Question

What are steps that leaders should take in adoption of emerging digital technologies?

Answer 1

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Digital is the way forward, more so as the digital natives join the workforce of countries all across and businesses come to terms with re-opening post the coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, the usage of emerging digital technologies will be adopted at an accelerated pace. Leaders have a significant role in paving the way for a seamless transition into the digital world by leading on the adoption of emerging digital technologies. Some of these steps include:

1. Digital by design: The inception and design of any project or task should be planned as a digital route. The process design would need to ensure that the value chain leverages emerging technologies at every step of the process, instead of implementing the appropriate technology as an after-thought. A leader can effectively guide the team into this agile approach—one which allows for flexibility and feedback to be able to adapt. Proactiveness in designing right pre-empts execution issues or inflexibilities in the systems at a later stage.
2. Define the success factors: Beginning by the end in mind, defining what success looks like is a key factor is doing it first-time-right.
3. Plan and Focus on the Customer Experience: For smooth and seamless customer experience, the technology used needs to be a helper not a hinderer to the customer as well as the employees. For instance, the user journeys need to be mapped to ensure that the suspecting, prospecting, buying, ordering, payment options are one-click simple processes. Therefore, the technology needs to be intuitive and easily upgradable.
4. Communicate and Orient: The teams need to be consistently communicated with and oriented on the digital technology introductions so that everyone is clear on what is to be done and how it is to be done.
5. Employee Education and Learning: Leaders need to prioritize learning and unlearning for their subordinates. The new technologies like IoT (app-based businesses), Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotic Process Automation, blockchain, biometric touch-enabled systems, voice-enabled smart offices and smart homes, 3D printing and so on are newer forms of digital streams. Therefore, ensuring learning sessions, hackathon sessions for teams keep them up-to-date and at their innovative best. The active learning process DNA of a team can change the culture of the team and make them early adopters. This minimizes and eliminates resistance.
6. Pervasive culture of Change/Remediation: Adoption of newer technologies calls for letting go of the fear of unknown and managing the teams’ insecurities positively. Any change can be tough to deal with especially one that can threaten to put people out of employment. No one desires to be made redundant. Therefore, define the desired behaviors and what can be done to achieve it. Follow it up with active change management techniques like regular check-in meets and regular one-on-one sessions with the team to help identify potential risks and plan for mitigation response or the required interventions.