Digital transformation is a concept that is continually evolving. Now, it’s gaining even more traction as our world adapts to the pandemic. Today, COVID-19 is pushing industries towards digital transformation. Want to know more about what this could mean for your organization? Keep reading, discover how digital transformation is changing the way we live and work through this time.
State of digital transformation
First, let’s look at what the state of digital transformation was before the pandemic. Most people know that digital transformation isn’t a new initiative. Many companies already had digital transformation efforts in place before the start of the pandemic.
Research shows that 70% of companies have a digital transformation strategy in place or are working on one. These strategies are essential for businesses that want to stay on top because technology plays a vital role in almost everything we do.
The COVID-19 Impact on Digital Transformation
While much about the state of the world has been uncertain, the pandemic’s impact on digital transformation is clear. Despite what’s going on with the economy, an OpsRamp survey from early April shows that 58% of companies expect to either “significantly” or “moderately” increase their annual technology budgets.
Due to the sudden shifts in the way we operate, organizations know they need to modernize processes and embrace new technologies. This understanding is, in part, because of the way the pandemic has changed our day to to day lives.
We need to adapt to our new normal, and leveraging technology can go a long way to help us do that. This need is what’s accelerating digital transformation process organizations across several industries. Companies of all kinds have to embrace change to continue their operations.
Driving Forces Behind Digital Transformation
Here’s a closer look at some of the changes driving this transformation.
Work from home boom
According to a Workhuman survey, only one-third of Americans were working from home before the start of the pandemic. Now, in roles where this is possible, the majority of employees are working from home. This rush to remote work was challenging for companies that didn’t have the infrastructure to manage their team this way. Now, all companies are seeing the benefits of using tools to support a distributed workforce.
Many popular conferences and events are also going virtual during this time. To avoid cancellations, organizations have had to change their plans altogether. They’ve put new technologies in place to keep the events going, and they’ve come up with new ways for participants to engage.
Telehealth
Telehealth limits contact. As a result, advancing these technologies can help slow the spread of the virus. That’s why this space is seeing a massive spike of unexpected growth. A recent survey by Sykes provided exciting insights about telehealth. Almost 75% percent of those surveyed said they weren’t familiar with telehealth services, and most people haven’t tried telehealth. However, about 66% of people say that the pandemic has increased their willingness to employ virtual care.
This awareness and willingness to use this type of care drastically increase demand. To keep up, healthcare organizations have to embrace digital transformation. They also have special considerations to keep in mind, as this transformation isn’t just internal. Healthcare organizations have to make this care as accessible as possible to ensure that their patients can get the help they need.
Remote learning
The switch to remote learning is also driving digital transformation. K-12 and college-level education are now happening online, and the market is booming. The learning market is forecasting a growth from $176.12 billion in 2017 to reach $398.15 billion by 2026. Beyond this, there are other types of learning happening online.
Much like virtual conferences, corporate learning and development are also undergoing significant changes right now. As companies work to keep their teams informed and engaged, most new learning and training must take place virtually. Many companies are in the process of trying new products and processes to support these efforts.
While these are some of the most impactful changes that have come with the pandemic, they’re far from the only ones. Every industry is feeling the impact. The question is: how can you effectively work towards digital transformation in your organization? To answer this, you must understand what successful digital transformation is.
Putting It All Together: Digital Transformation in Times of Crisis
In previous posts on this topic, we’ve said that real digital transformation is about more than technology. Our assertion is more relevant now than ever. Organizations aren’t adopting new technology for the sake of doing so. The changes are now a necessity and borne out of a desire to overcome our shared challenges.
As you make a move to new technologies, keep this in mind. Think about what your organization genuinely needs to improve processes and adapt. These changes aren’t just to get through the coming weeks and months. They can set your organization up for success for years to come.
Moving Towards Digital Transformation
Ready to start the digital transformation process for your organization? Unosquare is a trusted partner for these projects. Our experience has proven that a successful digital transformation strategy needs to focus on two things. First, your strategy must include ways to manage evolving business goals. These strategies also need to account for the cultural change that comes with those advancements. Using our proven Distributed Agile Framework, our software development engineers provide the external perspective, agility, and understanding required for real innovation.
When you partner with Unosquare, you’ll have access to skilled software development professionals, Business Analysts, SCRUM Masters, Quality Assurance Engineers, and all the ancillary roles for delivery of your strategy. Each of us at Unosquare is directly accessible to your project stakeholders. We also live and work in your time zone and have the support and training from one of the world’s best global software development companies. To learn more about how we can help you accelerate the digital transformation process, check out our blog.
If you’d like to know more about our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, you can read our post on the topic here.
