Digitalisation of businesses: Supporting your team
How to achieve the digital transformation of a consulting firm and support employees towards change?
The digitalization of your consulting company is a step to take. In order to succeed in the digital transformation of his company, a leader must make it a central element of the company's culture. The profession is transformed every day for the better, but it is crucial to involve employees in these changes and to train them.
How can we support them?
1 – Existing practices in your consulting firm
The first thing to do is an analysis of what you already have in place in your consulting company, and your use of these tools and processes. This analysis allows you to see more clearly the blocking elements, what you need to be more efficient, and the more or less relevant methods or systems you use.
What areas for improvement?
Once that's done, you can search for what's best for your company. Find the tools your employees will need to complete 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 is most impacted in society by these changes? How can we help them?
While managers and leaders are the first to turn to employees, 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. The youngest employees are often perfectly qualified to train and support their colleagues. These practices are familiar to them, because they are rooted in their daily lives.
Concerns:
Some employees, unlike younger employees, have some reluctance to change. Adapting to technology can cause them real fears and impact their performance. The management of these employees represents a listening and continuous follow-up to ensure that everything is acquired, understood, put into practice, and that they are comfortable in their new processes. Generally, these worries are exaggerated and good advice and active listening can help reduce these anxieties.
Find out how Stafiz meets the needs of a consulting company.
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2 – Your digital culture
Everyone is concerned by this transformation in your consulting company and everyone must find their role and understand their business, which is constantly evolving.
What does this digital transition mean? What does it consist of?
It is 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 uses of ICT (information and communication technologies) have changed and have led to transformations in organizations, their culture and processes, and certain professions. These digital transformations have one objective: innovation through the dematerialization of tasks and activities, regardless of the sector or profession.
These transformations also have an economic, strategic and social stake. The 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 related to performance, but also to competition. So you have to adapt quickly and get into the rhythm.
How can this culture be established?
Every company creates its own culture for its employees. Digital technology is essential today. Train your teams on future changes and what digital transformation means for your business.
According to your-it-easy, it can take several months or even a year to establish this culture. Indeed, this appropriation is not always easy, whether it is in terms of the use of new platforms and tools, a new language, finding one's place in this vast digital universe, or the accomplishment of tasks that changes completely. These are generally simplified, but first of all, you have to get used to these new practices.
Jobs are changing and you have to constantly learn and improve in your field to face the competition (freelancers, start-ups, large groups, etc.)
How to train?
Presentations, workshops, webinars, etc. This training is done in several stages. It is not only a question of presenting the technological tools theoretically, but of accompanying them until they are put into practice in the field.
You have to be able to present the advantages and disadvantages, the difficulties that can be encountered.
The goal is to foster collaboration, encourage communication, and inspire innovation.
Team collaboration
3 – The employee at the heart of the change
The human being is at the heart of digital, it is a collaboration between him and the machine. This idea of fusion, in a way, leads to a change in mentalities. This can sometimes be difficult to accept and apply.
According to the practice sheet, the manager must set up a "specific change management strategy". This consists of putting people at the centre. Doing this helps people who are apprehensive to be more comfortable and to get into the rhythm little by little.
Management methods today are more flexible, and communication is important. In your consulting company, make sure that everyone is listened to and that their opinions and questions are taken into account.
The goal is to motivate your employees to change, to make them aware of the new needs of your company and what is expected of them in this digitalization of their business.
Be clear about the organization, the steps, the reasons for each transformation and use of new processes, methods, etc. Give simple instructions and be attentive to the different forms of resistance within the teams.
This highlighting of the feelings of team members allows for greater transparency and better cooperation. It will be easier later to work together towards common goals.
Here are 3 steps to support your teams in adopting new tools.
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Present changes while remaining open to exchange
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 role. Show them how this digitalization responds to certain problems identified in your company. Give employees a voice so that they can express their questions, arguments, and dissatisfactions if necessary.
Today, managers are expected to manage their teams with flexibility and rigor. Listening and preparing beforehand make the members of these teams more efficient and committed to their work. They are more open to change and willing to adapt and help their colleagues because their needs are taken into account.
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Motivate
To motivate the troops, it is necessary to present the advantages and positive points of the adoption of these tools. For example, explain that employees' tasks will be simplified and automated, and that they will finally be able to save time. Let them know that they can always ask questions and ask to be trained on unlearned items. Respond to the various fears with patience and tact.
Give your team a long-term view 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 by showing that thanks to digitalization, new goals can be achieved.
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Collective intelligence
The goal is to have this vision of the collective, whether internally or with your customers. Digital technology allows us to create links with people near or far geographically. It is a stepping stone to closer collaboration between people. It is important to discuss together within your company the different strategies and operating methods that you can put in place to maintain and strengthen these links. But above all, to work in a unified way.
Technology allows the sharing of skills and expertise remotely, it offers the possibility for everyone to feel involved in projects and in the achievement of objectives. It is essential to focus on how the transformations implemented in the company can improve collective intelligence as a priority.
4 – Aim for collaboration with an ERP for consulting firms
Your consulting firm is surely already facing these major upheavals. You may already be using an ERP or other collaborative tools.
An integrated and unique software like Stafiz is the solution to easily move forward in the digital transformation of your company. This ERP for consulting companies is designed for your needs and adapts to your specificities. It gives you the visibility you need on your teams, projects, and utilization rate.
Automating tasks, invoicing, etc. will make the transition easier for your employees who will finally be able to focus on their core business. Above all, you will be able to work better collectively, 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 consideration of all costs and financial KPIs. Stay on budget and make better decisions for your business.
To learn more about the Stafiz platform, request a demo.
