Digitization has been on everyone's lips since COVID-19 at the latest. Entrepreneurs must adapt their business to the present in order to be successful in the future. Many subsidies currently support the entrepreneur to make digitization a reality in the business process.
Implementing new technologies successfully
For digitisation to really work in your company, you need support for your employees. If you understand what problems are solved and what opportunities are opened up, you will be able to adapt more quickly to this new situation. An essential component is training or further education, but also the user-friendliness of the new solution.
Many companies are currently working on the introduction of new revolutionary technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), IoT, 5G and Blockchain. These technologies are changing the daily work routine of employees, partners, service providers and suppliers.
The success of digitisation lies with people
The Walnut Study "Think human - Ready for the next normal" commissioned by Lenovo examined how new technologies are introduced in companies and what conclusions can be drawn about the impact on employees in their workplace.
Which points need to be considered?
6% of IT managers surveyed consider employees to be the top priority when making decisions on investments in new technologies
Furthermore, 48% of those surveyed report that the ability of employees to work was impaired immediately after the introduction of a new technology
In addition, 47% of the participants stated that the staff had difficulties with the changeover and that the new software affected productivity
21% felt that existing processes have slowed down due to new technologies
It is therefore important to involve the employees and to communicate the benefits of these changes. The speed at which technologies are evolving is breathtaking. As a result, many feel overwhelmed by the speed and complexity of the changeover and need support from your IT teams. Processes that have worked well in the past need to be re-implemented.
Your employees manage the changeover
Again and again we hear that it is faster to type in all the accounting documents by hand than to use the digital possibilities to reduce this activity to a minimum. The job description is changing and new paths are opening up. Large companies have already switched to these innovative systems at an early stage. SMEs are now also gradually being confronted with automatic document transmission. This is only a small sub-area, but it shows very clearly that we must not close our eyes to new technologies if your company wants to continue to be successful in the future and if the jobs of your employees are to be safed or additional jobs created.
You as an entrepreneur are always forced to look beyond the borders and make decisions for the benefit of the company.
Employees who reject new technologies must therefore be carefully introduced to them, because there is no alternative. Thirty-five years ago, very few SMEs had a computer in the office to do business with. Instead, typewriters with NCR sets as standard and copy machines were something completely new - all these things are now part of everyday life for your employees and no longer cause them any fear. Even back then, there were people who were afraid of these devices and tried to work around them. The typewriters had to be removed from the offices so that bills could be written on the computer. However, if someone took the time to explain how it worked, the objections disappeared and new work equipment was used more and more. In a short time, these technologies became part of everyday life and employees adapted to the change.
If you communicate new technologies to your employees as something positive, the acceptance will be much higher. With simultaneous support during the changeover, you motivate your staff at the same time. Then digitalisation will also succeed in your company.
Correct planning
To help you find the right solution for your company, you can rely on an experienced consultant. Discuss the current technical status of the company. Afterwards you define your goals together and give a direction in which you want to go in the future. Fall back on the know-how of experts or put your project in the experienced hands of professionals.
