One of the biggest mistakes we often see companies make when we’re brought in to consult is thinking that technological upgrades are a complete solution, in and of themselves. “We’ve just implemented cloud data storage, and a shared digital ecosystem that gives everyone access! Surely this will bring growth and prosperity!” is how the thinking goes.
When culture and technology are aligned, you will have the best results. Here are some tips to get you started.
However, it’s not that simple. The ideals behind digital transformation and Industry 4.0 initiatives go well beyond merely installing upgrades. The corporate culture needs to change as well, in a way which will support and nurture those initiatives. Workers and partners need reasons to embrace these new technologies, and clear paths to integrate these changes into their own workflows.
1. Update your metrics
When a company engages in digital transformation, it means a complete re-thinking the company’s overall goals and processes. But how can that opportunity become reality, if everything is still being judged by old metrics? Goals and guidelines need to be updated at a practical everyday level, so you’re directly encouraging engagement with the new processes.
2. Encourage experimentation by minimizing penalties
When changing over to a more digitally-focused and collaborative way of doing business, there will always be a need for experimentation to make those methods fit in with your organization – and some of those experiments won’t work out. It’s inevitable. So, try not to put too much pressure on managers and workers during the transition. If people think that a failed experiment could cost them their jobs or promotion opportunities, they’ll likely refuse to engage with the new processes.
Also consider having a division set up specifically for the purpose of trying out experiments in non-critical testbed environments. Think of it like R&D, but it’s R&D for your own business processes. The more freedom they have to try out new ideas, the more likely they are to discover great new methods of doing business.
3. Always be able to answer “why?”
In any round of technological upgrades, there can be a tendency to go on a spending spree or otherwise start investing in tech just for tech’s sake. This, in turn, can raise resistance in a workforce that doesn’t want to get distracted by gimmickry. Any technological investment should be justifiable on a pragmatic level. If someone asks “Why is this better than the old way?” or “How will this make my job easier or more productive?” they should receive a clear actionable answer.
4. Keep lines of communication open, with strong visibility
In general, major changes to business processes always go more smoothly when these changes are well-communicated, and the impacted workforce feels informed about what’s going on. This goes double for digital transformation! Since collaborative technologies focus on communication and sharing, that sort of mindset needs to be in evidence from the beginning.
5. Offer plenty of educational opportunities
Digital transformation will undoubtedly require some retraining for basic implementation. Further, the more-informed a worker is about modern business philosophies regarding collaboration and digital technology, the better-equipped they’ll be to contribute positively to the new paradigm. So, be certain that the workforce has plenty of opportunities to grow, and incentivize learning whenever possible.
We’re About To Light The FUSE On Digital Transformation…
LogicBay has long been a pioneer in technologies to tie together indirect sales ecosystems. Now, we’re taking the next step: top-to-bottom solutions which will enable smooth transitions into a vertically-integrated digital ecosystem, made accessible to any kind of business. We will offer a new path into the information era.
The FUSE is almost lit. Click here to learn more!
