared to established strategy. Leaders can then determine what, if any, adjustments need to be made.
Meet with key leaders
IT leaders should check in with business segment leaders on a regular basis. Depending on how a metals company is organized, these meetings could be with functional teams, such as purchasing, sales, operations, or division leaders or leaders of a specific geographical location. The goal is to meet with the business leaders who create the strategy for the business segment to link IT and business strategy.
It’s important for IT leaders to prioritize meeting with business segment leaders to understand their goals rather than solely focusing on the technologies or software they wish to implement. When IT leaders understand the needs and goals of each business segment, they can have a better view of the commonalities across segments that could be supported by one specific technology.
Establish a framework for collaboration
IT leaders must approach collaboration with key business leaders with a specific set of objectives in mind. Creating a framework for the topics to be covered, the goals for each meeting, and how follow-up will be managed helps make sure everyone is held accountable.
Part of the framework should include updates for ongoing initiatives so that business leaders have visibility to progress, challenges, and wins delivered by the IT team. A strong IT leader can also be a conduit between different departments and divisions, identify common challenges, and help streamline the company’s approach to increasing efficiency or productivity.
Deliver innovation
Metals executives cannot spend time investigating the latest technology, and they rely on their IT leaders to bring innovative ideas and approaches to these meetings. The IT team should consider the internal culture and broader companywide goals when evaluating which technologies to bring to the table.
Small pilot programs and proofs of concept are useful ways to evaluate new technology before fully adopting it across the enterprise. Having a business leader champion for each initiative is a great way to support innovation adoption across the company.
Align IT and business strategies in 2025 with Crowe
These strategies for establishing a consistent meeting cadence between IT and business leaders can help your metals company transition its IT leaders from technical support to business strategists. When IT and business leaders come together on business strategy, they can take a proactive approach to problem-solving and future technology investments.
As always, our team at Crowe is here to help if you have any questions. Don’t hesitate to reach out.
Increase productivity. Meet customer demands. Make strategic decisions.
Discover how Crowe metals specialists help companies like yours use Microsoft™ platforms and our industry-specific software to accelerate growth.
