Undoubtedly, the pandemic sped up digital transformation. But coming out of the other side, are we losing momentum? These solutions still offer enormous opportunities for businesses, especially as inflation piles on the pressure for businesses to be more productive.
This is why they shouldn’t let new systems fall by the wayside as we move into a new moment. Prioritising digital strategy will be essential to weathering the current economic climate, as it will enable us to adapt to the next challenge. The time is now to update legacy systems, but often, this is easier said than done; you need a solid approach. Here, we share three key things to keep in mind.
Choose tech with mileage
Technology is foundational to business success, now and into the future. If you’re considering implementing a new system, you need to make sure that it’s not just about choosing a solution that works now, it’s about selecting something with longevity. But at the pace technology is evolving, how can you be confident?
A good place to start is outlining your short, medium and long-term strategy. This will create space to reflect and plan, and assess whether or not the system will support your goals across every timescale. Ask yourself: Is it scalable? Does the system align with industry best practices? What’s the risk factor of the transition?
Take the entire team on the journey
Getting everyone on board with change is far easier said than done. Change management is a delicate process, and when modernising legacy systems, you need to make decisions with the team at the forefront of your mind. This means not just planning around the technology itself, but also planning how people will interact with it.
Therefore, you should plan an in-depth training session after implementation. Without a dedicated training programme, employees will adopt their own workflows, which will reduce consistency and efficiency. Training also gives employees the chance to ask questions, which makes them feel more seen and secure.
Facilitate a smooth transition
Although keeping up with the times is important, an abrupt change can do more harm than good. Legacy systems might be antiquated, but that doesn’t mean they’re completely redundant. They contain important information about company and customer history, which will undoubtedly be useful for identifying patterns and trends.
Often, the most effective transitions will be where the legacy technology is integrated into the new, ensuring the team can access relevant information without too much trouble. Digital transformation is a marathon, not a sprint and the decision-makers should keep this in mind.
Create a plan for the future
New technologies are key to efficiency and competitiveness. They create new opportunities and support decision-making by offering previously unseen insights. However, digital transformation doesn’t happen overnight; companies need to create a long-term plan. They also need to remember that tools are nothing without the people using them, so it should be a people-centred transition. Only then can they reap the true benefits of transitioning from a legacy system to cutting-edge technologies.