‘Begin as you mean to go on’ is one of those catch phrases that captures the zeitgeist now and then. Never more so than at this cusp of digital transformation that we’re facing. And in particular, for businesses that want to stay relevant.
There can be a lot of fear around adopting a modern workplace especially when it comes to incorporating digital technology such as a hosted unified communications (UC) solution into your evolving workplace environment. And for a good reason. The risk of choosing the wrong-fit product or investing in a poor implementation model is real. And the impact can be costly.
In this post, we lay some foundations around the basics of what digital transformation and UC are, why they are so important and some key tips about getting the transition started right.
What is Digital Transformation?
Most people have a general sense of what this phrase means. The modern workplace has changed. A Deloitte Insights article in their The Future of Work series explains that a new generation (Generation Z) is poised to enter the workforce and they bring an unprecedented level of technology skills. And technology continues to disrupt how we behave and respond. B2C apps are shifting to B2B. The evolution of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) is massive and both a liberation and a strain on businesses. It’s about new business models that align with digital technologies and worker expectations.
We take the definition of digital transformation from our technology partner, Microsoft, as a good summary of what it means. “Reimagining how you bring together people, data, and processes. These are the scenarios for creating value for your customers and maintaining a competitive advantage in a digital-first world.”
Why is Digital Transformation so Important?
The number one reason is relevance. The world is changing, and you are either leading the way or falling behind. You can read more about this in our blog on how a unified communications strategy as part of your digital transformation can impact customer engagement, empowers employees, optimises operations, secures your business and enables business growth.
And if you want harder reasons to transform your workplace, bear in mind that businesses already advanced in their digital transformation generate an average of $100 million more in additional operating income each year than those who lag behind, according to a Microsoft insight piece.
How does Unified Communications (UC) fit into the Digital Journey?
UC is precisely what it sounds like. A way of coordinating how people communicate and collaborate every day. It includes everything from devices, email, chat, video, and voicemail to document sharing platforms, data, business tools and systems integration. As the modern office becomes more fragmented, global and remote managing all these interactions becomes vital.
We are on the cusp of that ‘begin as you mean to go on’ moment. In workplaces where communications and systems are not integrated, staff feel the pressure. At the recent Microsoft Inspire Conference, it was reported that:
- 80% of users say they are less productive than they were five years ago
- 78% of first time workers feel disconnected with their organisation’s digital strategy
- 84% of users use non-IT sanctioned applications in the workplace
That kind of ‘beginning’ herald’s employee dissatisfaction and business chaos. Other issues concomitant with poorly implemented UC include:
- Losing control of your data due to security risks and breaches
- Silo systems, meaning employees have information stored in different locations and devices
So how do you handle this transition in the best way possible? It’s a big question, one that can’t be tackled in one blog post alone. But here are our three essential tips to get you started:
1. Know how your team works and how you want them to work
Which platforms or services do your remote workers or off-site jobs need?
What systems do you need to support collaboration? What is the current culture around communication and how do you want to evolve this?
2. Don’t rush into a decision or buy a solution at face value
This is so important. A single product is rarely the answer. The modern workplace is changing very quickly so investing big dollars in what you hope will be a one-off, fix-all solution might not bring you solid long-term results. You need to take the time to understand what you need and what you might need in the future. The best strategy is to partner with a provider that is in this space and knows it inside out.
3. It’s not about replacing business processes but making them better
Your focus must be on what your business needs, not on changing your business. Always come back to your business goals and values and find digital workplace solutions to support those – not the other way around.
How Nexon can help?
As a managed service provider, Nexon provides comprehensive services from LAN to SIP and everything in between. It’s a shared financial risk model with minimal upfront costs, so you pay as you go/pay as you grow. We work with you in a way that is scalable and flexible. Read our whitepaper to learn more.
Nexon Absolute offers a truly comprehensive solution. This suite of Microsoft Office 365 complementary services are delivered through a managed service. Anything that can be delivered through Microsoft O365, is and anything outside of that is delivered separately. But for you – the user – the experience is completely seamless.
We are passionate about helping businesses to embark on this exciting digital transformation journey. Find out more about how Nexon Absolute can deliver a fully featured UC environment wrapped up in a managed service, shared risk model. Get in touch today or register for a free, 30-day trial.
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