The Strategic Directions Group

Oper8 Global is thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with DUG, a pioneer in advanced cooling technology for data centres. This collaboration will redefine the standards of data centre efficiency and sustainability.    Why This Matters: Innovative Cooling Solutions: We’re integrating DUG Cool's patented immersion cooling technology into our data centre solution set. This means a 95% reduction in cooling energy and a 51% lower overall power consumption! High-Performance & Scalability: Tailored to support heavy compute and GPU loads for AI, big data, and machine learning, ensuring high efficiency while managing increasing energy demands. Environmental Benefits: DUG Cool's biodegradable, non-flammable immersion fluid drastically minimises hardware wear and extends component lifespan, making our data centres greener and more durable. Operational Efficiency: Our partnership combines modular data centre solutions and advanced cooling technologies for scalable, rapidly deployable solutions that meet the evolving needs of digital infrastructures without the usual extensive setup and maintenance.    A Word from Our Executives: Mike Andrea, EVP of Global Business Development at Oper8 Global, shares, "This partnership with DUG marks a crucial step in our commitment to delivering high-performance, scalable, and eco-friendly data centre solutions. By incorporating DUG Cool, we're not just setting a new industry standard—we're revolutionising it."   Join us in celebrating this milestone as we continue to push the boundaries of technology and sustainability.    #Oper8Global #DUG #DataCentres #Sustainability #Innovation #Technology #Partnership

Our Case Study Series continues, this time with a particularly challenging problem to solve around corporate system strategy, including supporting architecture. Our team assisted to; ✅ Align the ICT service delivery model to business demands ✅ Solved the issue of competing ERP's, one on-prem, another SaaS ✅ Prepared the Business Case for Change Happy to run through the process and outcomes for others that might be having similar issues. #strategicplan #trustedadvisor #vendorindependant #erp #casestudy #strategicdirections #corporateservices #director #ceo #cio

*** Local Government ICT Benchmark | 3rd Edition *** Exciting news for those who participated in the Local Government ICT Benchmark Survey last year! The report is finally ready, thanks to all who contributed their data. While the report is still at the printers, we wanted to give you a sneak peek at a few topics. Check them out below. What's next? We're offering to help you make use of this valuable data. Whether it's; - running a remote TEAMS session to go through the full report; - conducting an onsite review session with you, your team or Executive, or - joining in on one of our CIO Roundtable events (QLD, NSW and VIC scheduled soon), we're here to help. Please reach out to me either via DM, dcollyer@strategicdirections or 0458 016 636. Stay tuned for the full report in a few weeks! #localgovernment #data #insights #strategicdirections #localbusiness #ict

Clare O'Neil - Australia's Minister for Cyber Security stated: This program is the Governments "endorsed world-first governance guidelines to hold Australian company directors to higher standards..." This webinar is focused on unpacking the document and standards and what this really means for Directors and Boards around Australia. If you are a Company Director or on a board - this is something you now need to know.

The recent announcement by the NSW Government regarding council de-amalgamations has sparked significant concern across local communities and government officials alike. As Local Government NSW (LGNSW) highlights in the article below, the lack of state funding for these de-amalgamations places an immense financial burden on councils, threatening the feasibility of reversing the controversial amalgamations initiated in 2016. LGNSW President Darriea Turley AM rightly points out the irony of the state governments approach. On the one hand, it appears supportive by allowing de-amalgamations; on the other, it ensures their improbability by withholding necessary funds. This move leaves councils and, by extension, local communities, in a no-win position, bearing the cost of potentially undoing decisions they never supported. This situation raises several critical questions for professionals in government, local governance, and community planning sectors: - How can councils navigate these financial and administrative challenges? - What does this mean for the principle of local self-determination? - Is there a middle ground that respects community desires without imposing unsustainable financial burdens? I invite your thoughts and insights on this complex issue. How do you see the future of local governance and community representation evolving? #LocalGovernment #CommunityPlanning #Governance #PublicPolicy #NSW #StrategicDirections

Great to have attended the Sydney Infor Pathway Strategic Leadership event and learned about the upcoming enhancements and development roadmap. The showcase component was particularly interesting, with Dr Tom Gao and Sharon Bowman presenting their key projects and thoughts around customer service and innovation. Infor also addressed customer concerns around the transition to SaaS by building bespoke migration plans for each client. Additionally, their Managed Integration Service offering can only strengthen potential clients to consider Infor if they are leaning more towards a best of breed architecture. #Infor #CustomerService #Innovation #SaaS #ManagedIntegrationService #erp #localgovernment #strategic Clifford Combes Jill Connell Jaap Van Den Akker Darrell Smith

- | Technology can enable this...so let's do it ! |- Embarking on the journey towards digital transformation through the selection and implementation of a suitable ERP solution is both a substantial investment and a significant commitment for any organisation. Typically, the process of preparing for a market approach, selecting an ERP system, and executing a full business transformation can span 24 to 36 months. This encompasses a wide range of activities, from requirements gathering and developing market approach documentation to business preparedness, implementation, and the transition to business as usual operations. It's important to note that the shift towards cloud-based ERP systems, while offering numerous benefits, comes with its own set of financial considerations. Licensing for cloud services can be approximately 20-30% higher than traditional legacy on-premise services. Moreover, the overall cost of a complete business transformation, including all associated expenses, could demand an investment of two to three times the total licensing fees over a five-year period. Given these figures, setting aside a sufficient budget early in the planning stages is crucial for organisations, though it may prove challenging for many. A modern strategy for cost mitigation involves exploring a shared services model with other local government agencies. Such a model can lead to significant savings in procurement and external support costs. While the current ERP market has limited precedents for multiple agencies sharing a single cloud-based service instance, there have been successful cases where organisations have joined forces under a single Request for Tender (RFT) to choose an ERP partner. This collaborative approach not only reduces individual costs but also enriches the requirement development and evaluation process, benefiting all parties involved. Particularly for smaller councils or those facing budget constraints, sharing critical roles such as Programme Managers, Change Managers, and Business Analysts can be an effective way to manage costs while still achieving programme goals. This approach is especially viable for councils located in close proximity, allowing for easy logistical coordination. However, for those in more remote locations, a retainer-based model may offer a more practical solution, providing essential support services on an as-needed basis, thus optimising resource allocation and cost. To sum up, navigating the complexities of ERP implementation and business transformation demands careful planning, budgeting, and innovative strategies to manage costs. By considering collaborative models and flexible support arrangements, organisations can not only achieve their digital transformation objectives but also do so in a cost-effective manner. #trustedpartner #localgovernment #erp #transformation #sharedservices #strategicdirections

New audit in progress: local government physical security of server room assets 🔐 The audit will assess whether local governments effectively manage access to server room assets and protect them from environmental hazards. Criteria include:  ✅ Are server room assets protected from unauthorised access?  ✅ Are appropriate environmental controls in place to protect server rooms?   🖱️ Click https://lnkd.in/eGNveiKn for more information on this and other audits in progress.