Finance and IT Teams Can Collaborate on Investment Opportunities
by HiveDigital
Chief financial officers (CFOs) and their corporate finance teams are constantly on the hunt for innovative strategies to better manage cash flow, plan for growth, mitigate risk, and ultimately, drive ROI. As experts in financial planning, analysis, and reporting, finance teams are expected to be adept at navigating the mercurial financial landscape. Yet, achieving peak financial performance requires that they have a comprehensive accounting of all assets within the organization, including those beyond the traditional financial sphere.
CFOs often leverage the expertise and insights of other key members within an organization, such as the chief information officer (CIO) and the IT department, to identify novel opportunities.
For instance, the rise of the digital era has ushered in an entirely new asset class—intangible tech assets. From cloud storage rights to software licenses and IPv4 addresses, these assets have the potential to become invaluable revenue sources capable of funding project budgets, offsetting overhead expenses, or powering company growth.
Yet, the true potential of such assets often goes unnoticed and untapped.
The New Age of Intangible Tech Assets
In a world increasingly influenced by digital innovation, traditional asset classes have expanded to incorporate intangible tech assets. As the name suggests, these are non-physical, digital assets that can provide the company with value of some sort. According to common accounting standards, to be eligible to be recognized as an intangible asset, they must be:
- Identifiable
- Controlled by the company
- Have future economic benefit (via revenues or decreased costs)
Typically, these intangible assets are either developed internally, purchased by the business outright, or acquired as a part of a larger M&A deal. Common examples include:
- Software code – This could include both proprietary software developed in-house as well as licensed software from vendors.
- Domain names – Unique website addresses used for branding and marketing online can be prized and purchased by other enterprises.
- Databases – The collection of data—such as customer information, operational data, and more—that is processed and organized in a meaningful way.
- Internet Protocol (IP) Addresses – IPv4 addresses are unique identifiers that enable devices to communicate and be communicated with on the internet. They have become highly valuable due to scarcity and growing demand.
- Algorithms – Proprietary algorithms, such as those used by tech companies for data processing or machine learning models, can be highly valuable.
- Patents and trademarks – These are the exclusive rights granted to an organization or an individual to make, use, or sell a particular product or to use a particular process.
IPv4 Addresses: An Intangible Asset With Increasing Value
Let’s focus on one of the more commonly overlooked intangible assets: IPv4 addresses. These represent the bedrock of connectivity in the digital ecosystem, with every device on a network requiring one to function online.
Couple a nearly exhausted supply of IPv4 addresses with historic consumer demand and it’s no wonder why prices have surged fivefold in less than a decade.
Many companies are currently sitting on a large inventory of IPv4 addresses—potentially worth hundreds of thousands of dollars—and many don’t know they own these assets, let alone understand their market value. Balance sheets tend to exclude any mention of IPv4 address blocks, or they are looped into some “miscellaneous” category along with other intangibles.
However, with the right knowledge and a strategic approach, these IPv4 addresses can be leveraged to drive ROI. Selling them outright, leasing them for a steady revenue stream, or using them as collateral for business expansion are all viable ways to tap into their potential value.
The CIO’s Role in Unearthing Hidden Tech Assets
Because a CFO may not always have real-time visibility of every asset under their purview, they often outsource this task, relying on other trusted leaders and specialists within the organization to help them spotlight opportunities.
One such crucial ally is the CIO—the organization’s digital pathfinder. With their tech expertise and ideal vantage over the company’s technological landscape, including its intangible tech assets, CIOs can play an instrumental role in providing support to the CFO. In that capacity, their role extends beyond simply maintaining the existing tech infrastructure; rather, it involves actively pinpointing underutilized resources as well as potential opportunities for strategic tech investments.
By conducting comprehensive audits and assessments, they can flag potential goldmines for the CFO and suggest potential avenues to maximize the value of these often-overlooked assets, such as IPv4 address monetization strategies.
The CFO’s Role in Intangible Tech Asset Management
Once a tech asset has been successfully identified, the baton passes to the CFO and their finance team whose task it is to understand, assess, and evaluate the new-found resources. Harnessing their vast financial acumen, the CFO can then decipher the potential value and implications these assets may have on the organization’s bottom line.
A CFO’s expertise—grounded in financial planning and risk management—allows them to extract and translate these technological assessments into strategic financial insights. Moreover, having a complete, accurate, and up-to-date snapshot of the company’s total asset portfolio, including intangible tech assets, enables the CFO to make the most informed and beneficial decisions for the organization.
Strategies for Effective Collaboration between Finance and IT Teams
In today’s business environment where technology drives value and competitive advantage, the CFO and CIO relationship becomes paramount. Effective collaboration between these roles can lead to better alignment of IT investment with strategic growth plans and improved business performance. However, as Deloitte notes, fostering such a relationship is often challenged by differences in communication styles and perspectives. To that end, here are some strategies they suggest to strengthen this essential partnership:
- Achieve mutual understanding – Understand the commonalities between the CFO and CIO roles, highlighting areas where collaborative efforts can drive growth and efficiency.
- Improve communication – Recognize and respect the different communication styles and perspectives that typically characterize CFOs and CIOs, adjusting interactions to foster effective communication.
- Collaborate to deliver value – Connect IT initiatives to shareholder value, aligning investment strategies with revenue growth, operating margin, and asset efficiency.
- Establish a framework for IT investment governance – Collaboratively create a robust governance framework for IT investments that balances opportunities with risk implications.
The Benefits of Using an Experienced IP Broker
Navigating the complex world of IPv4 addresses on your own can be daunting. Whether you aim to invest in IPv4 addresses or maximize the value of addresses your business already owns, partnering with a reliable and seasoned IPv4 address broker alleviates all major concerns. Common benefits include:
- ARIN Qualified Facilitator – A Qualified Facilitator has demonstrated compliance with ARIN’s regulatory standards and guidelines, thus ensuring that the transaction will be seamless and in compliance.
- Pricing transparency – Reputable brokers commit to providing clear and upfront pricing that corporate finance teams require to make informed decisions. They can also perform rapid and accurate IP address asset valuation on your behalf.
- Negotiating power – Whether you want to buy, sell, or lease your addresses, experienced brokers can negotiate the most advantageous deal possible, securing optimal pricing for both the seller and buyer.
- Network of reliable partnerships – Trusted brokers have cultivated robust relationships within the industry, enabling them to identify and connect potential buyers with sellers.
IPv4.Global—Your Trusted IPv4 Broker
Effective collaboration between finance and IT teams can help unlock the untapped potential of intangible tech assets, especially IPv4 addresses. By working together and aligning their strategic goals, CFOs, CIOs, and their respective departments can identify, evaluate, and monetize these assets to boost the business’ bottom line.
For reliable brokerage services and support, contact us today.