The overwhelming pace of modern digital culture is a growing concern for businesses – what with breakthrough technology advancements such as chat bots, 3-D printing and stem-cell embryos, it’s no wonder companies are feeling the heat.
Recent research from the HR Innovation Practice Observatory claims: “Over half (54%) of HR professionals think developing digital culture and employees’ skills is this year’s biggest challenge.”
‘The struggle is real’
Expanding facilities, developing staff skills and investing in tech are difficult conquests to tackle with constraints such as financial budgets and limited resources. And the clock is ticking; now more than ever it is critical for businesses to ‘get with the times’ or face being left behind.
Businesses more embrace technological change. See below for a list of cost-effective tips for businesses to step out of the stone-age and enter the cyber world.
“The interdisciplinary requirement of digital continues to grow. The possibilities created by combining data science, design and human science underscore the importance both of working cross-functionally and of driving customer-centricity into the everyday operations of the business. Many organizations have yet to unlock that potential.” – Francisco D’Souza, CEO at Cognizant
Implement day-to-day web-based software tools into job roles
Implement basic digital software and take your first leap as a company to digital domination. Not only do simple tech tools aid with daily job roles, boosting efficiency, but they also help ease colleagues into their electronic transition; slowly developing a user’s relationship with technology.
– Manage bookkeeping and accounts with cloud-based software that makes managing finances on-the-go a breeze, at a very affordable cost – Pandle
– “Plan, organise and track in one visual collaborative space” – Work together as a company using real-time software, that is visual, organised and unified – Monday.com
– Use web-based storage systems, so that colleagues can upload, edit and store documents to manage workload and share information – SharePoint
– Work together, cut down on backlogs of emails and partake in online, group meetings with instant messaging tools such as Slack
– Design software is paramount to a business’ branding. Invest in the Adobe Creative Suite for professional print and web solutions. Pay a monthly fee and receive access to an invaluable set of applications including Adobe InDesign which delivers print works such as booklets, brochures, magazines, etc. Adobe Photoshop that lets you publish high-resolution, professional images and Adobe Illustrator, predominantly a design-software, which enables you to create materials and graphic works such as logos.
Stay in-the-know and on the radar
If committing to monthly subscription fees is not feasible, there are plenty of free trials and resources available on the net for employees. ‘Keep in-the-know’ (source information) and ‘stay on the radar’ (market your business) with free platforms such as Content Studio, Feedly and Buffer. Businesses can also keep an eye on competitors and emerging tech-trends by signing up to free, relevant weekly e-blasts.
Stay in sync with team meetings / free webinars, tutorials and seminars
Make time in the working week to connect as a team and talk tech. This enables the work force to learn from each other’s digital discoveries.
As a director, you may want to outsource an expert in the field (although this can be costly) to come in and teach seminars to your colleagues.
Alternatively, businesses can access free online webinars and deliver them to their work force. This enables work groups to grasp tech skills collectively, whereby they can discuss any queries they may have.
YouTube is also another great resource and is a way in which businesses and employees can learn tech skills, via free step-by-step video tutorials. The tutorials are eligible for all levels of learner and can cover a diverse range of topics.
Lastly, free classes in coding, marketing, SEO, website development and more are abundant in Merseyside delivered by Signature Works, Eventbrite, Liverpool Girl Geeks, to name a few. Sign up for free interactive upskilling sessions that are also great for networking.
How will you stay up to date with digital culture in 2019? Let us know in the comments section.
