Lead time is the duration from the initiation of a process to its conclusion. Companies use it to track tasks such as IT equipment procurement, software development, supply chain management, or building hardware.
This is crucial for IT management.
Imagine you're waiting on new laptops for the team. If these laptops take too long to arrive, it can delay onboarding new hires or affect project timelines. No one wants to be stuck waiting with nothing to work on, right? Shortening lead times can help everything flow smoother.
And then comes device configuration. The moment the devices arrive, they need to be set up, a process that could take even more time.
Now, think about updating your software. Quick lead times mean you have the latest versions and security patches faster, which is critical for keeping everything running smoothly and securely. Delays in such updates could lead to vulnerabilities or performance hiccups. So yeah, reducing lead time can save you many headaches.