How the COVID Pandemic Changed Digital Transformation

• (Photo : Clayton Richard)

What was initially envisioned as a two-week break has become a two-year revolution in how the entire world works, studies, shops, engages with entertainment, connects with friends and family, receives medical care and more. The need to socially separate as a result of the COVID pandemic has changed almost everything for almost everyone - but it has had a particularly profound effect on how businesses use technology to connect with consumers.

While digital transformation has long been touted as imperative for business success, the pandemic essentially forced businesses to adopt digital technology or die. As a result, businesses transformed their structures in a matter of weeks rather than years, rewriting everything experts thought they knew about how to succeed in digital transformation. Though the pandemic is far from over, business leaders should consider updating their digital business strategy by learning about the latest technologies involved in digital transformations as well as the new rules for transforming successfully amidst COVID-19:

The Sooner, the Faster, the Better

Before COVID, digital transformations were slow, plodding affairs designed to mitigate risks and reduce costs to as close to zero as possible. It wasn't unusual for a digital transformation to span several years - but that timeline no longer works in a post-COVID world. Today, businesses need to transform their digital services in a year or less to remain relevant to consumers. While such speedy digital transformations are costly, companies that harness an effective digital business strategy can see a return on their investment of 5 to 10 times what they spend.

Of course, implementation of advanced technology could still take several years. For instance, large organizations considering the use of autonomous automobiles or drones need to invest in the development of technology and systems before they can put it to use. The most important digital transformation for most businesses in the post-COVID era is becoming mobile-first, followed by ensuring access to the cloud and leveraging as-a-service tech to promote safe, remote work.

More Than a Digital Façade

For years, business leaders have known of the growing importance of digital technology, and many have long signaled the best intentions to transform organizational processes for the digital era. Yet, for many businesses, those intentions failed to lead past a digital front end. As a result, when the pandemic struck, many organizations that lacked a fully digital infrastructure failed to remain connected to the consumer experience.

The bare minimum of digital services isn't enough to keep a business afloat during the pandemic or beyond. An organization needs to commit to transforming both its front and back ends, with fully digital architectures and operating models, to maintain connection to consumers at all times.

Redefining Work

When COVID lockdowns forced organizations to abandon their shared offices, employees suddenly realized how feasible and how enjoyable remote work could be. Before the pandemic, trends indicated an increased interest in remote work, with about 3.2 percent of the U.S. workforce logging into work remotely on a regular basis. In 2021, that number has jumped to 26.7 percent of U.S. employees opting to work remotely - and trends indicate that a significant portion of those workers will choose to remain remote permanently.

Any strategies for digital transformation must include resources for a remote workforce. Though some businesses might need to maintain a shared office space, the use of digital collaboration tools should be able to unite the efforts of employees regardless of their physical location.

Better Than a Master of One

As tempting as it might be to hire a master at the top of their field, businesses benefit greatly by attracting and maintaining a workforce of generalists. Jacks-of-all-trades tend to be more flexible, willing and able to adapt to changes in organization processes, than niche specialists, who might only be capable of performing their duties in a strict manner. Renaissance employees are skilled in multiple areas and feel comfortable picking up new skills, which makes them invaluable during and after a COVID-era digital transformation.

To attract a jack-of-all-trades, an organization needs to be able to provide a meaningful employee experience. Benefits like comprehensive training and continued education are essential to renaissance workers, who also gravitate toward workplace cultures founded on social and environmental sustainability.

COVID changed everything, especially digital transformation. Business leaders in this era and beyond need to commit fully to a digital infrastructure, which will better serve customers and employees. Hiring the right team and training them in digital strategies is critical for finding success in the post-COVID world.