Breakthrough, Dell Technologies’ new thought leadership platform, centers around the idea that true, sustainable breakthrough transformation happens at the intersection of people and technology.
To understand people’s capacity for digital change and gauge the human barriers to digital transformation, Dell Technologies conducted a global survey, which was executed by independent market research company, Vanson Bourne. The study captures people’s behaviors/outlooks and then connects the dots between how these behaviors/outlooks impact their appetite for, and propensity for digital change.
In total, the study surveyed 10,500 senior decision-makers, IT professionals and employees involved in digital transformation projects across 40+ locations around the world. Dell then collaborated with behavioral experts to examine how to navigate transformational change from a human perspective.
This blog summarizes the findings and recommends how solution providers can help their customers build their breakthrough, with people at the forefront, by focusing on greater connectivity, productivity, and empathy.
How “ready” are today’s decision makers for digital transformation?
Dell measured respondents’ readiness for technological change and placed them in the following benchmark groups:
· STEADY: 43% said they are ready to adopt technological change selected by others
· SLOW: 42% admitted they are more inclined to simply observe technology change rather than act
· SPRINT: 10% said they are ready and eager to chase after innovation
· STILL: 5% admitted they have a pessimistic view of innovation based on perceived risk
Taking a bit of a closer look into these respondents:
· 64% report the failure of their digital transformation program is often due to their people
· 56% say they don’t always have the motivation / energy to act on digital transformation in the workplace
Helping customers establish breakthroughs
The time to modernize your customer’s business is now. This is due in large part to the pandemic, which made the necessity to modernize even more urgent. With such sudden pressure, much of the modern workforce is experiencing burnout. And to some extent, that’s to be expected: employees were already struggling against entrenched behavioral barriers to transformation.
Needless to say, there’s work to be done for your customers as it relates to restoring and igniting their workforce to release the innovator in all their employees. As a solution provider, you can help your customers do this, and achieve breakthrough on three frontiers: with connectivity, productivity, and empathy.
1. Break through with Connectivity
· 44% of employees want their leaders to empower them to choose their preferred working pattern and provide the necessary tools and/ or infrastructure
· 58% of respondents in the aforementioned “Still” and “Slow” groups are finding it difficult to collaborate remotely and connect relationally
Everyone must recognize that work is an outcome. With that mindset, it is important that you help guide your customers in providing their employees with consistent and secure experiences, to thrive wherever they work. Additionally, to protect their employee’s leisure time and well-being, encourage them to put up guard rails that consider different needs, interests, and care responsibilities.
2. Break through with Productivity
· 69% look forward to learning new skills and technologies and/or elevating their role by automating more
· 37% say they are currently experiencing mentally stimulating, non-repetitive work
To succeed in the do-from-anywhere economy, your customers need to free their people to focus on what they do best by augmenting human capabilities with more comprehensive automation and on-demand technology consumption. However, remember to allay concerns about technology replacing humans. Work with your customers to proactively communicate how this will elevate people’s roles and create new opportunities and experiences. This way, you can help customers scale their productivity to new heights, putting their employees’ talents to good use, and increase overall workforce satisfaction.
3. Break through with Empathy
· 83% of respondents say their leaders overlook different perspectives and viewpoints
· 34% of employees say their leaders treat staff as dispensable
Encourage your customers build a culture that treats people as their greatest source of creativity and innovation. This means applying empathy to everything — from responsive and trusted technology designs that put the end-user experience first, to thoughtful transformational change programs that drive excitement and purpose.
Digital transformation requires ongoing effort
Your customers can’t afford to lose momentum– which they might, if they overlook their employee’s appetite and propensity for change, or if they simply push forward with an IT strategy that doesn’t put the end-user experience first.
According to the study, 67% believe their organization underestimates the people requirements when planning transformation programs. This figure would indicate that many are tripping over at the point of implementation.
To help your customers succeed in this all-new, do-anything-from anywhere-economy, they must first focus on your peoples’ needs and preferred ways of working and learning. They might be out-of-sight, but they shouldn’t be out-of-mind. As a solution provider, now is the time to help your customers broker more thoughtful partnerships with technology to help release scores of innovators across their workforce.
For more on this study and additional resources to build your breakthrough visit here
