The backdrop needs no introduction but 2022 is likely to see the biggest change in decades. Supply chain issues, shortages, global inflation and the many implications of war and Covid have changed everything. This is reflected in the business world in which we all operate. We can talk first hand of this from the projects we are undertaking for clients and there are several common themes worth discussing.
Talent – or the shortage thereof is a big topic as our industry struggles to keep up with the demand for skilled individuals, while also trying to balance diversity, inclusion, and all other aspects of an ever-changing workforce.
A Company’s success will stand or fall on a motivated and skilled workforce who is empowered and loyal. To facilitate this and retain good talent, employers, need to offer a rich experience by managing expectations and accommodating new ways of working, complete with the right mix of incentives. Employers also need to equip teams with an innovative and digital experience.
Every employee needs to be tech-savvy as it is a ubiquitous requirement as digitisation is pervasive across the business. So, training and talent development are a key component of providing the right experience to keep good staff. The human factor cannot be under-estimated when attracting and retaining critical employees who possess the right skills – investment in technology plays an important part in providing them the experience they want, need, and deserve.
Here at ReInforce Technology, we have been working with some of our consultants for nigh on 20 years which is a sound reflection of their level of experience and passion for the technology. It also represents the culture that is so important to me, that of trust and integrity. Reliability and respect. These enable us to provide the very best service to our clients who may be suffering from a talent shortage themselves and need our services to backfill requirements.
Workplace – with so many versions of the new “hybrid-working” how do you plan your working spaces to ensure they are cost effective and efficient? This is where data comes into play
It is no longer “enough” to place a screen and speaker phone in the shared office space and think that will do. Companies need to look at all their workers, all their offices, manufacturing plants, warehouses and all their working spaces and start collating data.
Who is WFH and when they visit a workplace what technology do they need? How often are they within your workplace and do they need smart meeting rooms, conference facilities, sharing and collaboration technologies and access to basic intranets, systems, and facilities? This will enable you to see if you have the right technologies and infrastructure but without the data it is a vague stab in the dark. All this information is vital for planning and lays the foundation for justifying the technology spend for 2022 and beyond.
Adaptability and responsiveness are another key driver for success. Change is happening, it is the response to that change that defines a company’s success. Everything is being digitised and only companies that are ready to embrace that shift, with the infrastructure and technology in place, will shine. Change is inevitable but it is the rate of change that is likely to create a massive workplace re-balance.
This is felt more acutely in the automotive industry, where all the global factors have taken their toll, but also a massive change is reflected in the production line where AI and robotics have created a transformative effect that requires new skills and new equipment.
Our team of specialist consultants have been working in industry for decades and they see the effect of change at the coalface while managing digital transformation and migration projects. They report that businesses with an adaptive mindset are pulling through the disruption more strongly.
We can all become too involved IN the business to look AT the business and yet now more than ever an old-fashioned SWOT can bring into perspective the cause and effect and see where change can be a driver for improvement.