Technology In A Digital Age

CHANGE THE GLEANER, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | D6 DOING BUSINESS ONLINE FEATURE R ECENTDISRUPTIONS have shattered the paradigm of traditional, in-office and 9-5 work. Today, with the world upended by COVID, remote work has become the norm. Employees are now working from anywhere and are no longer behind the corporate firewall. Thus, unless appropriately guided, organisations will be left to the vagaries of the Internet and a world in flux. Businesses cannot just create a structure for the present, but instead need to create an operating model that keep up with future disruptions. While recent events and technological advancements have accelerated the speed of change, these changes didn’t just begin in 2020. The rise of cloud computing in the mid- 2000s has gradually moved data centres from on-prem to the cloud and now to software- defined IT infrastructure solutions. Not only is infrastructure changing but now customers’ desire to interact with businesses from home has increased, especially as they seek to limit physical interactions. This also extends to employees. In the past, corporate security centred around physical locations. Today, with stakeholders scattered in various locations, security must follow digital assets. From this, hybrid organisations have emerged. Hybrid organisations emphasise responsiveness, collaboration, user-centrism, and speed by using technology to drive business outcomes and growth. Business leaders must realise that these attributes aren’t just buzzwords, but rather the tools for survival. The future is hybrid and organisations must invest in the The future of business THE HYBRID ORGANISATION: I N HELPING businesses of all sizes to address new challenges brought on by COVID-19, the team of experts at Digicel Business found that leaders who embrace transformation have to be willing to both innovate and experiment in order to outpace rivals who are also adapting. A business that truly embraces Digital Transformation is one that will be agile and flexible in the face of any possible future. THE FIVE PILLARS OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION • Technology o Ramp up your digital services design, collaboration and content production rapidly to keep customers engaged. o For example, a typical virtual session with a gym instructor can now accommodate hundreds of customers at a time – only limited by your broadband service and marketing campaign. • Customer experience o A good Digital Transformation is customer- driven, with a solid customer experience to get sales. Therefore, focus your advancements on the things that your clients value. o For example, many restaurants have made the change to offer a weekly meal service to customers who are now forced to stay at home, as opposed to promoting their traditional food and menu harder. Both options can co-exist when the new normal returns. • Company culture o Build a culture of innovation and experimentation where testing, trial and error and learning are embraced. o For example, enable remote work to help staff understand organisational change. Use it to help them to adapt to changes in workload requirements, upskill to address scarcity and skills gaps, adjust to a changing work culture, develop talent agility across work streams, and engage in recreational/team building activities. • Business requirements o Drop nice-to-have features and operations. Focus on the core business functions that will help you achieve your desired outcomes when preparing your road map. • Business environment and digital landscapes o Digital Transformation efforts should involve understanding what competitors are doing, what customers are expecting, and what the current technology landscape can deliver. CONCLUSION For Digicel Business, Digital Transformation is no longer a nice-to-have. In the age of COVID-19, it has become an imperative for all SMEs to survive and thrive. Understanding what that means and how to implement it for your business is the key to competing in the current technology and customer-driven landscape. PLEASE SEE FUTURE, D7 The new constant for SMEs