Will COVID-19 help to speed up the Digital Transformation?

According to the current state of covid-19, if the pandemic is not managed, digital transformation will accelerate in the coming years.

Due to covid- 19 many people are concerned about the future , because of many changes businesses have taken in response to the pandemic.Many of these shifts are almost certainly permanent. Companies will find it much easier to function remotely now that the epidemic has forced them to remove many of the barriers to digital adoption that previously existed, such as network security to allow staff to work remotely.Moreover, companies have already made significant efforts to strengthen their digital security while also developing a technology stack that allows employees to work from home.

Many firms were only beginning to recognize the potential of many of these capabilities prior to the epidemic. They rapidly understood how powerful technology can be when in-person meetings and work were curtailed as a result of Covid-19. The epidemic has aided in the digital transition and has created an environment that will continue to foster innovation and technological adoption in the future.

In addition, teachers have become highly effective at crafting virtual lesson plans, even in schools, where students have opted to remote classes in many school systems and colleges. The educational implications of this, particularly the possibility of opening doors for people who might have previously been unable to attend certain institutions due to distance, are unlikely to be overlooked.

COVID-19’s impact on digital transformation

There are a number of elements that influence the speed of digital transformation as a result of covid-19. These variables or aspects are to be discussed further down.

Digital transformation systems are being implemented at a faster speed.

The covid- 19 epidemic has had a major impact on IT industries because recognizing that a large percentage of employees would be working remotely, IT managers and technical staff increased the speed with which digital transformation resources, such as advanced e-commerce platforms and supply chain systems, were deployed, improving the firm’s ability to deploy customer-friendly applications while also tightening the security and reliability of their supply chains.

Digital transformation plans are being put on hold for the time being.

Some IT administrators rescheduled their planned technology rollouts due to the rising number of remote workers wanting access to firm information resources. They did this to ensure that remote work resources such as VPN access and network bandwidth were available. IT managers were able to resume their digital transformation projects after remote work resources were deployed.

Customer-friendly apps are being used more frequently to meet customer expectations.

Due to pandemic quarantine rules, more of their clients were confined to their homes, thus business leaders needed to make sure they had the greatest possible experience engaging with the company. Digital business with real-time access to customer-focused applications quickly became the new normal, especially as customers increasingly used mobile devices.

Remote workers’ access security is improved.

With the rise in remote workers, a company’s vulnerability to cyber attacks has increased dramatically. Employees using non-company devices, such as personal laptops and smartphones, faced increased threats. The vulnerability level increased until those fixes were installed, tested, and put into service, unless the IT department could quickly send new VM images and/or approved security software to remote employees.

Patch management has been elevated to the top of the list of priorities.

The pandemic swiftly highlighted the significance of a well-managed patching programme, particularly where system performance and security may be harmed by the growing number of remote users. Patching ensures that you have the most up-to-date system and application code, which is very important for security. Digital transformation activities can be jeopardised by external threat operators if network security isn’t strong. Because of the pandemic’s influence on IT operations, proper patching has become even more critical, especially when applying updates that increase network perimeter security and update remote access software.

Self-service apps are being used more frequently, which speeds up the collecting of client data.

The implementation of applications that enable access to self-service resources is one of the key benefits of digital transformation. This is especially important when it comes to offering excellent customer service. Customers may do more things on a company’s website using self-service, such as shop, compare products and pricing, and complete transactions. The access that businesses gain to valuable data from client self-service actions is far more important. This information can then be evaluated to determine purchasing preferences and other metrics.

As supply chains change, more advanced e-commerce systems are being used.

Increased demand for items impacted supply chains as a result of more people visiting commercial websites as a result of the pandemic. Organizations discovered that by utilising advanced e-commerce platforms, they could evaluate and change supply chains as needed to satisfy demand shifts.

To improve employee experience, HR and IT should collaborate more.

HR faced new challenges as a result of many employees working remotely, including how people will interact without physical, in-person contact; potential increases in stress and discomfort as a result of working remotely; and the need for more e-learning to ensure employees remain connected to the company and its culture. Coordination between HR and IT became critical for ensuring that employees had the best possible work experience.

The CIO’s Role Changed

The impact of the pandemic, coupled with digital transformation, has expedited and highlighted the decade-long shift in the CIO function from IT operator to business strategist. Because of their expertise of modern technology platforms and their technical teams’ experience with new technologies, CIOs have evolved into true partners in the fulfilment of a company’s business goals. CIOs are also significant players in “new normal” work dynamics, such as remote working and the adoption of digital transformation technology, as a result of the pandemic.

The following are the five most important things our community can do right now to bridge the gap of Digital Transformation:

Governments must speed up their plans for digital transformation.

Many governments have plans in place to better align their systems, but they have yet to be implemented or properly financed. By supporting broadband infrastructure and developing a digital ecosystem that supports local innovation, COVID-19 can be the catalyst for minimising interruptions in key services and threats to economic growth. Leaders can counterbalance economic contractions, give students access to education, and meet community health needs by quickly establishing suitable governing bodies to supervise digitalization, crafting a digital transformation strategy, and cooperating with financiers as needed.

The principles and guidelines we agreed on before the pandemic should be followed by agencies and implementers.

Reusing and upgrading current platforms, designing with the user, and data privacy and protection are among the Principles for Digital Development, which have been approved by 216 global organisations and attempt to establish optimal digital practises. Many companies have developed their own responsible data policies and processes, as well as investing in digital knowledge among their employees. Leaders of the United Nations have recently asked for the worldwide ceasefire to be extended to cyber-attacks, as well as human-rights-protecting responses.

Funders must organise available resources for digital transformation.

Our current piecemeal approach to supporting digital solutions isn’t achieving digital equality. Investing in communities, countries, and sectors will not deliver the Internet to 50% of the world’s population, nor will it provide neglected groups with the agency they need to change the pandemic’s tide. Because many of the digitally marginalised are now unprofitable to reach, waiting on the private sector to provide broadband connectivity in rural areas or invest in digital health tools for remote people is not a practical plan.

Multinational corporations and governments should invest in fewer, more cost-effective, scalable, and acceptable digital platforms.

We can no longer afford to overlook the importance of uniting around an evidence-based vetting process guided not only by digital platform funders, but also by the people who use them. A varied set of people must oversee centralised resources, bringing technical rigour, a radical user-centric focus, business sense, and transparency to the screening process. This community-driven approach for evaluating digital platforms is being developed by DIAL, Digital Square, and the Digital Public Goods Alliance.

A Catalyst for Strengthening and Accelerating Your Digital Transformation Strategy in covid-19:

COVID-19’s specific economic impact is difficult to predict at this time. One thing is certain: business leaders must be prepared with a digital transformation strategy that provides the ideal technology mix of offence and defence, enabling the firm to prosper and prevail in any climate. More information about digital transformation can be found by going to Brisklogic.