It is safe to say that COVID-19 changed everything, including how many companies do business.
In the past, making face-to-face service calls or scheduling in-person meetings was just the normal course of operations. However, the challenges of a global pandemic created a situation where having digital methods became really paramount. Businesses that readily adopted technology and switched to virtual communication thrived, while those who hadn’t seemed to struggle.
So, what is a digital transformation? At a high level, it’s when an organization increases its use of technology to improve business processes. And it is super important for any business hoping to reduce interruptions and costs and increase productivity.
When it comes to leveraging digital transformation for an organization’s data, many companies are transitioning from moving data on premise to the cloud. Using data observability to optimize the health of your data pipelines can save your company costs during these challenging times. Here are six reasons why now is the time for your company’s digital transformation.
1. Employees Have Greater Social Distancing Standards Post-Lockdown
When it comes to what employees want as they return to the office, the answer is clear. Their social distancing standards and what they’re willing to put up with in terms of working conditions has drastically changed. Which means companies have to be open to the idea of new methods and virtual technologies.
There are still quite a few people who don’t feel comfortable partaking in standard conference room meetings or visiting customers in-person—whether that’s for health concerns, personal reasons, or something different. In fact, some individuals are even willing to quit to find businesses that conform more to their standards in terms of social distancing.
For certain industries, the transition to virtual methods makes it easier to keep these workers happy while still allowing for safe social distancing.
2. Allowing Remote Employees is Better for Your Bottom Line
As any manager or business owner will tell you, keeping a physical office open can be expensive. That said, the opportunity to shut down or drastically reduce a physical office allows companies to save money on things like utility bills, commercial real estate costs, furniture, etc.
If there isn’t a need for these items due to an increased remote workforce, then the company is able to reallocate funds to the adoption of new technologies. As a lot of businesses are learning, the cost difference between computers and internet service stipends for remote works is still far less than the traditional brick-and-mortar location.
Likewise, using technology to facilitate remote work means you have access to a talent pool outside your regional area and can give staff members a higher level of work/life balance. Both are major pros when it comes to deciding if your business should implement a remote work policy.
3. Technology Provides Better Productivity
Another reason why now is the best time for your company to undergo a digital transformation is that it can actually offer better staff productivity. When you’re able to streamline tasks using technology, everyone is able to do their jobs more effectively.
Whether your workers are in a warehouse environment or office setting, there are always ways to integrate specialty apps and programs to increase efficiency. Taking time to consider the operational areas in which your business can incorporate processes is a good start to a more widespread digital transformation.
4. The Virtual Climate is Now Widely Accepted
If you’ve held off implementing certain elements of technology into your business, now is a perfect time to make it happen. The virtual climate is now widely accepted, meaning your staff members and customers both understand the opportunity digital communication offers.
Need an example? More B2B sales are happening via video conference and employees are embracing the work-from-home capabilities a lot of companies offer. In fact, it is safe to say that there’s no better time to embrace tech as a part of business operations than right now.
Think about this for a minute. The use of Zoom was only sparingly used in most industries prior to COVID-19. Now? It is considered an industry standard and even a preferred method of long-distance communication.
5. Increased Data Analytics & Reporting
Increased reliance on technology also means far more data tracking. While this might be one of the lesser known reasons why companies are switching to new technologies, the ability to track workflows, costs, ROIs, and other metrics is key for making future business decisions.
For example, if you know it takes your team 1,000 hours to complete a project, you can quote the next one more efficiently. Likewise, you can use the same data to make decisions about hiring, project management, and more.
6. Better Resilience to Change
Let’s face it, pandemics don’t end overnight. The key to ensuring your business is ready to carry on through any future lockdowns or emergency situations is having a strong digital presence. Simply put, the easier it is for your employees to do their jobs from anywhere while making it possible to connect with customers, the better you’ll fare through any situation.
In conclusion, there’s no better time than right now for companies to undergo a digital transformation. New solutions are available all the time, which means finding the right one for your niche and industry is easy, too.
