Top Benefits of Studying ITIL
In the world of IT service management (ITSM), clarity is absolutely key. Despite the inextricable links between the worlds of business and IT, there are still executives, managers and even CEOs who struggle to fully appreciate the importance of having solid IT capabilities when pursuing larger business objectives.
This inherently flawed perspective can lead to serious consequences. An IT department might fail to get the funding it needs to meet crucial targets, or a lack of fluidity in an IT structure could leave a business incapable of adapting to meet new goals and challenges. IT is not merely a helpful tool: it is the very foundation of corporate success.
‘ITIL’ is a highly respected ITSM tool, utilized by IT and project management professionals the world over. It offers a body of knowledge along with a set of best practices on how to link business and IT in a way that makes the latter far easier to comprehend and incorporate into larger organizational goals. In short, it enables learners to understand how IT structures accommodate business requirements, as well as how they can be improved and refined.
Now one of the world’s most widely used frameworks for ITSM, ITIL has a great deal to offer in terms of IT service design, strategy, operation and transition. It aims to create an atmosphere of continuous improvement, making it an ideal choice for businesses working in cutting edge and competitive industries. Better yet, ITIL’s various certification levels ensure that learners can get started regardless of their background, making it an excellent choice for less tech-savvy executives, as well as more experienced IT architects.
That being said, the whole idea behind ITIL is that the benefits of IT management are not necessarily self-explanatory. The potential perks of studying ITIL may still seem unclear, or you may think that your organization’s IT structure is already perfectly suited to your requirements.
To put it bluntly, why should an organization invest in upskilling its employees in ITIL?
Why study ITIL with Good e-Learning?
Before we answer, it is worth going over the importance of studying ITIL the correct way. There are a number of low-cost ITIL learning materials out there, especially online. Unless they are approved by AXELOS, however, these resources cannot be relied on in terms of accuracy. You could even wind up with unusable and unrecognized certifications, which could damage the reputation of your business.
Luckily, fully-accredited providers are hardly in short supply. Good e-Learning’s range of ITIL courses is fully approved by PeopleCert, a business licensed by AXELOS as an official examination institute for ITIL certification exams. The courses themselves are also written and regularly updated by ITIL experts, ensuring that students all learn from the best.
There are a number of additional perks that come with studying with Good e-Learning, including:
- Instant access
- FREE exam vouchers
- Practice tests
- 24/7 support
- Expert guidance on ITIL certifications
With all this in mind, let’s take a look at the biggest benefits of learning ITIL.
How can studying ITIL help my business?
Enjoy benefits without paying for all certification levels
Rather than a single certification, ITIL is spread out over several levels, starting with ‘Foundation’ and ending with ‘Master’. Each introduces students to new concepts and elements of ITIL, while at the same time showing them how to apply their knowledge to real-world organizations.
While the upper-level certifications of ITIL are highly respected and can help to raise the profile of a business, there is no need to pursue them out of hand. After all, most businesses do not have the time and resources to send employees off for weeks or months of solid training, let alone the years it can take to gain an ITIL Master qualification.
Instead, students start with the ITIL Foundation module, which will introduce them to the core concepts of ITIL and how to apply them practically. They can then prepare for higher-level exams by choosing individual modules which suit their own requirements. Even a small initial investment in ITIL can lead to big improvements!
Future-proof your company
ITIL has become a venerated tool for managing IT enterprises, but that should not suggest that it offers a simple quick-fix solution. ITIL is based on the idea that the requirements of IT are always in flux, with new challenges demanding swift reactions from any business that wants to retain its competitive edge.
Readying your organization’s IT capabilities to be able to meet these challenges is one of the biggest advantages of studying ITIL. We live in an age where technology and consumer landscapes are constantly evolving, leaving static companies highly vulnerable to competitors.
In short, adopting ITIL will not give you a clearer understanding of your ITIL structure in the present, it can also prepare your company to make significant changes in the future.
Boost collaboration
One of the main advantages of utilizing ITIL is that it offers a shared language for all students, regardless of their experience or certification level. This enables clear communication between certified users, even if they are from different companies or even disparate industries.
In the current global business landscape, this kind of collaboration can be vital. This is true not only for multinational corporations but also SMEs who regularly outsource various services and functions.
With this in mind, it is also worth pointing out the benefits of upskilling several employees in ITIL at the same time. Team exercises and social learning can do wonders for knowledge retention, and ITIL buyers can even enjoy cheaper rates for group purchases. Another option is to opt for a bespoke elearning package built around the unique characteristics and requirements of your business. This way, you can cut out any unnecessary fat and have students cut straight to what is most important.
A smarter way to work
They say that the most effective way to retain new information is to apply it practically. Given the nature of ITIL, a student-employee should have no shortage of opportunities to use what they learn in their day job. In other words, ITIL users can quickly start to help employers bring their IT operations in line with ITIL’s proven practices.
Ultimately, these practices are all geared towards a single goal: working smarter. Even foundation-level insight is actionable, allowing ITIL-powered organizations to enjoy tangible benefits, potentially, after just a short amount of time. With additional training, businesses will find it even easier to meet ITSM goals and reduce IT-related costs, which in turn can have a hugely positive impact on service delivery and company behavior.
Of course, when we talk about ‘working smarter’, it is not just about day-to-day challenges. The perspective and flexibility offered by ITIL can also help organizations to tackle significant obstacles, such as GDPR compliance, head on. Many long-term users have even reported instances of ITIL helping them through the 2007 financial crisis!
Trust and reputation
The way in which a business manages its IT capabilities will have a direct impact on customer satisfaction. After all, an end product cannot exist in a vacuum; businesses must also consider factors like customer support, the ability to update their offerings with attractive new features and being able to collect user feedback, to name just a few. When a brand is able to tick all of these boxes, it will not take long for customers to notice.
The correct use of IT can thus have a big impact on an organization’s reputation with end users. Through ITIL, businesses can streamline their ITSM processes and recognize when and how they need to be improved. This way, it will not take a huge scandal or wave of customer complaints to make a business recognize and amend its flaws. This can also have a direct impact on the bottom line, making ITIL a worthwhile investment not just for the sake of brand reputation, but also future profits.
Competitive edge
The perspective offered by ITIL allows users to not only improve their IT services but also prepare themselves to adapt to future changes. This level of flexibility can be vital for staying competitive, especially in corporate landscapes which are being constantly disrupted.
That is not to say that ITIL can show staff how to predict the future. Rather, it helps them learn how to be proactive in approaching change in order to better-achieve business goals, whether this means making more money, boosting customer satisfaction or anything in between.
Originally published by Philip Gallagher on November (2018). The importance of being ITIL certified. [online] Good e-Learing Available blog.goodelearning.com