Why DIGITAL WORKFLOWS are the KEY TO CREATING AN ENGAGED, INSPIRED WORKFORCE
Technology puts the world at our fingertips—with a click and a swipe, we can have a pizza delivered, book a flight to Japan, or even find a date. But the way we work seems stuck in a time warp. In the office, we deal with clunky, complex processes that frustrate and demotivate employees. And disillusioned, unmotivated people simply don’t bring their best to the business. The technology we encounter at work has to catch up with the real world for organizations to thrive.
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As technology disrupts nearly every industry, in nearly every sector, businesses worldwide are confronted with a single, possibly existential, question: how do we make this digital evolution work for—and not against—us? This is where digital transformation comes in. Once a corporate buzzword, digital transformation is now a strategic imperative.
Digital transformation: going beyond the buzzword
What do we mean when we talk about digital transformation? Digital transformation goes far beyond chasing the latest bit of tech or plugging gaps with widgets and apps. This is the type of misguided interpretation of that leads to wasted technology investments. True transformation requires thinking holistically about how to integrate digital workflows into every corner of the company—all while putting employees at the heart of the journey.
“When I say digital transformation, I mean digitally connecting with customers, providing a better digital experience for employees, and using digital workflows to drive productivity and efficiency,” says John Donahoe, CEO, ServiceNow. “This means businesses can dedicate their scarce resources, talent and capital to innovating for their customers—and not dealing with the complexity of running a global enterprise.”
And yet, with this renewed focus on customer experience—heightened and enhanced by advanced technologies—organizations can make the mistake of overlooking the employee experience. According to Donahoe,“You can’t deliver a great customer experience, unless you have great employees. And in this day and age, you can’t attract and retain the best employees, unless you provide the best employee experience.”
Creating a workplace that works for your employees
Today’s employees are also sophisticated consumers who expect high-quality, high-tech, customer-centric services and experiences. And creating a sophisticated digital environment where employees feel valued and motivated requires a company-wide effort. CIOs can’t simplify, streamline and automate in isolation. Individual members of the C-suite, including the CEO and CHRO, must collaborate if they want to create the experiences we’re used to having at home and deliver them flawlessly to their employees.
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The workplaces of tomorrow will be mobile-centric, consumer-like and employee-focused. Real-time insights (thanks to artificial intelligence and machine learning) will continue to accelerate human potential and decision-making. Intelligent technology that predicts where things are going, working alongside integrated, digital workflows, will help businesses stand out from the crowd. And consumer-grade mobile experiences at work, the kind we’re used to at home, will soon become the norm. So, too, will supercharged productivity and efficiency.
“When I am trying to drive digital transformation, what I look for is something that can drive speed, intelligence and great experiences,”says Chris Bedi, CIO, ServiceNow. “And ideally these are all on one platform.”
The bottom line
Successful digital transformation is hard work. Organizations have to re-design and digitize their workflows, with employees at the core, and mindsets have to shift across boardrooms and borders. But it will lead not only to greater efficiency and profitability, but to increased happiness, engagement and retention of staff. It’s a continuous journey and an ongoing strategic necessity; but it’s worth the ride.
Ready to embark on your own digital transformation? Visit Workflow for more insights into how technology is transforming business, and discover how ServiceNow can help you transform the employee experience by transforming your IT.
