Digital transformation is far from a new concept, in fact the term is so widely used in today's business environment that its meaning has become somewhat infinite. It is fundamentally about leveraging technology to improve your business. It is not about the technology itself, but the efficiencies they contribute.

As technological advancements continue at a rapid pace it has become all too easy to focus solely on the technology, when it is the human element that delivers truly transformational results. While technology may ensure the end result takes place, the transformation comes from not only replacing non-digital or manual processes, but through the radical rethinking of how information can be processed and utilised going forwards.

Whereas the use of information may vary for each business unit or department there is always a consistent need for timely and accurate information across both the private and public sectors. A key goal of any digitisation project is to improve the visibility of information both within an organisation and externally to partners and clients.

PEOPLE FIRST
There is a common misconception that technological disruption will lead to the elimination of jobs, making humans obsolete. This couldn't be further from the truth: in fact, the main efficiencies of investing in technology comes from releasing team members from mundane repetitive tasks to allow them to spend time on problem solving, creating improvements and generating value.

Over the last 5-10 years there have been various surveys undertaken that state office workers are reporting spending 30% of their workday on administration. Furthermore, a number of surveys have reported HR professionals spending a staggering 50% of their working day on administrative tasks.

Through the utilisation of automation technologies these highly skilled team members are free to focus on core activities that support business objectives.

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"Whether you are on phase one, five, or seventeen of your digital transformation journey it pays to involve end-users early. True transformation requires cultural, operational and organisational change. It requires investment from all levels of a business or organisation, and where an existing process is being replaced those individuals responsible for the current process must lead the change."

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PLAN FOR SUCCESS
Whether you are on phase one, five, or seventeen of your digital transformation journey it pays to involve end-users early. True transformation requires cultural, operational and organisational change. It requires investment from all levels of a business or organisation, and where an existing process is being replaced those individuals responsible for the current process must lead the change. It is often this phase being missed at the start of a journey that can cause delays further down the line for implementation or integration with other business systems.

Technology is commonplace in all of our lives; by utilising the experiences our team members have with consumer products we can further enhance end-user experience and improve overall business processes.

OASIS Group is currently working with a public sector client who are a perfect example of planning for success. Not only has the client kept their end-users in mind during the project, but they have consulted with them throughout to find further process efficiencies. This level of communication has allowed the end-users to make informed decisions regarding other processes and procedures outside the scope of the original project.

CHANGE MANAGEMENT
Digital transformation has already, for many companies, integrated well into existing change management programmes, such as the public sector client mentioned previously. For other organisations however the forced adoption of digital technologies, due to COVID-19, has led business leaders to retrospectively evaluate the implications of systems on their business, process and people.

Not only were the most digitally resistant businesses and organisations forced to re-evaluate their policies and processes due to COVID-19 but the most technologically progressive organisations had to accelerate their own change management programmes to support remote working.

More often than not when we are approached by clients who have previously failed to launch a successful digital transformation programme, a common reason for failure is the lack of change management. In the case of COVID-19 the luxury of planning was removed through no fault of the organisations we are speaking with.

REMOTE WORKING
Prior to COVID-19 most workers had little to no remote working experience, nor were many employers prepared for supporting their team members with this practice. This led to companies being forced to make their business and teams adapt to new technology, without a detailed review of the processes that enabled their business to operate. Furthermore, learning how to utilise new systems and technologies can take time, particularly for individuals who aren't naturally inclined towards technology.

Technology is not the only important aspect when it comes to remote working. To guarantee efficient team working organisations must support their team members in finding new ways of collaboration. Whilst technology most certainly aids collaboration, it must be driven by people.

SCALABILITY
With various cloud-based platforms on the market, businesses at the beginning of their digital transition have ended up with off the shelf products that have a 'one size fits all' model. Whilst some companies have adapted their ways of working to suit the technology available to them others are now in the process of reviewing their long-term suitability and scalability.

Businesses need to be flexible in order to be successful and the same is true from an IT perspective. What works for an HR department doesn't necessarily work for an Accounts Payable team. As mentioned earlier every department has a consistent need for timely and accurate information however how this information is displayed or interacted with will vary.

REVIEW
With many workers expected to continue with remote working or move to a hybrid working model, now is the perfect time to review and assess how technology is working for your people and processes. Speak to team members across your organisation who have been using these technologies to understand where their strengths and weaknesses lie. Your end-users are the best-case study for how well your digital transformation is going, so utilise them.

A SUCCESSFUL TRANSFORMATION
There you have it: the secret to a successful digital transformation is keeping the human focus. By engaging with your end-users, you will design a process that supports your business objectives and improves the productivity of your teams.

More info: www.oasisgroup.com