The Remote Workforce & Digital Transformation

The way we work has changed dramatically over the past couple of years. Gone are the days of everyone working together in the same place, or even at the same time. These changes have propelled many organizations into digital transformation, whether they were seeking out that change or not. All businesses have had to embrace some change, including what was initially considered a temporary switch from office to work from home. But as the pandemic subsided, many organizations chose to continue with either a fully remote or hybrid remote workforce. This change has created many opportunities for businesses and ushered in new challenges and the need for a unique and nuanced approach to workforce digital transformation.

As organizations make decisions on remote options, it’s the perfect time to consider a more intentional and anticipatory plan for embracing digital change. The ability to anticipate your organization’s future and the role of technology within your workforce will be a determining factor of success. Let’s talk about what digital transformation means for your company.

What is Digital Transformation?

Digital Transformation isn’t just about the technology; it also includes how your employees work together and collaborate. Digital transformation changes how your business functions and delivers products and services. It completely disrupts the culture of how business used to be run. The phrase “People, Processes, and Technology” represents this well.

Don’t be lulled into thinking that you can buy a piece of technology and instantly experience greater productivity and profitability. Integrating your people and the processes they utilize for technology are necessary for smooth and successful transformations. This may necessitate a cultural shift in how your team works, even when and where they work.

We have seen more and more businesses embracing the benefits of remote workers in a wide variety of roles. Whether you have gone fully remote or offer a hybrid of both office and remote options, adopting digital strategies and training your employees how to use them most effectively directly benefits a company’s profits, keeping your company relevant, and making it easier to adapt to change. Change will happen to every organization; having a team that is comfortable with it means a greater chance of success and a higher rate of return on your technology investments. Today, employees expect flexible work environments, and companies that embrace digital transformation are in a much better position to conquer the war on talent and the great resignation. Digital transformation can be a substantial competitive advantage in today’s market.

Importance of Buy-In

For digital transformation to work successfully, it needs to be understood and supported by leadership, and we’re not just referring to IT leadership. Digital transformation isn’t an IT initiative; it’s a strategy that touches every part of an organization. Understanding the business impact and the trends that can help you build a scalable plan will require a team approach. More than likely, it will also require rethinking how you run your business.

These approaches are not limited to the Uber’s and Amazon’s of the world; it’s something that all companies need to not only consider but act on if they want to remain in business 5, 10, or 20 years down the road. Depending on your specific situation, it may make sense to dive in headfirst, but it may make more sense for others just to dip their toe. As you develop your digital transformation strategy, consider including Change Champions to keep you focused on your goals and moving forward. Keep in mind that transformation is not a cookie-cutter approach and should be viewed as something that will continuously evolve with the changing priorities of the company.

Next Steps

A company cannot be fully future-ready without digital transformation. Waiting to jump on board only allows your competition the opportunity to move forward without you. Join our upcoming webinar when I discuss the unique challenges that come with remote work and how executives can address them strategically with people, processes, and technology.