Merriam Webster defines digerati as: persons well versed in computer use and technology. In today’s workplace, this also means you’re a champion of digital transformation—the integration of digital technology into every aspect of operation.
Simply put, digital transformation is about changing the way businesses interact with their customers, finding new ways to provide a consistent and positive experience, whenever and wherever they need it. Industry experts across diverse sectors see exceptional potential in cloud-based digital technologies. Are you ready to take the leap?
Bottom Line: Profitability
Though companies may balk at the initial investment for digital technologies, the payoff is often considerable. MIT reports: “the 25% of firms that excel both in digital intensity and transformation management capabilities are 26% more profitable, generate 9% more revenue from their physical assets, and achieve 12% higher market valuations than other large firms in their industries.”
The Plus Factor: Employee Satisfaction and Engagement
At Copiers Plus, our specialists advise a wide range of corporate and small-business customers on document management and managed print services—always with the goals of increasing revenues and efficiencies. Likewise, they understand digital transformation plays a key role in empowering employees. Nationally, in a recent survey of more than 1,000 employee respondents, 76% reported that having the digital tools they need at work makes them more productive. More than half, 53%, said it makes them more successful. A third said it makes them smarter, and 28% said it makes them happier.
Road Blocks to Change: The Fear Factor
Even so, implementing technological change in the workplace can present significant challenges. Seeing a potential threat to their jobs, it’s understandable that some workers might feel skeptical about the benefits of certain digital technologies. Others, may feel overwhelmed or skittish about the learning curve, especially if decision making and system deployments are conducted off-site, with little or no opportunity for their buy-in.
Plan
Organizations should plan carefully before rolling out new digital technology, building in realistic timelines for initial deployment, training, and trouble-shooting.
Assess
Mapping out a digital transformation plan should include a critical assessment of which digital tools employees need to get their jobs done more efficiently. Including employees in this planning phase can help IT specialists to pinpoint deficiencies and better understand where organizations should prioritize improvements.
Communicate Internally
Before implementing a new digital technology, always communicate to staff what is being deployed, why it is being deployed, and how it will affect each individual employee. While this may require tailoring the communication to different staff groups, these efforts are critical to engaging employees and—ultimately—creating the seamless digital transformation you’ve planned for. Further, rather than delivering just one general announcement, industry experts recommend multiple (shorter), intermittent announcements leading up to the technology roll-out.
Train
For a technology deployment to deliver the best possible return on investment, organizations need to ensure that staff are using that technology correctly and channeling its full potential. When workers understand the full range of functionality, the payoff doubles: employees feel higher satisfaction at work and employers assure cost-effectiveness of their investment—a win-win for all.
