Our Angles
Straight from the minds of our talented consultants.
How Low Can You Go? A retrospective
Over four years ago now, in mid-2021, I wrote a series of Refractis “Angles” about the increasing adoption of Low Code tools.
I thought it would be interesting to revisit the articles, review my original list, see which of the tools had thrived, and how they had adapted to the changes that AI has brought to the space.
SaaS Project Management Tooling: Boosting Productivity or Adding Digital Noise?
As more and more companies adopt these platforms, very often adding multiple tools to the mix, the question becomes: are we actually working smarter, or just adding another layer of digital noise?
Variable Recurring Payments (VRPs)– the one to watch in 2025.
VRPs offer incremental improvements for businesses and consumers across the payment journey find out how we think VRPs will be applied in 2025.
A Case for Independent Technical Delivery Management
In an era where digital transformation can make or break businesses, ensuring proper governance and delivery management isn't just good practice – it's essential for survival.
2024 A year in review - Matt
We hear from Matt Buley on his experience in 2024 and first full year as a consultant at Refractis.
Are Your IT Suppliers Holding You Back?
In this Angle we will discuss what makes a strong IT partner, how they can support you through a transformation, all while getting a good deal.
IT transformation done right?
Why do tales from IT Transformations often sound like survivor accounts from disaster zones? How do you balance the risk of fixing security vulnerabilities against the requirement for an AI tool...
How to defend against Broadcom's VMware license price hikes
Now may be the time to review estate-exposure to key technology vendors. In this article we discuss the importance of analysis of vendors to assess their track record or strategy and the impact to your business if changes are made.
Mergers & Acquisitions in IT Operations Management: A Strategic Approach
What are the key considerations for building a efficient and effective IT operation whilst M&A activity is progressing?
The value of contingency planning
If you are in the middle of an IT change programme or are about to initiate one, why not spend some time reviewing your risk management approach and contingency plans. Don’t be left without a river to swim in!
Delivering Business Value from Regulatory Change
The 3rd iteration of the Payment Services Directive (PSD2) will soon replace the 2nd (PSD2), and while the UK is no longer obliged to pick up the regulation as law from the EU, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will likely move in line with the rest of Europe.
Transformational Procurement: Digital Transformation’s enabling cousin
When seeking new, complex, business-critical or challenging technology/services … more than just buying something or saving costs, its about delivering what the business needs today and into the future.
This is where Transformational Procurement comes in ….
Multi-cloud: A complex strategy with new challenges
Many cloud service providers and strategy-boutiques give the impression that a multi-cloud approach is a simple way for an enterprise to spread risk. As is often the case, we find that in reality, it’s more complicated.
Good foundations - the CMDB challenge
A good configuration management database is a foundational building block for high-quality service management. With many organisations struggling to implement them successfully we ask if there is a different way to crack the CMDB challenge.
Ransomware
Sounding like a poorly-conceived 1980s movie, ransomware is the latest scourge to hit businesses and their IT. It can have a devastating effect on companies and, in some cases, shutter them completely, so what steps can you take to protect yourself?
How low can you go? Part 4
In the final part of his series, Richard draws conclusions on how to get the best value from low code-platforms, how to avoid some common pitfalls, and introduces the Refractis low-code directory.
How low can you go? Part 3
In the third part of this series we look at developing applications using low code and no code solutions and ask whether they can accelerate the work of traditional development teams.
How low can you go? Part 2
In the second part of this series we look at low code data platforms and their ability to supplant spreadsheets as the power user’s productivity tool of choice.
How low can you go? Part 1
Low code platforms promise to bring technology closer to the business, removing the need for costly development projects and empowering end-users. But can low code really deliver on these ambitions?
AI: The only way is ethics
Rapid advances in machine learning technology have broadened both the capability and the ubiquity of AI systems. But how can we be sure that the machines are reaching fair conclusions and what safeguards should be put in place?