New technology, new problems. At least, it often seems like this if you have not prepared for an update. So, to fight the problem where it’s at, we’ve prepared a bunch of technology roadmap templates for all your technology roadmap needs.

It’s a modern solution that will help you reduce the updates' costs, increase overall efficiency, and even benefit you in the long run as you will not fear introducing another technological advancement in your life.

And what better way to accomplish that than with a well-crafted technology roadmap template that will make your business strategy successful? Whether you want to create your own technology roadmap or just use some free roadmap templates, you will surely make your business objectives much easier to attain with technology solutions. So, if you were wondering how to create such a map to introduce new technology systems, we have you covered. Without further ado, let’s get into some details.

But before that, let’s get into the software we recommend for this project. Many different and exciting new technologies could be implemented in this scenario. Still, in our opinion – you just can’t go wrong with the old and gold Microsoft Office.

It is the single most popular office software on the planet. Millions of users worldwide enjoy using Microsoft Office tools, are familiar with the software, and cherish its different uses.

In the case of building a technology roadmap, there is no better system you can choose. Microsoft Excel is perfect for this, because you can adjust the spreadsheet and table you need when creating a roadmap. With a well-programmed spreadsheet, you can change the inputs, and all the data will change on the graph.

And it’s not expensive anymore. You can find Microsoft Office for an affordable price these days with no issues. And with new system capabilities, you can implement your technology adoption plan quickly.

With that in mind, let’s review some technology roadmap examples and see if anything interests your project management.

Technology Roadmap Template #1

The first template on our list is a pretty interesting one. As you can see, all the essential elements are on the Y-axis, and all the dates are on the X-axis. Additionally, all the changes are differentiated into three categories regarding their input on the project.

It’s a pretty good template for most uses, it has enough data to present the information precisely but does not feel overwhelming, and it’s clear what it is trying to accomplish. You can download this template for free at SmartSheet.com.

Technology Roadmap Template #2

The second template on our list focuses on the technology aspect and how it will affect the company as a whole. That is why you can see all the risk management elements, delivery, and operations on the Y axis.

Risk factors are critical for strategic planning, and most significant systems will benefit from successfully implementing new solutions. With this template, you can not only present what the update will do to the existing systems but also present the benefits of implementing it  simultaneously. You can download this template for free at OfficeTimeline.com.

Technology Roadmap Template #3

And finally, we have the last template on our list. This one is the most tech-savvy of all, as it emphasizes the software systems' inner workings rather than successful implementation.

That is why there are a lot of details concerning how those systems operate and not only making it understandable for all eyes. If you work at a company where the key stakeholders will understand this, you will significantly benefit from using this template. You can download this template for free at ProjectManager.com.

So, now that we know how to create said technology roadmap, let’s go over some of the most exciting elements of the idea. A technology roadmap is a strategy for implementing a technology product in the organization.

It is a communication plan that shows a project's details and how it will change within a specified time. It aims to help all stakeholders understand why it is getting implemented and what kind of changes should be expected.

Most business operations must update their systems regularly and implement new technologies into their strategic plan. A product roadmap can be a valuable tool in making the critical elements of an update understandable and giving people a chance to prepare for those changes optimally.

With that in mind, let’s review some benefits of a technology roadmap. Of course, we mentioned some of those before, but in this part of the article, we would like to get into some specific details on how it affects different aspects of the business.

The main goal, of course, is to optimize the business and make it more competitive, but, as you probably know, there are plenty of ways that different system elements interact, so be sure to stick to that!

It Increases Productivity

The main benefit of a well-conceived technology roadmap is that it can significantly benefit the company's overall productivity. When all the stakeholders know what will happen, they can prepare for it correctly and be ready for all the potential issues.

Suppose people are suddenly hit with significant technological changes. In that case, there will be many issues coming from that, hundreds of calls to the IT department, decreasing the company's overall productivity.

Everyone Gains Access to Updates

The next best thing is that with a technology roadmap, all stakeholders gain exclusive access to new updates and software changes. If all the stakeholders can work on the system's latest version, it gives the whole company an upper hand and makes everyone learn the new system faster.

The efficiency of this solution is astoundingly beneficial, as it upgrades not only the IT department but also all the other employees who gain access to new tools and technology advancements that could benefit their work.

It Grows Customer Satisfaction

As they say, happy employee, happy customer. Creating a new and better technological infrastructure will benefit not only the people working at the company but also the customers. Technological advancements can also be implemented for the customers, and with a great technology roadmap, you will quickly see that this change can be done smoothly and successfully.

It will also allow the employees to understand better how the technological changes can impact the customers and how they will react to them.

We’ve explained what a technology roadmap is and what are some key benefits of it. Now, let’s talk briefly about the different types of technology roadmaps. And – there are plenty of those. Understanding different types of roadmaps and being able to differentiate between them can have a significant impact on the overall success of the utility of creating one.

So, let’s have a look at different types of technology roadmaps.

IT Roadmap

This type is probably the one that most of you thought of when you read about a technology roadmap. Well, there is a reason for that. IT roadmaps are one of the most popular versions of this concept.

This roadmap shows the technology that is necessary for most operations within the company. It outlines all the changes and modifications implemented in a certain period and how they will change everyday work. IT systems roadmap is excellent for internal teams using specific software.

Team Roadmap

This is more of an internal document within the team. Many IT departments use this type of roadmap internally before sending out their own, as their language is quite different from what most companies use.

Creating an internal document can benefit a group of like-minded people who understand complicated issues without explanation. Thus, they can work more efficiently and implement the changes faster and more successfully.

Architecture Roadmap

Another on our list is an architecture roadmap. This is the type of document that shows the whole plan for the product’s/team's architecture. This kind of document is often used when the entire architecture of a company is changed. It shows all the details about how it will impact the company, third parties, and employees working on different projects. It is one of the more advanced roadmaps, is it needs to consider many factors.

Application Roadmap

The world is full of apps, and here is another one for you to consider. Creating an app can be stressful, so it is much easier if you have an application roadmap to use to check out whenever necessary.

You can also visualize and implement all the roadmap details whenever necessary. A well-crafted app roadmap can benefit you in the long run, as it tends to be something that different IT teams are working on and can communicate with each other through the map.

Apps are a necessity these days, so if you are looking to optimize your business goals, it’s a great way to start. Keeping business priorities straight is so much easier when you have it organized.

Development Roadmap

Last but not least – a development roadmap. All the development teams and project managers love to create such a map, as it is something that most people will never be able to see. Those are internal documents, mainly within the dev team's vicinity.

It’s a perfect technology roadmap example that encapsulates the idea of it – to be more efficient, prepared for changes, and overall – ready for anything. A development roadmap is full of details concerning advanced elements, so if you are a layperson, you may not understand a thing about what’s being talked about.

Technology Roadmap – What to Include

So, now that we are experts on the technology roadmaps, let's find out some of the crucial elements to implement in such a document. Technology initiatives are full of important information, so include all of that.

Know What You Want to Do

When creating a project roadmap, the most important thing is to understand what you are trying to accomplish. Whether it’s a simple task, or something more complicated, find out the exact reason behind creating such a map and know what you want to accomplish with it.

Target Audience

The next thing you need to do is to find out who are you writing this for. Whether it’s a more or less tech-savvy person, that should influence how you go about your language and the number of details you want to put in there. Be sure not to overbear the audience with unimportant information; they will have trouble understanding what you’re trying to convey.

Present Your Concept

Another critical aspect of creating a good technology roadmap is to present it understandably. You don’t need to go into all the specifics, but if you want to start something understandable, it’s best to present it so people can understand.

Lay out the groundwork before getting into the details!

Discuss It With Stakeholders

You would also need to discuss this with your stakeholders as they can have valuable input into the roadmap you are trying to create. It’s not asking for their permission in any way, shape, or form. It’s simply a compelling discussion on what can, will, and should be accomplished with the roadmap. It will also help people understand how a roadmap can help with all the system failures they are experiencing or potential benefits for the future.

…Keep Working on It

Fortunately or unfortunately, there is no end to a project roadmap. It needs to be constantly updated and rearranged, and that is just a beauty of it. Of course, it could be something fundamentally different than your everyday work, but you need to add new elements regularly to make your roadmap function well.

And here we are, all knowledgeable about creating roadmaps and how a visual representation can change the inner working of a system. We hope you enjoyed our little presentation, we did not create a roadmap to writing this article, but it was a form of digital transformation.

In all seriousness, though, a technology roadmap can get you far, especially with some great templates that can make it so much easier to create one. And, when it comes to the benefits of such a solution, there are plenty of them, so if it’s something you would be interested in, make it visible and understandable. You would not like the calls you could get with many questions about what “THIS” means.

Anyways, we hope you enjoyed this one. Let us know if you have any questions or ideas for articles on various office/software or gaming topics. We have a vast library of those, so if you feel like there is something you would like to know more about, feel free to visit. Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you at the next one!