Digital upskilling is the process of giving employees the skills and knowledge they need to progress in an increasingly tech-driven world. Without it, both individuals and businesses risk falling behind and ultimately losing out to competitors.
Since digital transformation took hold, there has been much speculation about the impact technology could have within traditional industries. And while it’s a stretch to say that robots will replace human jobs, the pace of change is such that skill gaps can quickly appear if workers don’t adapt to the changing digital landscape fast enough.
For employers, you owe it to both your business and your employees to make digital upskilling a priority. Giving your people the right skills to perform in a digital-first world is crucial to long-term growth and success.
To help you get digital upskilling right, we’ve put together this useful resource, which sets out how to make a success of this now essential business strategy.
Quick Links
- How to Recognise Your Company’s Digital Skill Gap
- Digital Upskilling: Which Skills Should Your Business Focus On?
- How Can Business Management Software Support Digital Upskilling?
How to Recognise Your Company’s Digital Skill Gaps
Every business has skill gaps. And since digital transformation came to the fore, many firms have found themselves having to adapt more quickly to changing digital trends, technologies, and ways of working.
Digital upskilling is all about being able to adapt to emerging technologies. In making sure your employees are up to speed with the latest industry best practices, you’ll be better placed to lead from the front when it comes to utilising digital tech.
In order to be adaptable, however, you first need to discern where your strengths and weaknesses lie. Identifying skill gaps is a critical part of digital upskilling, showing you where to allocate resources for training and skill-building.
To identify recurring skill gaps in your organisation, here are a few tell-tale signs that digital upskilling may be overdue:
- Slow processing and lack of innovation – is your team slow to complete tasks and projects? Have they created workarounds in order to complete a job? Perhaps deadlines are regularly missed? Or maybe your fulfilment times are down in some areas, and particularly compared to competitors? This suggests that your teams may be reliant on outdated tools and processes, and may lack the knowledge or technologies to develop an alternative.
- Poor problem-solving – do you often find yourself answering questions from subordinates? Maybe your day-to-day operations are constantly hindered by problems encountered by staff? Technology is all about solving problems quickly, so if teams aren’t up to speed with the latest platforms and tools, this could hamper efficiency. Or if the appropriate technologies aren’t available to them, then it may be time to rethink your business solutions. Digital upskilling will teach your people to utilise modern tech to solve day-to-day issues.
- Unmotivated workforce – ambitious professionals want to work for progressive brands that utilise the latest technologies to get things done. If your teams are constantly struggling with outdated systems, or lack the knowledge and experience to branch out into other areas, they feel unmotivated, causing productivity to take a hit as a result. Investing in your staff and your tech infrastructure is one way to keep your people on side.
Digital Upskilling: Which Skills Should Your Business Focus On?
In the future, almost every industry will need to plug gaps in its knowledge base to keep pace with changing technologies. And as cutting-edge technologies like AI continue to progress, it’s impossible to predict how digital tech will transform how we work in the future.
Still, from the current digital landscape alone, it’s clear some skills are more in demand than others, and look set to become more of a mainstay down the road. So, for any business looking to help their employees embrace digital upskilling, the following skills are worth considering:
Blockchain
What is it?
Blockchain is a distributed database spread across a computer network. It stores information in a digital format and is considered one of the securest ways of sharing data between multiple parties. It’s becoming increasingly common, particularly in finance and technology industries.
Why is it a good candidate for digital upskilling?
The world is only just waking up to the potential capabilities of blockchain technology, so for progressive organisations, this could prove a lucrative point of focus. Currently, blockchain is utilised predominantly in banking, finance, health care, legal and crypto industries, though its applications could reach further.
AI
What is it?
AI, artificial intelligence, should need little by way of introduction. It refers to machine intelligence and learning, wherein a computer instructs a robot or machine to complete a task traditionally performed by a human. The potential uses of AI are near-limitless.
Why is it a good candidate for digital upskilling?
Artificial intelligence is often viewed with scepticism (perhaps because of its nefarious role in the sci-fi genre) but as one of the fastest-growing technologies on Earth, it can’t be ignored. According to LinkedIn, hiring in the field of AI rose by 74% over the past five years, which further demonstrates its potential.
AI stands to transform a plethora of industries, from medicine and robotics, to marketing, engineering, and manufacturing. While AI is not normally associated with ERP systems when you look at the definition of AI and the problem-solving capabilities of modern ERP solutions, it’s clear that AI will, in time, play a big role in your business.
Cloud computing
What is it?
Cloud computing refers to the on-demand availability of computer systems and applications, wherein you can access data storage and computing power without the physical presence of a data centre. It’s rapidly becoming an essential part of modern business infrastructure, allowing brands big and small to harness advanced computing and technologies.
Why is it a good candidate for digital upskilling?
Today, most businesses recognise the value of cloud computing, but how many are actively training their staff to better utilise the technology? The possibilities of cloud tech are virtually limitless, from managing web services and APIs, to infrastructure maintenance, data security, and UI design.
If we were to recommend upskilling your staff in any digital technology, it would be this.
UI and UX design
What is it?
UI and UX refer to user experience, wherein the purpose is to design interfaces, software, and devices that maximise usability, functionality, engagement, and interaction. The applications of UI and UX are plentiful, to the point where businesses in most industries can extract value from it.
Why is it a good candidate for digital upskilling?
From building websites to developing processes and information architecture; UI and UX roles are at the forefront of the digital revolution. If any of your team have expressed an interest in user experience, helping them to upskill in UI and UX can bring a range of benefits to your operations – from increased revenue and conversions on your eCommerce site, to an improved data architecture that can better support your ambitions for growth.
This isn’t an exhaustive list of progressive new skills that are a good fit for upskilling. Cybersecurity, software development, machine learning and data analysis all look set to play increasingly prominent roles in the industry landscape, so be sure to align your digital upskilling strategy with the requirements of your business.
How Can Business Management Software Support Digital Upskilling?
Investing in advanced, future-fit technologies like ERP systems exposes your workforce to the capabilities of next-generation digital software. It gives them a platform on which to develop their skills and understanding of digital tech, which will only bring greater value to your operations in the longer term.
ERP software like Intact iQ was developed to help firms utilise next-generation applications not tomorrow, but today. Many of the in-built solutions offered by ERP software lie at the future of digital, so introducing your employees to this type of technology is a great way to help develop their skills.
The speed of technological change means that digital upskilling is no longer a preference, but a requirement. Taking a proactive stance and embracing the challenge of keeping pace with new technologies is the best way to stay ahead of the curve and glean the greatest commercial advantage from the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
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