The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 44: Aug/Sept 2019 | Page 31

TECHNOLOGY REVVED UP Why is digital change key to your business growth? By Nathan Baranowski It will come as no surprise to learn that, globally, businesses are investing more in digital transformations than ever before. In fact, internationally, spending on new technologies and services within large organisations is expected to reach $1.97 trillion by 2022. This research, from the International Data Corporation (IDC) also predicts that, in the future, 30 per cent of the top companies worldwide will have allocated a budget equal to at least 10 per cent of their revenue to boost digital strategies. For companies to be spending vast amounts in this way is a good indication of just how important digital transformations are to businesses. The 2019 Gartner CEO survey shows that growth is the biggest priority for leaders today, with 53 per cent of respondents choosing this as the top option. To achieve this, managers are realising that they need to radically alter the structure of their companies, using new technologies to create an efficient, scalable workflow, as well as training employees to implement these changes. The advantages of a digital transformation are threefold: Enabling better customer service, efficient business operations and agile working methods. In today’s fast- paced world, technology forms the basis of most peoples’ day-to-day communications, and nine times out of ten, they’ll expect the companies they buy from to follow suit – taking advantage of new systems and solutions to transform the consumer experience. Of course, for some businesses, this can be challenging to achieve, which is why we work with our clients to understand their businesses and present a solution which takes each organisation’s unique set of needs into account. An incredibly successful project for us has been our work with Playforce, an award-winning children’s playground equipment supplier. By creating a bespoke Windows-based application, we helped the team transition from an incredibly intensive, manual, paper-based design process to a streamlined, automated workflow where consultants had everything they needed at their fingertips. This has significantly reduced the time taken to deliver results for clients, and by delivering a quick, responsive service, Playforce has also seen a significant increase in sales. As you can see from this example, when it comes to digital transformation, it’s not just customers who benefit. Using new technologies such as cloud computing and AI, can help employees to be more effective, leading to a better workflow, increased productivity and faster processes. Take for example, General Electric, which has made the decision to move 70 per cent of its IT into the cloud by 2020. As well as a decrease in running costs, they’ve found that being able to make instant changes to their software applications is helping them to operate flexibly as a business, and to process more quotes and orders as a result. The best thing is that you don’t need to be a large corporation to take advantage of technologies like cloud computing – start- ups can benefit too. In fact, as more and more companies take on new technologies, we are moving from economies of scale to economies of learning – the focus has shifted from investing in resources to implementing agile working. Going digital gives companies the ability to pinpoint where improvements should be made, whether it’s helping employees to work efficiently by cutting down on time wasted or coordinating functions for a faster production process. And by doing so, they can act fast to put what they’ve learnt into practice. In today’s modern age, digital change is essential to business growth, the cost of failing to do so is high. Without this, companies will struggle to keep pace with competitors, stay relevant to consumers and miss out on opportunities. If you don’t make the change, it’s likely that you’ll end up paying the price further down the line - research by consultancy firm McKinsey suggests a 12 per cent reduction in revenue over three years. If you’re looking for help throughout your digital transformation, whether you’re taking your first steps in the process or already have a firm grip on the use of technology, OJO Solutions can work with you collaboratively to make sure you’re getting the most out of your project. Contact us at: [email protected] or by calling 01225 220155. @ojosolutions Transforming organisations through technology We work with you to create, design and develop digital solutions that enable you to improve the way your business operates, as well as adding value to your customer experience. From beautifully designed and functionally rich websites and apps to technology strategies that automate and streamline your business, get in touch to find out how we can digitally enable your organisation. 01225 220 155 CONSULTANCY [email protected] DESIGN DEVELOPMENT ojosolutions.com THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2019 31