Digital Education In The Workplace
Investing in relevant new technology is often a central factor in business success making digital education particularly invaluable to new and small businesses. Some of the major trends today include cloud, mobile technology, and Internet of Things (IoT), challenging traditional enterprises and creating room for growth at the lower end of the scale. Companies able to make their products more widely available, exploiting a range of platforms, have the competitive edge. But digital transformation comes with its own set of challenges, sometimes not readily agreed to by management, and requiring a particular set of skills. According to a BMI-TechKnowledge study commissioned by Citrix, less than a third of responding organizations were persistently driving digital transformation, though most recognize the need.
Trends and Upcoming Technology
Business leaders are often not up to speed with current technological trends and innovations, and this is in part due to communication gaps between technology experts and non-tech personnel. Moreover, IT skills shortages result in many organizations unable to implement digital transformation. There are, however, software tools and Service Providers that can provide the means and support to flexibly adapt to tech trends, including the transition to cloud, building mobile platforms to increase visibility and customer engagement, and implementing IoT devices in relevant and beneficial areas. But digital transformation isn’t all about technology. Many astute executives are already implementing digital transformation strategies and finding that the conversion of business cultures and how employees work is as relevant as the technological transformations involved.
Efficacious Digital Transformation
To begin with, businesses need to recognize digital transformation as a priority, with budgets set for investment in new technologies that allow for relevant and optimum digitization. Thereafter, the leading drivers of the transformation are likely to be business outcomes with innovation, revenue growth, and cost reductions key factors. Implementing data collection and analytics programs has already shown great success in numerous companies, and though many are not exploiting this technology to its fullest, those discounting it entirely are likely to struggle to compete. For digital transformation to really make an impact, it should be a company-wide strategy that doesn’t simply rely on IT implementation but rather recognizes the need for all departments to get their hands dirty and take ownership of processes in their sections.
The human element of digital transformation is often overlooked; collaboration throughout an organization in aid of a single digital transformation strategy provides the benefits of improved implementation as well as greater acceptance and support by staff. Often new technology can be uncomfortable for the less tech-inclined individual and disruptions are opposed, but by first getting all relevant team members on board, and if possible even enthusiastic, the end results of the digital transformation process can be of benefit to both the organization’s operations and staff morale.
Digital Education
One method of ensuring employee buy-in is broadening digital education. Currently, many people aren’t comfortable at all with their digital skills, and this creates resistance to innovations and new implementations that will leave them floundering. Advancing the skills of your workforce doesn’t only allow for greater employee engagement, it also leads to more successful digital transformation wherein a greater number of employees are able to actively participate in the process. Currently, there are many channels and tools available to enhance the digital education of staff, though creating an internal program with a diverse range of methods tends to have the strongest outcomes. Be it workshops, mentoring, or online learning programs, providing staff with the tools that suit their individual learning styles can have significant results.
Though digital transformation benefits businesses of all sizes, smaller businesses often have the most to gain, most quickly; investments in technology can be a challenge that larger organizations don’t struggle with, but the flexibility and agility of smaller organizations make them prime candidates, and effective evolutions could result in meaningful gains.
By Jennifer Klostermann
