How CIOs Prove Business Value: Navigating Chaos with Data
The value of it is indeed constantly in flux, influenced by vendor choices, regulations, market shifts, and technological advancements. To demonstrate worth amidst this complexity, data is crucial, according to Preply‘s CIO, Voloshyn.
He illustrated this point with Preply’s experience implementing new enterprise AI tools. The company partnered with OpenAI to rigorously assess the impact of these tools on employee productivity. By quantifying the time saved across various departments during the first year of deployment, Preply was able to project significant cost savings – a metric easily understood by business leaders. “The easiest way to have a common denominator [between IT and the business] is to talk about what [a project] will cost and what value it will bring to the business,without getting into the technical details,” Voloshyn explained,echoing a sentiment shared by other industry experts: “If you want to impact the business,you should understand how the business works.”
A key to this alignment is strong collaboration with financial leadership. Voloshyn maintains a close working relationship with Preply’s CFO, engaging in long-term planning with a shared understanding of priorities. this shared “language” fosters a unified vision and roadmap for technology investment and workforce advancement. While specific vendor preferences may evolve – such as identifying the “leading vendor” in the AI space – the overarching investment strategy remains consistent.
Voloshyn emphasizes the importance of balancing operational efficiency with strategic foresight. “it’s a bit of an art to remain operationally effective and still strategic,” he stated. He believes that agility and a human-centered approach are paramount, particularly as automation and AI reshape the workplace. “With all this automation and changes we see with AI, human connection will become an even more valuable element of how organizations operate.”
