ADVICE
Digital transformation spells new opportunities for business professionals
In this digital era, nothing is constant except change. And for business professionals who work in an environment where business and technology often – or in some instances, always – intersect, being equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate emerging and current technologies in business practices is key to staying ahead of the curve.
Digital transformation has become the buzzword for many organisations. It involves the application of technology into business to not only improve their efficiency, but to also improve other aspects of the business, from the customer experience to increasing revenue and enhancing the organisation’s value and competitiveness in a saturated market.
In light of industry demands, numerous universities are offering postgraduate degrees in the field, many of which are designed to prepare students for management roles that tackle business challenges that relate to digital transformation. Some of the knowledge and skills you may gain include developing an expertise in digital technologies and using them to innovate and transform businesses.
| Apr 27 | 3 mins readInstitutions all around the world are offering programmes in the field, including the University of Southern Queensland in Australia and the Goethe Business School in Germany. Students can typically expect a mix of business intelligence and digital skillsets during the programme. Many training companies are also offering training in digital transformation or related areas for professionals who want to brush up their skills in the field. These can take place as in-person or online training and are held over a few days. While topics offered vary according to the organisation that provides them, these can include topics surrounding choosing right on-line channels for client acquisition, making smart investments into digital marketing, developing content marketing, to name a few.
A postgraduate degree in the field is applicable for many roles across various industries, be it the media to oil and gas, and for both small and large organisations across the globe. This can include roles such as digital business analyst, who may be involved in driving traffic to websites and understanding market trends in their respective industries; and digital sales and marketing managers who fuse strategies with technology to meet their organisation’s sales and marketing objectives.
The future is bright for digital transformation
Digital transformation is essential for both the survival and growth of businesses.
The International Data Corporation (IDC) predicts worldwide spending on information and communications technology (ICT) will be US$4.3 trillion in 2020, an increase of 3.6% over 2019. “Commercial and public sector spending on information technology (hardware, software and IT services), telecommunications services, and business services will account for nearly [US]$2.7 trillion of the total in 2020 with consumer spending making up the remainder,” it said in a statement.
IDC’s Customer Insights and Analysis group programme manager Serena Da Rold said their surveys suggest a strong focus on customer experience and on creating innovative products and services driving new ICT investments.
“Companies and organisations across industries are shifting gears in their digital transformation process, investing in cloud, mobility, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, robotics, and increasingly in DevOps and edge computing, to transform their business processes,” she explained.
Meanwhile, a report by US technology company Cisco notes that 78% of businesses surveyed said that achieving digital transformation will become critical to their organisations within the next two years. It becomes apparent that digital or technology-related roles remain important across a myriad of industries.
But a talent shortage can impede that. As such, professionals looking for a way up for their career trajectory may want to consider pursuing their postgraduate study in digital transformation to open the door to wider career options and pave the way for senior roles within an organisation.
ADVICE
