The Digital Adoption Gap. It’s a real thing… let me explain.
With so many organisations going through digital and data transformations, there is a growing gap between the pace at which new technology and tools are onboarded, how quickly these tools can be adopted into the daily use in the workforce, and the promised results vs the actual ROI.
There’s a few reasons for this.
1. Attention spans
Leadership are so keen to take nibbles at the chocolate bar of success, but aren’t seeing the long-game. If only they were willing to wait to really reap the benefits of their transformation – by embedding all elements of the strategy, reviewing and improving – they could be gorging themselves on chocolate (success) for years!
A recent article from Forbes outlines…
“If leaders examined these digital transformation projects with the same level of scrutiny one or two quarters after go-live, the digital adoption gap would take centre stage as the missing link between realizing the promises of these expensive projects and the results achieved.”
2. Asking the wrong questions
Innovation comes in two main forms: ‘Doing things better’ and ‘Doing better things’. a improving current processes, while the latter means adopting new technologies and approaches. Understanding the difference here can be the difference between successful implementation of a transformation strategy and falling short of predicted outcomes and results.
Harvard Business Review recently surveyed 2,500 major companies leveraging machine learning and found…
“Most benefits promised by AI investments fail to materialize. Why? Because companies are rushing into AI solutions (a supposedly better thing) without first determining what things they need to do better.”
Recommended by LinkedIn
3. L&D is not adapting quickly enough
Many organisations are failing to transition from ‘Learning Provision’ to ‘L&D for Strategic Performance’. Generic training to deliver results in digital transformation doesn’t cut it anymore, leaving a gap between new technology and the skills required for Digital Adoption. The L&D offering needs to be strategic, driven by transformational objectives, and bespoke to the challenges being faced.
David James , Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning and former Director of L&D at The Walt Disney Company highlights that…
“The problem we find ourselves in now is that L&D is now being held to account for upskilling and reskilling large parts of the workforce, in the face of widening skills gaps.”
4. Evaluation for the nation
Why would you bother to embed new technology, new skills, new processes, a whole new strategy... and then not put in place an evaluation and feedback loop?
Many organisations' digital transformation strategies are falling apart because the new tools and technologies aren't actually being used to their full potential. This is partly a user adoption piece, but partly down to a lack of effective evaluation.
The global market for Digital Transformation technology is set to hit a mind-boggling £1,400 Billion by 2030. With such huge investment, feedback and evaluation processes will be critical to maximise ROI. Evaluation can make or break digital transformation strategies.
In could go on about this all day, to be honest, but will leave it there for now.