insights! #24: how can the interdependence between IT skills shortage and IT systems be resolved?

Nam Hoang Dong and Joubin Rahimi discuss the requirements and challenges in IT leadership in the new insights! episode. The digitalisation experts place particular focus on the skills shortage as well as the replacement of legacy systems in companies. Find out in this insights! episode what means could resolve these bottlenecks.

Nam Hoang Dong is IT, tech and digitalisation director at Thalia and talks to Joubin Rahimi about his current bottlenecks – above all the shortage of skilled workers and the challenge of replacing legacy systems have occupied him for a while. What ideas Nam Hoang Dong has for countering the IT skills shortage and why it's important to always keep ERP systems lean, you'll learn in this insights episode.

From Nam's view, employer branding in retail elemental part to recruit skilled workers. Not enough just to have exciting projects and deliver them, Nam say, must talk about it much more and become visible externally, to become known and attractive as retailer in job market. Should not just lure skilled workers with high pay, above all need diversity in job - regarding people and task areas. But even with these means some companies struggle to recruit new IT talent. Two ways out there. Either pay high prices or rethink technology approach, so fewer niche technologies and more standard systems used, where more skilled workers available.

Nam recommends building a team of internal and external specialists so that a wider perspective is ventured. Exchange with external partners keeps feeding new good ideas and perspectives into the company. This is how Thalia was able to build up the architecture and blueprint of its IT structure together with an external company. Another key element for new perspectives and innovation, Nam says, is networking within the industry with other retail companies.