The technology you use in your digital transformation strategy can either make or break its overall success. These five accelerators can be used as a competitive advantage to achieve long-term stability in a rapidly changing world.
1. The digital workplace
Digital workplaces are the cornerstone of digital transformation, setting up a virtual ecosystem in which companies can realign for the future and launch subsequent initiatives. In fact, most of the following accelerators on this list depend on an existing digital workplace as a foundational platform.
Implementing a digital workplace removes the physical barriers to change, closing communication gaps, and increasing productivity. It also opens up the possibility of recruiting global talent, a major advantage that companies will want to have as more and more of the workforce goes remote. From an external standpoint, a digital workplace is the only way to keep up with customer demands for convenience that only continue to rise over time.
In 2020, all organizations have some form of digital workplace whether they realize it or not. But for those that wish to succeed in digital transformation, the digital workplace needs to be much more than a haphazard collection of tools. Maximum efficiency can only be reached if each component of the digital workplace functions cohesively through integrations and automation.
2. Intranets
Intranets are a core component of the digital workplace and a key facilitator of digital transformation. Your intranet is the interface through which employees tap into the digital resources available to them, receive vital information, and collaborate with one another.
Even if your company has used an intranet for years or decades, rethinking the role your intranet plays in the workplace is a necessary step. Modern platforms like Powell 365 take the concept of an intranet far beyond the technology itself with the introduction of features like customization, multi-device accessibility, content management, and automation. Not only do these new intranets give you the tools you need for digital transformation, but they also put you in control over the process.
3. Collaborative spaces
Many of the forces that drive digital transformation – innovation, mobility, knowledge, and skills – are all fostered in collaborative environments. No, we’re not talking about coworking. These spaces exist virtually but are just as good at facilitating collaboration as a meeting room (if not better).
Collaborative spaces are made possible by several digital communication tools that include:
- Social intranets
- Messaging platforms
- Videoconferencing
- Forums
According to Microsoft, companies that are successful in creating a collaborative culture are more agile and can better respond to changing demands, delivering new products and services faster than competitors.
4. Next-generation training
Your digital transformation strategy will be doomed to fail from the start if you can’t get employees’ buy-in. One of the best ways to do this is through training, but not necessarily in the sense you might think. Traditional training programs are no longer the only way to spread skills and information across the organization. New technologies allow leaders to build training into everyday activities by integrating it into the digital workplace.
Not sure where to start? Try looking at your digital workplace analytics to see how employees use technologies on a daily basis and collect feedback on where they feel a need for improvement. From there, you’ll be able to identify specific areas where training could be useful and add value without detracting from the employee experience.
5. IoT
Leveraging IoT technologies is a logical next step for companies that embark on digital transformation initiatives, but not all organizations approach the transition with the right mindset. According to Wharton, IoT-based digital transformation needs to start with data, and it’s this data that allows companies to get closer to their customers and become more responsive to their needs. In addition to planning IoT products, think critically about how you will use the data from those devices to further the transformation process, and enable future development.