How to get your business onboard with digital technologies
Getting your business on board with digital technologies is vital for success. But just how do you get your business onboard with digital technologies in the first place?
Getting your business on board with digital technologies is vital for success. With top level buy-in and employee engagement from every sector of your business, your digital projects will run much more efficiently. But just how do you get your business onboard with digital technologies in the first place?
From approaching your C-suite to begin the transition to digital technologies, to being granted finance approval, there are a few obstacles you may face. Obstacles that you will need to overcome to ensure that your business is not left behind. Read on to understand the current use of digital technologies within business and the steps to take to get your business onboard with digital adoption.
Digital technologies are nothing new, but how companies, sectors and markets adopt and use digital technologies is completely different. Propelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses have had to accelerate their adoption of how they use digital technologies to operate and function.
More employees are working remotely, or within a hybrid workplace model. More customers are using online and digital technologies to interact with businesses. This means that businesses need to put digital technologies in place to aid employees and customers. From using multichannel technologies so that businesses can communicate with customers via their channel of choice, to using digital channels to accelerate how fast businesses get paid. Digital technology adoption can create a lot of business benefits for both your business and your customers.
Getting your business onboard with these technologies is the first step.
In most businesses the majority (82%¹) of C-suite Executives feel confident to go digital but only 58%² of managers have the same confidence. Such statistics reveal that a business may have buy-in from their business leaders, but that it is vital to have your whole company onboard with the adoption of new digital technologies.
In order to onboard your whole company, think about the changes that will benefit every area of your business. From easing the way HR and Payroll teams distribute payslips to how your communications team now communicates with customers. There are many benefits for each of your departments that work across many businesses:
Improved business efficiency – Using digital technologies can automate tasks, which goes hand in hand with improved business efficiency. This can work in favour in most areas of your business. From automating invoicing tasks for your Finance Department, to automating communication processes to free up your Customer Services team.
Customer experience – 59%³ of customers will walk away from a business following a bad service experience. The adoption of digital technologies can aid how your customers interact with your business, therefore putting a customer’s needs first and creating a more positive experience. From creating simple customer journeys to letting customers self-serve. Digital technologies can benefit your customers and enhance their service experience.
IT Improvements – Your IT team may be one of your biggest barriers when addressing digital technology adoption. What may appear like added workload, to addressing issues with legacy systems, it is vital to get your IT team onboard from the start. Relaying the benefits of improved systems, more secure data and more rigorous levels of compliance are some of the benefits that digital technologies can bring to your IT team.
As well as relaying the benefits of digital technologies, it is important to also address the challenges that you may face:
Cost – Digital technologies don’t have to be expensive. Often, the initial investment is the main cost but the ongoing use creates more cost effective processes. For example, switching from paper based customer communications to digital distribution is not only more efficient, but it can be a more cost-effective communication solution too. No more internal print materials, equipment or postage prices to pay for.
Resources – Your business may believe that they do not have the resources available to spend time implementing and learning how to use digital technologies. To combat this challenge build a project team, create clear plans and roadmaps with time carved out for testing, trials and employee training. Show your business that even with the use of one or two digital technologies your processes will transform and your efficiencies will increase.
Legacy systems – 26%⁴ IT leaders say legacy IT is an issue. Therefore it is important to audit your systems before you start discussing implementing any digital technologies into your business. Understand where improvements need to be made and partner with a digital technology provider who may be able to work with your current systems.
Compliance and privacy – With a lot of advancement towards digital adoption, especially during the pandemic, making sure data is structured and secure is vital. Partnering with an ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus accredited business will give you the confidence of data security processes and compliant systems.
At Unifiedpost Group we partner with small, medium and large businesses to show the potential of what digital technologies can do for your business. From our initial conversations we will help you detail the benefits and the obstacles you may face when selling digital ways of working to your business.
Working with us means utilising clear roadmaps, project plans and a project team that can work with all areas of your business. Plus, with our ISO accreditations and our ability to work with your legacy systems, many of your business challenges may already be overcome.
Start your discussion with us today to understand how our digital technologies can benefit your business and customers.