Dennis Chow, Director of Information Technology, White Spot
IT Director Dennis Chow is a White Spot professional with extensive strategic business management experience. He has a proven track record of optimizing operations and improving profitability and is a valuable asset to any organization.
In an exclusive interview with CIOReview Canada, Chow shared his valuable insights into challenges, trends and best practices in the strategic Internet of Things (IoT) space.
As the IT Director at White Spot, what are your current key roles and responsibilities?
My responsibilities at White Spot include managing day-to-day technical operations and providing consulting support to business management, with a focus on optimizing operations. We meet with the operations team at the White Spot to ensure the project is completed efficiently. We also hold senior management meetings to ensure efficient service. In addition, the company establishes communication with business units to understand the challenges that may arise when using technology. These collaborations are necessary to help companies understand how technology can improve their operations and better understand their businesses.
What are the common pain points in the IT industry?
Small and medium-sized enterprises like ours face huge challenges in resource allocation while trying to meet business needs. Traditional IT professionals were once viewed as troubleshooters and hardware installers. However, in today’s digital era where the Internet, big data, and artificial intelligence are widely used, technology is crucial to business operations. This elevates the strategic role of technologists within the enterprise, moving from technicians to trusted partners to help drive business forward. As a result, IT professionals are now seen as key collaborators in driving business growth and success.
“Building rapport and trust is a critical process, laying the foundation for people to see the value we bring and where it comes from.”
What are some of the latest trends in the industry that you think can alleviate these pain points?
Cultivating rapport and trust is an important foundation for individuals to recognize the inherent value of what we offer. This credibility is critical in cultivating client relationships and promoting acceptance of the advice provided by the company. This journey is critical for the entire team to demonstrate our importance to the business and internal stakeholders.
Please provide a brief overview of any recent programs in which you have been involved.
We are moving from ad hoc report development for the White Spot business intelligence platform to a structured data capture approach. This shift marks a shift from reliance on empirical decision-making to the adoption of data-driven decision-making models. We work closely with each business unit to understand their needs and optimize data collection and reporting processes. This ongoing project ensures that our services can adapt to changing demands and external campaign dynamics, effectively aligning with changing business needs.
What advice would you give to upcoming professionals to better navigate this industry?
Inspired by the famous American coffee chain Starbucks, I would like to focus on the importance of people and technology in employee engagement, emphasizing that both decision-makers and users are human beings, and technology has its limitations. Therefore, connection and value recognition between people are equally important.
