Digitalisation of businesses: Supporting your team
How do you carry out the digital transformation of a consulting firm and support employees through the change?
Digitizing your consulting firm is a step you need to take. To succeed in the digital transformation of his company, a manager needs to make it a central part of the corporate culture. The business is being transformed every day for the better, but it's crucial to involve employees in these changes and train them.
How can we support them?
1 - Existing practices in your consulting firm
The first thing to do is to analyze what you've already put in place in your consulting firm, and how you're using these tools and processes. This analysis will enable you to see more clearly what is blocking you, what you need to do better, and what methods or systems you are using that are more or less relevant.
What areas for improvement?
Once that's done, you can research what's best for your company. Find the tools your employees will need to accomplish their tasks and be more efficient in their projects. Define the areas of improvement you want to work on, and see if the new processes address these issues and help you achieve your goals.
Who in society is most affected by these changes? How can we help them?
Although managers and executives are the ones to whom employees turn first, they are not the only ones who can take charge of this transformation. It is often wiser and more effective to delegate this to those who have been immersed in technology all their lives, and for whom these "transformations" are not really so. Younger employees are often perfectly qualified to train and support their colleagues. They're familiar with these practices, because they're part of their daily lives.
Concerns :
Some employees, unlike younger ones, are reluctant to change. Adapting to technology can give rise to real fears, and impact on their performance. Managing these employees means listening to them and monitoring their progress, to make sure that everything has been acquired, understood and put into practice, and that they are comfortable with their new processes. These worries are usually exaggerated, and good advice and active listening can help to alleviate them.
Find out how Stafiz meets the needs of a consulting firm.
Read our customer case studies.
2 - Your digital culture
Everyone in your consulting firm is affected by this transformation, and everyone needs to find their role and understand their ever-changing profession.
What does this digital transition mean? What does it involve?
It's a transformation of everything that makes up a company. It has been linked to the rise of technology and the Internet since the early 2000s, and has accelerated in recent years. The use of ICT (information and communication technologies) has changed and brought about transformations in organizations, their culture and processes, and certain professions. These digital changes have one objective: innovation through the dematerialization of tasks and activities, whatever the sector or profession.
These transformations also have economic, strategic and social implications. Internal organization is changed, problems are solved more quickly thanks to technology, and new offers are now possible on a larger scale on the market, hence the considerable economic impact linked to performance, but also to competition. So we need to adapt quickly and keep pace.
How do you create this culture?
Every company instills its own culture in its employees. Today, digital culture is a must. Train your teams on future changes and what digital transformation means for your company.
According to votre-it-facile, it can take several months or even a year to establish this culture. It's not always easy to get used to, whether it's using new platforms and tools, learning a new language, finding one's place in this vast digital universe, or carrying out tasks that change completely. These are generally simplified, but first you have to get used to these new practices.
Businesses are changing, and you have to constantly learn and improve in your field to keep up with the competition (freelancers, start-ups, major groups, etc.).
How to train?
Presentations, workshops, webinars, etc. This training takes place in several stages. It's not just a matter of presenting technological tools in theory, but of accompanying them through to practical application in the field.
You need to be able to present the advantages and disadvantages, and the difficulties that may be encountered.
The aim is to foster collaboration, encourage communication, and inspire innovation.
Teamwork
3 - The employee at the heart of change
The human being is at the heart of the digital world, and it's a question of collaboration between the human being and the machine. This idea of fusion, so to speak, brings with it a change in mentality. This can sometimes be difficult to accept and apply.
According to the Practical Guide, the manager must implement a " specific change management strategy ". This involves putting people at the heart of the process. Doing so helps those affected by apprehension to feel more at ease, and to gradually get into the swing of things.
Today's management methods are more flexible, and communication has its place. In your consulting business, make sure that everyone is listened to, and that their opinions and questions are taken into account.
The aim is to motivate your employees to embrace change, to make them aware of your company's new needs and of what is expected of them as they digitalize their jobs.
Be clear about the organization, the stages, the reasons for each transformation and use of new processes, methods, etc. Give simple instructions, and be aware of the different forms of resistance within your teams.
Highlighting the feelings of team members makes for greater transparency and cooperation. It will then be easier to work together towards common goals.
Here are 3 steps to help your teams adopt these new tools.
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Present changes while remaining open to discussion
Your employees trust you and expect you to show them the way to this transformation. Explain why you need these new tools and how to use them according to each person's role. Show them how this digitalization addresses certain issues identified in your company. Give employees a voice, so that they can express their questions, arguments and, if necessary, dissatisfaction.
Today, managers are expected to manage their teams with flexibility and rigor. Listening and preparation upstream make team members more effective and committed to their work. They are more open to change and ready to adapt and help their colleagues, because their needs are taken into account.
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Motivate
To motivate the troops, you need to present the advantages and positive points of adopting these tools. Explain, for example, that employees' tasks will be simplified and automated, and that they'll finally be able to save time. Let them know that they can always ask questions and request training on elements they haven't yet learned. Address any fears with patience and tact.
Offer your team a long-term vision of the benefits of your consulting firm's digital transformation. Share with them the vision you have for their personal performance and that of the company, showing that thanks to digitalization, new goals can be achieved.
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Collective intelligence
The aim is to have this collective vision, whether internally or with your customers. Digital technology makes it possible to create links with people both near and far, geographically speaking. It's a springboard for closer collaboration between people. It's important to exchange ideas within your company on the different strategies and operating methods you can put in place to maintain and strengthen these links. But above all, to work in a unified way.
Technology makes it possible to share skills and expertise remotely, giving everyone the chance to feel involved in projects and in achieving objectives. It's essential to focus on how the transformations implemented in the company can improve collective intelligence as a priority.
4 - Focus on collaboration with ERP for consulting firms
Your consulting firm is probably already facing these major upheavals. You may already be using ERP or other collaborative tools.
A single, integrated software package like Stafiz is the solution for easily advancing your company's digital transformation. This ERP for consulting firms is designed for your needs and adapts to your specific requirements. It gives you the visibility you need over your teams, your projects and your utilization rate.
The automation of tasks, invoicing, etc. will ease the transition for your staff, who will finally be able to concentrate on their core business. Above all, you'll be able to work better together, and share your data.
Stafiz supports professional services in their digital transformation. This ERP for consulting firms helps you gain visibility and better manage your resource planning and the progress of your projects, thanks to real-time data and the inclusion of all costs and financial KPIs. Respect your budgets and make better decisions for your business.
To find out more about the Stafiz platform, request a demo.
