Is Digital Transformation an Inside Job?
By Change is not always embraced, but in today’s technology landscape, digital transformation in most instances is receiving a hero’s welcome. Digital transformation is not something to take lightly, as it is a vital component to evolving a firm’s network, IT department and more, touching the data center and conference room, to the c-suite and the contact center. Change is at hand, but how do businesses address this burgeoning trend?
In a recent Transforming Network Infrastructure Community poll we posed the question, “How do you adapt to the combination of new technology offerings and new demands from your customer?” and needless to say, your responses were quite illuminating.
Let’s start with the bottom of the totem pole, with the selection receiving only 10 percent of support, or exactly what you shouldn’t do: “Do nothing and hope it all goes away.” Sure, we’ve all had those days where playing ostrich feels like a pretty good idea, but trust me, it never is – especially, when it comes to customer demands and dabbling in new technology. Burying one’s head in the sand and hoping for the best is a sure fire way of shooing away customers and future forward team members.
I expected the third highest vote getter to garner a bit more support than it did, but at least at 20 percent selecting a “Trusted reseller or system
integrator to make suggestions and assist implementation,” received the responses it did. If dealing with a trusted reseller, particularly when looking into deploying new technology, they should be extremely knowledgeable on the subject matter, making them a legitimate resource for your implementation. This number of responses truly surprised me.
Moving up the standings, “Current employees handle research & implementation” earned thirty percent of responses. Sure, in a perfect world your firm has a team member capable of working the cutting edge in networking or software defined solutions, for example, but this is best case scenario. It’s always good to place faith in one’s team; certain arenas simply require expertise. It’s always better to build off of a foundation of “I know” rather than “I think.” If there’s a team member with the time, education and ability to put the pieces together, phenomenal, otherwise, turn to the experts.
The top response to our poll was “Hire new talent to implement new systems,” at 40 percent. A couple observations: 1) do we want the new guy building a key component of our business? 2) Do we have the resources to bring in a new team member or members? Aside from the above shade, hand picking an up and coming engineer, coder, integrator or the like could prove a perfect fit. It depends on resources on hand and available talent.
No matter how you choose to take the change digital transformation and new technology cause, it is important to keep putting one foot in front of the other. We live in a digital era where software is feasting on all points of technology.
Are you coming along for the road trip? Or choosing to stick your head in the sand?
Don’t forget to let your voice be heard in this month’s poll: “In today’s digital transformation business environment, do you find the physical infrastructure team and networking team at your company collaborating?”!
If you’d like to learn more about the digital transformation, be sure to check out TMC and Crossfire Media’s newest conference and expo, Communications 20/20, happening July 18-20 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The event will focus on the next wave of technology and innovations that will transcend the importance of person to person contact, disrupting the future of the entire communications industry. Find out more HERE.
Edited by Alicia Young
