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Nicola Lonie

IT Strategy
& Digital Infrastructure

 

Aligning Your Technology With Sustainable Business Growth

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Technology should accelerate your business - not slow it down.

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As companies grow, they naturally invest in digital tools: websites, advertising platforms, CRM systems, automation software, cloud storage and collaboration tools. Each one promises efficiency, visibility or scalability.

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But when these systems are implemented without an overarching strategy, problems begin to emerge:

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  • Platforms don’t integrate properly.

  • Data becomes fragmented.

  • Processes are duplicated.

  • Security risks increase.

  • Reporting becomes unreliable.

  • Teams work harder than they need to.

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What started as growth investment quietly turns into operational friction.

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Many businesses focus on visible digital assets - marketing, branding, automation - while overlooking the infrastructure beneath them. Yet it is that infrastructure that determines whether growth is smooth and sustainable, or unstable and reactive.

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With over 20 years’ experience in IT management, I understand how systems, platforms and infrastructure must work together - not just individually, but as part of a connected ecosystem.

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Technology decisions affect:

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  • Operational efficiency

  • Data security and compliance

  • Scalability

  • Business resilience

  • Cost control

  • Staff productivity

  • Long-term risk exposure

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Strategic oversight ensures that every digital investment supports the wider business structure.

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This is not about fixing printers or troubleshooting laptops.

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This is not reactive IT support.

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This is senior-level strategic guidance - ensuring your technology environment is aligned with your growth ambitions, secure enough to protect your operations, and structured clearly enough to scale without chaos.

 

When infrastructure is aligned properly, your marketing performs better.

 

  • Your systems communicate effectively.

  • Your teams operate with clarity.

  • And your business grows on stable foundations.

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Why IT Strategy Matters

 

As businesses grow, complexity increases.

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What once worked for a small team becomes strained as operations expand.

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  • New software gets added to solve immediate problems.

  • Cloud tools multiply across departments.

  • Different platforms are introduced by different team members.

  • Data is stored in multiple locations.

  • Permissions aren’t always clearly structured.

  • Reporting becomes fragmented.

  • Security risks increase quietly in the background.

  • Processes that were once simple become inconsistent and harder to manage.

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Individually, these changes seem manageable.

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Collectively, they create friction.

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Without structure, technology becomes reactive rather than strategic.

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Instead of enabling growth, it starts responding to problems.
Instead of providing clarity, it creates confusion.
Instead of reducing risk, it increases exposure.

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Strong IT and infrastructure planning ensures that systems are not just functional - but aligned.

It affects:

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  • Operational efficiency – reducing duplication, manual work and process gaps

  • Data security and compliance – protecting sensitive information and reducing risk exposure

  • System reliability – ensuring platforms are stable and integrated

  • Staff productivity – giving teams tools that work together rather than against each other

  • Scalability – allowing systems to expand as your business grows

  • Risk management – identifying vulnerabilities before they become costly problems

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Technology should not evolve by accident.

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It should evolve by design.

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When your infrastructure is aligned properly, growth becomes smoother and more controlled.
Decisions are made with visibility.


Processes are consistent.
Systems integrate cleanly.


And expansion happens on stable foundations rather than fragile patches.

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Strategic infrastructure planning transforms technology from a background cost into a growth enabler.

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What I Provide

 

I offer consultancy that bridges IT strategy and digital growth.

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✔ Technology Stack Review

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An assessment of your current platforms, tools and integrations to identify gaps, duplication and inefficiencies.

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✔ Digital Infrastructure Planning

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Strategic guidance on:

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  • Cloud platforms

  • System integration

  • Workflow alignment

  • Platform selection

  • Scalable architecture

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This ensures your systems grow with your business.

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✔ Security & Risk Awareness

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High-level oversight of:

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  • Access control structure

  • Data handling processes

  • Platform security considerations

  • Vendor risk evaluation

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Especially important for businesses handling client data or preparing for tenders.

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✔ System Integration Strategy

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Ensuring your:

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  • Website

  • CRM

  • Marketing platforms

  • Job management systems

  • Automation tools

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Work together as one connected ecosystem — not isolated tools.

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✔ Vendor & Platform Evaluation

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Independent advice when selecting:

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  • CRM platforms

  • Job management systems

  • Cloud providers

  • Marketing tools

  • Automation software

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Objective, experience-led guidance helps avoid expensive mistakes.

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Who This Is For?

 

This service is particularly valuable for:

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  • Growing SMEs without an internal IT director

  • Trades scaling beyond 5–10 staff

  • Businesses implementing CRM systems

  • Companies moving toward automation

  • Organisations preparing for tenders or compliance processes

  • Service businesses integrating marketing and operational systems

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If you need strategic clarity but not full-time IT staff, this bridges the gap.

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IT Strategy + Digital Growth

 

Because I also work across:

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  • Website design

  • SEO

  • Google Ads

  • CRM systems

  • Automation

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I understand how marketing, systems and infrastructure connect.

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This allows me to advise not just on technology - but on how your entire digital structure supports performance.

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Growth should not outpace your infrastructure.

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Infrastructure should enable growth.

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Every Business Is Different

 

There is no single “IT package” because infrastructure needs vary depending on:

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  • Company size

  • Sector

  • Data sensitivity

  • Existing systems

  • Growth plans

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Consultancy can range from a structured review and recommendations to ongoing advisory support.

For transparency, my hourly consultancy rate is approximately £70 per hour, depending on scope and complexity.

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This is strategic advisory - not helpdesk services.

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Not Sure If You Need IT Strategy?

Before making changes or investing in new platforms, we’ll have a discovery conversation.

If your current systems are already aligned and efficient, I’ll tell you honestly.

Book a call and I’ll give you clear, practical guidance on whether strategic IT oversight would support your next stage of growth.

Ready to Align Your Technology?

If your systems feel fragmented, overly complex or misaligned with your goals, it may be time to step back and structure them properly..


Contact me
 

Let’s ensure your infrastructure supports your ambition
- not limits it.
 

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