If you’re thinking of technology deployment within your company, considering this quote is a good place to start from:
“Clearly, the thing that’s transforming is not the technology — it’s the technology that is transforming you.” – JEANNE W. ROSS, MIT SLOAN, CENTER FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH
This quote captures the essence of our evolving relationship with technology. Every day brings change. While new technology holds tremendous potential for businesses, the deployment of such innovations can pose significant challenges. How can companies effectively harness this technology? How can they manage the influx of new data? Also, how can they ensure that operational and back-office staff feel engaged and empowered throughout the transition?
Has the ‘Proof of Concept’ had its day?
In the past 18 months, we’ve observed a notable shift. More businesses are moving beyond mere testing of new digital solutions to actively deploying them. Many are realising impressive benefits, with some achieving productivity gains of over 250%. Instead of asking what the technology is or how to run a proof of concept, the common questions have shifted. Now, they ask, “How did they achieve that?” and “How can we replicate their success?”
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Successful deployments often depend on a mix of context, vision, and ownership. This must be coupled with a determined and pragmatic attitude.
- Context involves understanding your current operations, identifying processes ripe for immediate improvement, and determining the right teams to engage first. It also involves strategising the broader rollout.
- Vision relates to envisioning the potential impact of digital transformation. It’s crucial to define what data will provide the most value. Additionally, how it will be presented and how it will inform decision-making as you adapt to using new data needs to be considered.
- Ownership means empowering individuals within the organisation to champion the new workflows. This includes a mix of executive leadership and frontline staff who can drive realistic goals and enable successful implementation. Embracing change requires focusing on what can be influenced and understanding how technology can serve both employees and customers.
Practical Results
From our experience with customer trials, here are three key areas where organisations find clarity early in their evaluation of new tech solutions. These pave the way for successful deployment:
1. New Needn’t Mean Difficult
Digital transformation is more of a mindset than a checklist of tasks. It’s an ongoing journey of adaptation and improvement. Companies that embrace new digital workflow tools don’t adhere to the “don’t fix what isn’t broken” mindset. Instead, they actively seek ways to leverage technology for greater efficiency and simplicity.
For instance, during a recent trial, a company digitised a waste removal process. This enhanced accountability and speed in addressing blockages. By creating a digital “Urgent Clean Up Request,” they achieved immediate visibility and analytics, such as request frequency and specific locations, which previously went untracked.
2. Start Small, Learn Fast, Grow Quickly
Successful deployments often begin with small teams tackling visible processes that demonstrate quick value. This approach allows for rapid learning and adaptation. Rather than using new tools for complex tasks from the outset, organisations should first understand the capabilities of the technology through straightforward applications.
Engaging frontline staff throughout the process not only provides valuable feedback but also fosters a sense of ownership and collaboration. Digital processes can be adapted swiftly, allowing for quick iterations based on user input, which traditional paper processes often hinder.
3. Visualise the Outcome
Define what you want to achieve, why it’s important, and how the data will be utilised. Early discussions about the desired outcomes help maintain focus on delivering value throughout the deployment journey.
This applies not only to operational processes but also to training. Here, seasoned employees can share their knowledge with new hires. By providing immediate data on contractors’ progress, businesses can maintain compliance and safety standards.
Real-Time Reporting Eases Pressure on Staff
Transitioning from cumbersome reporting processes to real-time data collection reduces the pressure on staff. They can then focus on their core responsibilities. Implementing automatic reporting saves time and improves accuracy. This benefits operational staff, contractors, and customers alike.
Companies that succeed in new technology deployment often have a clear vision that evolves as they progress. Look for digital workflow solutions designed for seamless integration and automatic reporting to maximise the value of your data.
The Right Partnership
Finally, choosing the right software partner is critical. Look for a partner that shares your goals and can adapt to your needs. This will enable you to maintain momentum in your transformation efforts. A like-minded partnership can greatly enhance your digital journey.
“It’s no longer the big beating the small, but the fast beating the slow.” — Eric Pearson, CIO, International Hotel Group (IHG)