How your business can adopt the latest technologies in 2021 and beyond.The COVID-19 pandemic is intensifying and accelerating digital transformation across many industries as companies continue to refresh and optimize their remote working capabilities to ensure business continuity. The collaboration tools and technologies currently used by so many professionals, and on which companies have become dependent in the current context, are not, however, reserved only for the pandemic period.
In fact, companies that hadn’t adopted the latest technologies before the COVID-19 pandemic have spent 2020 playing catch-up. According to a recent study by Robert Half , 38% of hiring managers say their company has accelerated the rollout of new tools, and 35% that it has ramped up remote work training due to the ongoing pandemic.
1. The next chapter of digital transformation
Regardless of the type of business, digital transformation has never experienced such an acceleration.
The current pandemic is making us realize the importance of adopting the latest technologies. In other words, business leaders are already focusing on the “next chapter” as they seek to continuously optimize their digital capabilities to survive in 2021 and beyond.Contrary to anything leaders have experienced in the past, it is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic has acted as a “circuit breaker” on the status quo pushing companies to embrace next-generation technologies. Research from McKinsey & Company reveals that nine in ten (90%) senior executives believe the pandemic-induced crisis will fundamentally transform the way they work over the next five years.
2. Foster innovation
Although economic uncertainty persists, now is the time to put recovery plans in place: we are entering the post-pandemic world, a world where consumer behavior will undoubtedly have changed radically, where companies will consider continuous innovation and agility as essential tools for their survival. The McKinsey & Company study also reveals that most senior executives (85%) believe the COVID-19 pandemic could have a lasting impact on the needs and expectations of their customers.
Moreover, becoming and staying “ready for remote work” represents only the tip of the iceberg of technical innovation for companies, as they must realize the importance of contingency plans and adaptation. new employee expectations. As a result of all this activity, the digitization of products and services, the development of more in-depth consumer data collection methods as well as the continuous improvement of operational efficiency and service quality through technology are nevertheless likely to become priorities throughout 2021.
According to the recent Robert Half study, more than a third of hiring managers (41%) say their company is stepping up its digital transformation because of the pandemic. Meanwhile, nearly a third of respondents specifically cite improving e-commerce capabilities and increasing data analytics (32% and 28% respectively) as priorities for their business in 2021.
3. The importance of agile recruitment strategies to adopt the latest technologies
An agile and flexible recruitment strategy will be key to adopting the latest technologies and ensuring business viability over the coming months. By recruiting the right skills, they will be better positioned to continuously manage and optimize digital transformation initiatives that meet their needs. For example, Robert Half’s study of managers who recruited during the pandemic indicates that almost half (46%) have already recruited candidates with new skills.
As the new year approaches, companies need to assess the strategic skills they need to ensure a rapid post-pandemic recovery and emerge stronger than ever. Their workforce will need to have different IT skills to work in a fully digital environment, including specialized areas like data analytics, machine learning, cyber security , software development, and cloud infrastructure (among others). At the same time, companies will need their employees to continue to hone key cognitive skills, such as problem solving, creativity and innovation, to help them adapt and remain resilient in a changing environment.
