There is continuous advancement in the technology industry, so keeping it up has become challenging for many organizations. These fail to adapt to the current digital transformation. Most organizations choose to add more compatible employees to their business. However, adding more employees can affect your budget.
Most organizations only invest in technology without considering how to improve the skills of their employees. Your employees must have the skills to keep up with new digital tools. Only a few organizations consider filling the skill gaps by using upskilling and reskilling in their workforce as part of their digital transformation strategy.
Upskilling and Reskilling: Are the Same?
The report on the future of jobs shows an excellent need for upskilling and reskilling for an organization’s mobility. Because the job market is changing rapidly, many existing jobs require new skills. Many entirely new jobs that require a different set of skills have also emerged due to developments in the market.
Every company will face a challenge in completing the skill gaps. Few companies choose to upskill or reskill their employees to adjust to today’s labor market. However, what’s the difference between upskilling and reskilling? You may also wonder why these two are effective strategies to address the labor market’s skill gaps.
Upskilling is the process of teaching your additional tech talent skills, such as operating a complex gadget, etc.; it helps you by making your employee better at their job. This process focuses on continuing education in enhancing the knowledge and performance of an employee according to their current profession. It also helps your company adapt to changing market conditions.
Reskilling is an organization’s strategy to introduce an entirely new set of skills to their employees. It adds new skills to helping individuals find different jobs within the same organization or another. It may require a person to complete several certificate programs to become suitable for a new job.
How Can Investing in Digital Transformation Prove Beneficial?
Adapting to a technological conversion, according to today’s market conditions, is crucial for any business to compete and succeed. A digital business transformation is also significant for your company to efficiently deliver its services and products to customers.
According to a survey, only 30% of organizations successfully navigate digital transformation. Many businesses are falling behind due to a lack of technological conversion. You should adapt to these transformations if you want your company to stay in the industry.
Unfortunately, digital technologies keep evolving, so you will need to focus on digital transformation constantly. Another study suggests that in the near future, 40% of the workforce will need reskilling. This must be done to keep up with digital technology advancements. A successful transformation will benefit your business as well.
The benefit of adapting to a technological conversion is increasing customer satisfaction. Most customers want things to happen automatically. With robust digital gadgets and strategies, delivering automatic services without the need of human beings becomes easy. It also improves communication with the help of digital platforms, so your products and services will become visible to a large audience. It also increases the speed and productivity of your workforce.
The Reasons for Upskilling Drive for Digital Transformation
About 90% of leaders contribute to improving current skill transformation and get positive results. Applying upskilling strategies to your tech talent has the following impact:
Increase Employee Confidence
Many people, including employees, fear change. From employees to leaders, the thought of their organization adapting to massive digital transformation is daunting. Though it may seem daunting, employees also become experienced after improving their skills. It also enhances unity throughout the workforce.
An organization needs employee experience and strong communication from leadership. With experience, the employee will become more confident in their job, increasing their productivity. Learning digital skills also encourages employees not to resign from their job. With upskilling, employees also understand the need for transition and its benefits to the company and customers.
Better Change Management for Your Organization
Not only does upskilling help teach skills to your workforce to fill existing or new roles, but it also improves your organization’s environment. When your employees start embracing ongoing learning, they become more adaptable and agile to change. Today’s industry needs people who are quick learners and have the flexibility to keep their business on the line.
It also increases the satisfaction, loyalty, and engagement of your employees. Your employees also gain future-proof skills that increase their chances of business growth and success. An agile organization can face any uncertainty and take the necessary measures to mitigate risk.
Engage and Retain Productive Employees
By adopting upskilling, your organization will transform the way you work. With the replacement of new tools, your tech talent will work more productively. It also helps with employee engagement and retention. Career growth is crucial for employees. With the addition of new skills, you can fulfill the wishes of employees looking for a dynamic work experience. Providing them with job options helps reduce the chance of them resigning from the job. With existing employees, you will not have to re-teach from the start.
Proven Strategies for a Seamless Upskilling
Though upskilling is the best way to drive digital transformation. However, implementing the right upskilling strategy is difficult. It requires a large-scale effort on an upskilling strategy for a successful technological conversion. But you can use these proven upskilling strategies in your workforce, including:
Develop a Digital Transformation Vision
First, you have to understand the purpose and aim of your organization. It will help you align your upskilling strategies with your company. You can also guess what types of skills you may need in the future and adapt the skill set accordingly.
Identify Skill Gaps and Reduce those Gaps
This strategy is necessary to acknowledge the need for digital transformation. You can create a survey to understand the skill gaps of your tech talent. Doing so will help you find the right strategy for each employee to reduce those gaps. You can also conduct a survey of your customer’s behavior.
Encourage Employees to Undergo Training
You should create a course around your upskilling needs. There are different training programs that you can use to encourage your employees. You can use these effective training methods, including eLearning, Role Playing, Video Training, Job Shadowing, and Group Activities. You can also use case studies and simulation training.
Organize Seminars and Workshops
If your employees are not confident in learning new skills, you can encourage them by organizing tech webinars. You can teach employees interpersonal skills such as managing conflict and effective listening in an upskilling workshop.
Encourage Innovations Through Rewards
You can add fun rewards to your upskilling programs. It will encourage your employees to do better at their learning skills. You can add rewards based on specific milestones.
You may think that your organization can move forward with the best technology. Unfortunately, your business may mysteriously slow down without implementing upskilling in your organization. Adapt according to the current need for data transformation for smooth business.
Although, these upskilling and reskilling strategies will help you address the skill gap. However, if you don’t understand how to apply these strategies to your organization, you can get an eBook on digital transformation.
About the Autor
Keshav Gupta is an experienced content writer skilled in researching, writing, and publishing compelling content. Results-driven and adept in driving the production of meaningful and original content for various media platforms and clients. He currently works at MIMOIQ.
