LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP
DIGITALISATION STRATEGIES
36 investment , instead of being focused on true problem resolution , and is particularly common when a generic solution is purchased over something specifically focused on their sector or digitisation challenge .”
LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP
John Appleby , CEO of Avantra , calls digitalisation “ an imperative for almost any business to survive today ”. He also urges a more cautious approach to AI-led digitalisation . “ It ’ s not so much that digitalisation with ML / AI is easier , but rather that intelligent technologies are a necessary consequence of digitalisation ,” he says . “ We expect vendors to make purchase recommendations , we expect to understand what other buyers like ourselves are interested in . ML / AI are required to deliver the consumer experience that we expect .”
Culturally , digitalisation needs to be approached holistically , says Duncan . “ The transition to digital represents a collective-action problem , and therefore businesses should approach DX as a company-wide solution . From the very beginning , a multi-phase
“ The value locked in your employees heads is a large part of your core business advantage ”
— Matt Shearer , Director of product innovation , Data Language
transformation strategy and a detailed execution plan is required , whereby silo walls can be broken down and replaced with open communication channels between every department .”
Collaboration is “ key ”, he says , adding that it is “ not about removing departments or bringing them together under a single umbrella ” but “ establishing a new mindset : networks instead of silos , flattened structures instead of hierarchies , and speed over precision .”
Companies , agrees Shearer , must “ involve your employees ”.
“ Spend some time and tease the information out ,” he urges . “ The value locked in their heads is a large part of your core business advantage .”
DECEMBER 2020