Would a modular IT strategy bring added benefits?

Traditionally, enterprise IT strategy meant waiting years for major upgrades, carefully choreographed around vendor roadmaps and corporate plans. We’ve all sat through those vendor presentations—glossy slides, plenty of promises, and enough disclaimers to make you reach for an umbrella. Betting your IT future on a roadmap is like planning a picnic on a five-day weather forecast: sometimes you get sunshine, sometimes you get soaked.

But the world has changed. With SaaS and digital transformation, updates come fast and often. The old model—waiting for the next big release—feels outdated. Vendors now promise seamless integration if you stay in their ecosystem, but that means putting all your eggs in one basket, and sometimes settling for “good enough” instead of “best for you.”

I remember my early days in consulting, working with tools that were solid all-rounders, but never the best at any one thing. It taught me that sometimes, the right answer isn’t one-size-fits-all.

So, what if we took a modular approach? Instead of waiting for a vendor to catch up, we pick the best tools for each job, connect them with standard data models, and keep our options open. If your ERP’s master data tool doesn’t play nicely with everything, why not bridge the gap with a connector or a specialised app? If you want cutting-edge analytics, why not move your data where it performs best?

A modular IT strategy lets you pivot, upgrade, and innovate at your own pace. It’s like building your own adventure vehicle: you choose the engine, the sound system, the tires—whatever fits your journey. No more waiting for the dealership to get the new model in.

Much like the image above, a modern IT strategy isn’t a single, monolithic block, but a network of specialised components, each chosen for its strengths and connected to serve a greater purpose.

As digital transformation accelerates, maybe it’s time to stop waiting for the perfect all-in-one solution and start building an IT ecosystem as unique as your business. After all, you don't take the best journeys on autopilot.