McLean Forrester
Bio
we tackle technology challenges head-on, empowering organizations to operate at their best. As a woman- and veteran-owned firm, we specialize in AI, cloud migration, application modernization, and IT strategy.
Stories (68)
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Mastering Enterprise Data: A Framework for Effective Data Management
In the digital economy, data is the new currency. But for many large organizations, this valuable asset is trapped. It is siloed in disparate systems, inconsistent in format, and unreliable in quality. This chaos leads to misguided strategies, operational inefficiencies, and an inability to compete with more agile, data-driven rivals. The solution is not just more data; it is better management. This is where a robust enterprise data management (EDM) framework becomes not just an IT initiative, but a core business discipline.
By McLean Forrester3 months ago in Education
Beyond the Hype: A Human-Centric Approach to AI in Marketing
In the swirling vortex of technological change, few topics have generated as much excitement, anxiety, and outright confusion as Artificial Intelligence. For marketing leaders, the pressure is immense. The question is no longer if you should adopt AI, but how to do it without wasting millions, demoralizing your team, or alienating your customers. It's a strategic minefield where a single misstep can have significant consequences.
By McLean Forrester3 months ago in Education
The Unbeatable Brand: Why Humanity, Not Hype, is the Ultimate Competitive Advantage
In a digital marketplace saturated with AI-generated copy, algorithmically-driven ad campaigns, and brands vying for our ever-shrinking attention spans, a single, powerful question emerges: what truly makes a business unforgettable? Is it a flawless logo, a viral TikTok moment, or a bottomless marketing budget?
By McLean Forrester3 months ago in Education
The True Value of RPA: Moving Beyond Cost Savings to Strategic Impact
For years, the conversation around Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has been dominated by a single, powerful metric: cost savings. We have been sold on the dream of the "digital workforce" primarily as a tool to reduce headcount and slash operational expenses. While these benefits are real and often substantial, this narrow focus is a profound disservice to the technology's true potential. At its core, RPA is not just an expense management tool; it is a strategic lever for business transformation. The real value of RPA lies not in what it removes, but in what it enables.
By McLean Forrester3 months ago in Education
How Agentic AI is Solving Complex Business Problems in 2025 and Beyond
The narrative of artificial intelligence is undergoing a profound transformation. We are moving decisively beyond the era of passive tools that merely respond to commands and into the dawn of systems that demonstrate genuine agency. This new paradigm, known as Agentic AI, represents the next great leap in our technological evolution. It is not merely an incremental improvement but a fundamental shift from automation to action. In 2025 and the years that follow, Agentic AI is poised to become the central nervous system of the most innovative and resilient enterprises, solving problems of a complexity that was previously insurmountable.
By McLean Forrester3 months ago in Education
The Ultimate Guide to Application Portfolio Modernization in 2025
In the dynamic digital landscape of 2025, an organization's application portfolio is more than just a collection of software; it is the very engine of innovation, customer engagement, and operational excellence. However, legacy systems, while once the backbone of business, can become anchors holding back growth, agility, and competitive edge. This is where the strategic imperative of application portfolio modernization comes to the forefront. It is a journey of transformation, moving from rigid, monolithic architectures to a future-proof, agile, and intelligent application ecosystem. For forward-thinking companies like McLean Forrester, embracing this journey is not merely an IT initiative; it is a declaration of their commitment to leading their industry into the future.
By McLean Forrester3 months ago in Education
Application Rationalization: A Step-by-Step Methodology for Cost Savings and Agility
In today's dynamic business environment, technology portfolios are not static. They grow, evolve, and, often, become bloated. Many organizations find themselves supporting hundreds, even thousands, of applications, a significant portion of which are redundant, underutilized, or nearing obsolescence. This complex web of software creates a substantial drag on financial resources and operational agility. This is where a disciplined application rationalization methodology becomes a critical business imperative. It is a strategic process that systematically evaluates an organization's application portfolio to identify opportunities for consolidation, modernization, and retirement, ultimately driving significant cost savings and enhancing business flexibility.
By McLean Forrester4 months ago in Education
Your Enterprise is Drowning in Complexity. It is Time for an Agentic AI Lifeline.
Let us be blunt. Your current IT and business operations are a tangled mess. You have bought every SaaS tool promising efficiency, only to create new data silos. You have hired armies of specialists, but they spend more time fighting your own systems than moving the business forward. Your "digital transformation" feels more like digital duct tape.
By McLean Forrester4 months ago in Education
How to Approach Automation: 5 Best Practices for a Successful Implementation
Many enterprises dive into automation with high hopes for efficiency and cost savings, only to find their projects stalled, underdelivering, or creating more complexity than they resolve. The common pitfall is a focus on technology first, rather than strategy. At McLean Forrester, we believe a successful automation journey is not about finding the quickest fix, but about building a sustainable, scalable capability that drives genuine business value.
By McLean Forrester4 months ago in Education
The New Age Enterprise: How AI is Reshaping Operations for 2025 and Beyond
The business landscape is not just changing; it is undergoing a fundamental reconstruction. The era of incremental improvement is giving way to an age of intelligent transformation, where the very fabric of enterprise operations is being rewoven with artificial intelligence. For forward-thinking organizations, the question is no longer if they should adopt AI, but how to harness it to build a more resilient, efficient, and proactive enterprise.
By McLean Forrester4 months ago in Education
The Untapped Gold Mine: Why Your Company's Greatest Asset is Already on the Server
In the relentless pursuit of growth and competitive advantage, business leaders are constantly scanning the horizon for the next disruptive technology. We invest in new software platforms, chase the latest marketing automation tools, and strategize about how to integrate artificial intelligence. This forward momentum is essential. Yet, in this race toward the future, many organizations are overlooking the most valuable, strategic, and underutilized asset they already possess. It is not a new piece of technology. It is the vast, often untamed, landscape of their own enterprise data.
By McLean Forrester4 months ago in Education
The Geography of Innovation: Why St. Louis is the Perfect Testbed for Remote AI
From the heart of the Midwest the narrative of American innovation often feels like a story told from distant coasts. We hear the buzz from Silicon Valley and the headlines from Austin and a quiet question forms in the minds of business leaders here. In an economy increasingly defined by artificial intelligence is there still a place for the company rooted in a city like St. Louis
By McLean Forrester4 months ago in Education
