Getting a grip

In his eleven years at TechnologyOne, IT Manager Andrew Bauer* has seen the IT team grow from just two members to a team that supports the company’s current staff of 850 people. Merri Mack talks to Bauer about the challenges of getting a hold of something relatively intangible - such as the cloud - and using it to create real-world benefits for the business.

TechnologyOne has been around for twenty five years and is in the business of selling end-to-end solutions to medium to large enterprises, with a focus on ERP and financial systems.

Bauer has been in his present role for seven years. His mantra is “Through innovation drive true, tangible, positive outcomes for businesses.”

His IT team provides the support for the software development team. And right now, cloud is the focus.

“Cloud is significant for us and our customers. We are aggressively evaluating all our systems to see what is plausible to run in the cloud,” said Bauer.

According to Bauer, customers can sometimes grapple with how the cloud works, how cloud offerings interact and the different level of control that cloud services offer compared to traditional solutions.

“TechnologyOne will create an IT eco-system in the cloud. We are in the process of evaluating the value of the move to the cloud. We look at the risk profile: where is the information being held and what is the security platform being used?” he said.

“Some people are being a bit blasé about the cloud. But people must understand it and do the same risk analysis. It is not a cheap and easy solution. Before using cloud, organisations need the same due diligence and the same risk management evaluation,” he said.

This, he says, is “essentially the same” as pre-cloud times. “What is old is new again when it comes to the cloud.”

Bauer says his role has its challenges.

“It is a very dynamic company which can have its pluses and its minuses. We are constantly tweaking, changing and innovating systems from an IT perspective,” he said.

Bauer has been interested in IT since his mid teens, back in the mid-80s. In the early days, he had a Commodore 64, and later, a clone XT machine. But when he saw the early IBM PCs at his parents’ workplace, he recognised what computers could do for business.

“Now everything revolves around computers, it’s not just business anymore. Computers easily interface in to our everyday lives - cars, Smart TVs, microwaves, traffic lights.

“Along with mobility, social media is now being used in the enterprise as a method of communication, more and more. One of the challenges of social media is to integrate it into the corporate space. It has moved beyond Gen Y: it’s not just them, it is ubiquitous,” said Bauer.

When not mulling over the fast paced world of IT, Bauer is into physical fitness, which includes going to the gym regularly and running.

He proudly announced he did his first 10 km fun run recently alongside 30,000 other runners, completing the run in a very respectable time of less than 60 minutes. Bauer also enjoys a good dinner out with his wife and going to the movies.

His career goals are quite clear: continue on at TechnologyOne and lead an innovative, competent IT team, one full of people that embrace change.

“Don’t join TechnologyOne if you don’t like change,” are his concluding words.

*Andrew Bauer is the IT Manager at TechnologyOne, managing an IT team that supports 850 staff globally. Bauer is responsible for the internal systems of the company, including the hardware and software requirements of the organisation. Reporting to the Operating Officer - Corporate Services, Bauer is responsible for delivering solutions that support the company’s environment. He advises the senior executive on new developments in internal systems to ensure the company is making the most of technological advancements.