How Rapid Digitization Changed the Way Businesses Are Managed

Over 68% of today's businesses have a web presence through websites or social media pages. This is because digitization allows businesses to foster closer relations, breach new markets, and create excellent contact between customers and within the workforce. However, along with the adoption of digital tools comes the increasing need for business leaders to set better standards for work systems, and invest in upskilling employees to support their adaptation to new technologies.

With that in mind, the evolving nature of digitization has created a gap in skills for many business leaders, hindering their businesses' digital transformation. As 67% of business leaders claim, the inability to digitize companies force them to fall behind more technologically-advanced peers. To address this gap at an educational level, modern business administration programs now focus on current industry trends, including hybrid workforce operations that integrate e-learning and social media platforms. Whereas traditional business courses put an emphasis on how management and business administration intersect, modern programs further equip business leaders with the expertise to manage and retain talent through connecting and engaging their employees in the face of emerging technologies.

As the world ushers in rapid technological developments, the purpose of business leaders has become twofold: to integrate digital practices into their companies and to assist and encourage their workforce to learn these processes. But, what are the changes evident in how businesses operate today?

Here are four ways in which rapid digitization changed the way businesses are managed:

Leading hybrid teams
Hybrid work arrangements necessitate the need for business leaders to adopt new behaviors and practices. This is because it’s crucial to consider employee preferences into making sure these new work practices are implemented properly. A determinant of this success is the use of the right communication channels. Because hybrid setups factor in organizational distance, information should be clearly distributed. This pertains to regular interaction and feedback, better monitoring of teamwork processes and member contributions, and a quicker detection of errors and issues. One way to manage complex tasks is through asynchronous tools such as video conferencing or an omnichannel forum to ensure all your employees are getting equal support across different digital platforms.

Making the necessary structural changes to teams
A successful digital business transformation can be realized through strategy, leadership, and a strong organizational culture. This means businesses should reflect the commitment of senior management to break traditional workforce boundaries, as well as motivate employee involvement in the process. This will result in a re-imagined workplace, one where companies can adopt a project-based approach to promote independence and growth among their employees. As such, employees are given a higher sense of responsibility, increasing their engagement in future tasks. Furthermore, business leaders can also offer aid by empowering project managers or team leaders to clarify potential issues, and ensure there is technological or infrastructural support when necessary changes have to be made.

Training employees for new platforms
Hybrid operations are not without obstacles, especially since they incorporate new platforms into their daily processes. Employees must learn to balance being proficient in the processes specific to emerging digital tools such as collaboration apps and virtual meetings, as well as gearing themselves to be more efficient despite the changing landscape of their workplace. As such, business leaders need to invest in educational resources or additional skills training for their employees. This not only reinforces opportunities for professional growth, but it also means their people’s well-being and productivity are prioritized. Some of these online platforms include time management applications that help oversee and monitor individual tasks and team projects, as well as collaboration tools that promote strong communication between workers, customers, and even business partners.

Maintaining customer relationships virtually
The advent of digital technologies empowered online retail and financial services. Not only that, it has opened a new avenue to boost customer and employee relations. One way is through social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn— which are utilized to increase engagement. Not to mention, e-commerce sites equip customers with the ability to compare, research, and purchase products online. This means businesses are granted access to data-driven insights on their target market’s behaviors, preferences, and reviews. This also prompts quick responses to customer queries that help sustain trust and provides vital feedback that can inform how future marketing campaigns are crafted going forward.

If you want to make an effort to further streamline operations for your hybrid workforce, and promote team cohesion in the process, consider Moore Business Services. Here, we facilitate better task management practices and guide you into creating productive team schedules.
 
 
 
Article written by Royce Anne James
Exclusively for Moore Business Services, LLC