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Unexpected Ways Digital Technology Creates People-Focused Businesses

– Contributed content –

2 May 2017. In a business environment, it can be difficult to identify which factors are more important than others to the success of a company. Skills, strategies, high-quality technical solutions and varied professional experience are among the preferred success factors. However, with the apparition of the digital revolution during the last previous century, it has become obvious that the digitalization of tasks could save time and improve productivity, therefore creating another path to success. What companies have failed to identify so far is that digital technology can also be used as a tool to maximize the human capital in the business world.

A reminder: The basis of the digital revolution

The digital revolution has changed the way businesses operate, and the way individuals interact with businesses. From turning to your favorite search engine – Google, as it is used by over 90% of the world’s population – to find answers to personal and professional questions, to sending a message on Twitter to a business partner about an upcoming event, it makes no doubt that communication and thinking patterns exist primarily in the digital world. As a result, it is essential to keep business functions digital too, such as the ability to pay online, to manage a client’s account, or to share the latest products and company news.

Smartphone screen

(Maxpixel/FreeGreatPicture.com)

Making the most of the human capital

However, digital technology doesn’t need to be limited to business interactions and can be focused on boosting the potential of the team. Indeed, using organizational tools, such as the organizational design software from Pingboard, allows a company to build an interactive platform for collaboration for the teams. Employees are able to build professional networks and to find helpful connections within the company. More importantly, their specialist skills are visible and can be called to join a variety of cross-team projects. This form of collaborative approach is otherwise impossible with static org charts that don’t support exchange.

Creating a sense of loyalty

Loyalty is a big word when it comes to employee retention. However, loyalty is earned, like most things, and will require the employee to experience a feeling of belonging. At a psychological level, it is called the psychology of communities. The creation of an internal site, a forum, or a digital project board where employees can share common interests and ideas freely is an effective way of building a company community. However, it is essential to understand that social belonging is not specifically triggered by a job title. What brings employees together could be a desire to improve the company kitchen, a need to organize social events, or much more. Being able to exchange ideas at this level helps people to integrate within the company and to feel one of the team.

Tapping into the emotional well

Finally, digital technology can also be used to simulate a new reality. Maximizing the power of virtual reality is a smart way of going beyond what exists to show what could be. For scientists, it is a method employed to test the validity of certain hypotheses. In any other business constellation, virtual reality can tap into the emotional well of individuals by sharing a dream with them. The emotional engagement can often lead to stronger impacts than a reasoned theory.

Virtual reality headset

(HammerAndTusk/Pixabay)

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