What happens when top minds in enterprise transformation gather for a day of deep dives into cloud adoption, data strategies, and innovative technologies? You get a masterclass in how to drive business success in the digital age. On September 12, 2024, CAMP IT’s “Enterprise Architecture – Strategies That Enable Technology Trends” conference in Rosemont, Illinois, became the hub of this transformative dialogue, featuring an impressive lineup of sessions and discussions that revealed how modern enterprise architecture can be a game-changer for innovation and strategic growth.
Here are the standout insights and takeaways from the day:
Data at the heart of enterprise architecture success
A recurring theme throughout the day was the critical role data plays in modern transformation practices. In the session, "Putting Data at the Center of Your Enterprise Architecture," speakers Tracey Barrett (SVP of Products & Services at nVisia) and Kay Cubria (VP of Technology at Alight Solutions) discussed how breaking down silos between app development and data teams can transform how organizations leverage data. They highlighted the growing need for real-time data access across systems, ensuring applications are powered by cleansed and augmented data for better decision-making.
Practical approaches to innovation
In the first session of the day, the challenge of balancing innovation with the realities of legacy systems was a major topic. During the fireside chat, industry experts Laszlo Gonc (Founder of Next Era Transformation Group) and Jerry Pancini (VP of IT at School Health Corporation) shared how to modernize without overwhelming resources. The takeaway? Embrace a phased approach to modernization. This allows companies to introduce new technologies, such as cloud-native systems and AI, incrementally, minimizing disruption and maximizing efficiency.
Building a business-driven transformation program
Our own Brenda Cowie, Orbus Software’s Senior Vice President of Strategic Growth, led a captivating panel discussion, "Creating a Value Proposition for a Business Outcome-Driven EA Program." Alongside Judson Bender (Enterprise Architecture Director at OneAmerica Financial), Vijay Mandava (Sr. Director, Enterprise Architecture, Data Analytics and AI at Colibri Group), and Justin McDermott (VP IT Strategy and EA at Wintrust Financial Corporation), they dove into how aligning EA initiatives with business outcomes—such as cost reduction and improved agility—is critical to the program's success. One of the key takeaways was ensuring transformation efforts are communicated in terms that resonate with business leaders to secure executive buy-in. Brenda emphasized that communicating these outcomes in terms that the C-suite understands is essential for gaining executive support and ensuring long-term success.
The power of collaboration
In a breakout session on "How to Modernize Your Enterprise Architecture," attendees explored strategies for modernizing EA through collaboration. Groups brainstormed solutions for topics like adopting microservices, implementing DevOps, and ensuring security in a modern architecture. The main takeaway? Cross-functional collaboration is key to driving successful transformation efforts, allowing for faster implementation of roadmaps and a more unified approach to enterprise initiatives.
Enterprise architecture as a business driver
The conference reaffirmed that EA is evolving beyond technical architecture—it’s becoming a central business driver. With better use of data, practical approaches to innovation, and strong alignment with business goals, enterprise architecture is positioned to make a significant impact on the future of organizations.
We understand that transformation is not a linear process—it's dynamic and ever-changing. That’s why OrbusInfinity is always evolving to meet the shifting needs of businesses. Our commitment to innovation ensures that our solutions remain at the forefront of enterprise transformation, helping organizations navigate their unique journeys with agility and insight.