132. Turn Tech into a Business Force Multiplier with Adam Morton

Adam Morton

is the strategic senior IT leader with expertise in developing and managing programs and project plans and leading enterprise-wide IT initiatives. He ensures tasks and milestones are being achieved promptly and prepares project status reports, presentations, and agendas, ensuring alignment and strategic communication with internal and external partners. His strong capacity to build high-performing teams encouraging appropriate use of project management methodologies has increased efficiency and effectivenes

Turn Tech into a Business Force Multiplier with Adam Morton

Phil Howard, host of Dissecting Popular IT Nerds, brings on “the Vendor Whisperer.”

Senior network manager of CK Restaurants Adam Morton shows you what it really takes to keep large-scale tech in the foodservice industry functioning. Adam will demonstrate why you need to keep managers accountable across the board (even if it’s uncomfortable) through client-focused platforms that don’t rely solely on Meraki alerts.

It starts at the top. You have to listen to your people.

3 Key Takeaways

Listen To The Full Episode Below

Dissecting Popular IT Nerds

132. Turn Tech into a Business Force Multiplier with Adam Morton

00:00 / 00:50:38

Episode Show Notes

[0:24] Adam gives a rundown of CK restaurants

Carl’s Jr, Baskin Robins, Sonic, and more

How many stores Adam has to handle as network manager
- ~800 restaurants
What technology they use for their companies

[3:36] Why they call Adam the vendor whisperer

“Sometimes you have to keep your vendors in line and hold them accountable.”-Adam Morton
- Implementing the “trust and verify” concept
What carriers do when they determine a need for CSP improvement
- What Phil does for his job and how it compares to Adam

[6:16] Adam’s advice for keeping vendors in check

Keeping their own monitoring tools
Utilizing hand-made automation tools
Keep them accountable and don’t have all of your eggs in one basket

[7:46] Do they keep backup internet?

When feasible, they keep an LT backup
They’re full Stag Meraki

[8:44] What Adam means when he says a circuit is down

A vendor relied on the Meraki alerts rather than knowing about a month-long LTE backup
MSPs can get complacent on a day-to-day basis
- Phil’s lawnmowing analogy

[10:52] Using a lot of Telecommunication

Phones are about to get important again due to delivery
Their update to one phone and one line per restaurant
Having no need for video conferencing but using the same phone system for their corporate office and restraints
- Using Zoom
Phil loves two platforms equally
Adam’s positive experience with Ring Central
Getting it up and running in ~45 days
You’re paying for the good job!

[15:30] How Adam got started in IT

His first computer
Working with his mom in the summer where there was a computer section in the back
- Ordering the parts to put computers together
Adam recalls the first time he saw a CD-ROM
The H&R/computer shop owner taught Adam how to assemble and operate a computer

[19:30] Do people today understand how a computer really works?

It’s used as more of a tool to get where they need to go
There’s not a lot of acknowledgement of how far computers have come

[20:30] Adam continues his IT origin story

Getting a job at a help desk
“To anyone getting into IT young, I would highly recommend working at a help desk so you can learn to know the ins and outs of a computer.” -Adam Morton
- It helps because any IT gives computer fundamentals and support basics
- “Find the people in the group that you want to get to and go talk to them. Most of the time, IT people are happy to teach this stuff all day long.” -Adam Morton

[24:00] It’s scary how much people don’t know about technology!

“The more and more connected we become, the more and more disconnected we become. Because we have less and less of that personal interaction.” -Adam Morton
- Keeping the show old school with audio only
Adam gets more emails and spam than phone calls

[27:08] Has end user changed?

End user is still end user, according to Adam
Learning what questions to ask when troubleshooting over the phone
Adam explains the hierarchy of calling the ISPs versus Adam’s team

[29:48] What can restaurants do to use tech as a business force multiplier?

Digital data
- Especially with COVID, ease of digital apps is vital
- Have good customer data platforms in place
  - You need to have good house systems

Being a restaurant manager is so difficult!

[35:06] Adam gives a tech tip to users

Just because you delete your account, it doesn’t mean the data’s gone!
What goes behind the little app on your phone

[36:12] Can a small business owner create their own app?

Not really

Try putting it on GrubHub

[37:20] How you order from the restaurants Adam manages IT for

They’re on all the major delivery platforms
Each restaurant has different integration
Where the order goes on the app versus the website
- You don’t call DoorDash or GrubHub if you have a tech problem!
Phil goes through his list of food service apps
- Adam doesn’t have any food apps on his phone!

[42:52] Leadership: how big is Adam’s team?

Do they have to be local?
What’s the work/life balance like?
- “We’re really big on work/life balance. We say we actually practice what we teach.” -Adam Morton
How can you make work fun?
- It really does base off of culture
- Their COO is great!
  - “It starts at the top. You have to listen to your people and give them what they want as much as you can.” -Adam Morton
- Invest in your people and give them the tools they need
  - Give them something fun to do

[47:54] One piece of advice from Adam for IT leaders

Don’t be shy to ask somebody about something you’re interested in
IT leaders: you actually work for the people that you lead

Adam Morton

Turn Tech into a Business Force Multiplier with Adam Morton

3 Key Takeaways

Listen To The Full Episode Below

Episode Show Notes

Resources

Once a Week Newsletter

Dissecting Popular IT Nerds

Recent Episodes

LINKS

Social Media