Vladimir Lupenko, CEO and co-founder of Impress.
getty
I’ve found that technology is at the heart of any successful business, whether it’s products, marketing, sales, communications, design, or people management. Digital transformation is constantly evolving and changing the way organizations work, so it’s important to embrace these technologies by changing our business mindset.
Why is a tech-first strategy important?
By using technology and putting it at the forefront of business plans, companies can do less costs and inefficienciesincrease productivity, improve work experiencesimprove the customer journey and accelerate product creation.
Internally, the cloud has revolutionized the way the world does business: employees around the world can access, edit, and share files anytime, anywhere. Giving employees the freedom to work from anywhere has become a standard in many modern companies, but the only way to truly achieve a successful hybrid business model is through technology, so deciding which apps are essential can not only improve productivity, but also reduce costs.
Technology is also essential as it is one of the best cyber hack prevention tools: cybersecurity technology can help mitigate threats. Old-fashioned security, firewalls and antivirus software are no longer always strong enough to protect against modern, sophisticated cyber-attacks. To make technology a core part of your business strategy, consider adding cybersecurity tools and training throughout your organization. This means that all employees are aware of the security tools, how to use them efficiently and, most importantly, receive training on how to recognize cyber threats before they become a serious problem for the company.
How else can you strategically implement technology in your organization?
Research technologies that will solve problems.
Your reasons for implementing technology should remain the same as any other business strategy for the benefit of the user. Whether the user is an employee or a customer, technology should be used to improve customer experiences or increase employee workload. After you define your user, you can decide which technology is right for you. Ask yourself what the leaders in your industry are doing and if you can do it better.
For example, my company, Impress, has identified both orthodontists and patients as our users in the orthodontics industry. We implement technology in various parts of the check-up process to create a seamless experience for the orthodontist, and the process is monitored through an app to provide convenience to patients. We found that replacing traditional, physical appointments with digitally native alternatives also removes the need for unnecessary clinic visits, creating convenience for the end user.
Evaluate your current technology and remove everything that is not needed.
Once you’ve identified which technologies are essential, it’s important to evaluate your current technology and use hyper-automation where possible. Hyperautomation is a “business tool used to identify and control, or automate, as many IT processes as possible… use multiple technologies and make them all work together seamlessly, without human input… In short, anything that is repetitive can and should be automated, which saves time and money and gets the end product to your customers and clients faster.”
Train your employees in new technologies.
New technologies can be complicated to understand, so it’s important to create engaging training programs for your employees. Remember to ask for feedback at every stage of the training process and encourage questions from your employees. If they can’t grasp the new technologies, chances are the end-user experience will be inconsistent.
Prepare to launch.
As with any kind of launch, don’t forget to start a pilot project to make sure the technology you’ve selected solves the problem it needs. If not, please ask why not. Is it the right technology for you? It’s not until you’ve tried and tested the technology that you can truly understand if it’s right for your business.
There will always be challenges when introducing a new technology into your business, but I believe it is essential that you do so to stay ahead of the competition and position yourself as a leader in your industry. Technology is constantly changing and those who don’t keep up with the changes may be left behind.
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