[Cigref report] Digital technologies and enterprise architecture: the Architect in the digital era

19 juillet 2019 | Cigref in english

With the transformation of companies related to the development of digital technology, Enterprise Architecture issues are following the evolution of information systems. The continuous integration of new technologies significantly modifies information systems, which in order to remain efficient and effective, must continuously transform and adapt this relationship between technological integrations and architectures in line with the company’s needs. However, companies must deal with a context that is now increasingly volatile and uncertain, and also often complex and sometimes ambiguous.

French version :
[Publication] Technologies numériques et architecture d’entreprise

An increasingly agile business means not only adapting in order to meet requirements, but also redesigning whilst complying with new constraints. The effects of digital technology are less on the architectures themselves, which will evolve in a logical and continuous way, than on the governance to be implemented and on the role of architects in a changing and multifaceted context.

The impacts of Digital technologies are less on the architectures themselves, wich will evolve in a logical and continuous way, than the governance that needs to be implemented and the role of architects in a changing and multifaceted context.

The digitisation of the corporate environment confirms and reinforces former convictions.

System and infrastructure boundaries are disappearing, and therefore, the ecosystem is expanding. “Business models” are changing rapidly and positions are insecure. New paradigms are dominating debates: online services (Cloud), place of data, security, mobility, and connected objects. The Enterprise Architect’s responsibility becomes crucial. Although data has always been central on the conceptual level, it is now central in the search for mastery of architectures that facilitate the emergence and power of new business models. Simply speaking, the architecture is built on data that is collected and processed by robust and secure back-ends.

Although “legacies” should be treated in a lasting way, they remain the foundation of digital constructions. The architect must integrate them, make the best use of them and consider their development in difficult balances.

Digital technologies (Big data, Cloud, IoT, 5G, AI) are multiplying data collection, processing and storage options in all forms. The architect is responsible for ensuring that they are integrated in a long-lasting, scalable and secure way. New parameters need to be taken into account such as service excellence provided on a 24 /7 basis and regulatory compliance.

The architect is therefore much more than just a technical expert, with his leadership, his Business vision, his open-mindedness, his ability to mediate and advise, and also his rigour and intransigence when the essential is at stake: security, protection of assets and overall consistency.

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