Because it’s not about technology but about people in business

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Founder and Head Coach/CEO, The Funds2Orgs Group.

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In the digital age, it’s easy to get distracted by the constant flow of new technologies: artificial intelligence, virtual assistants, the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, video collaboration, and mobile apps. Companies adopt these new technologies for many reasons: ease of processes, cost savings or the belief that innovations drive productivity. Technology can certainly enable business teams to work more efficiently and focus on value-added activities, which increases employee efficiency as measured by hourly output or the percentage of time an employee spends on productive activities.

However, technology without talented people doesn’t do much. We’ve all seen the current capability of chatbots, for example, and it’s not impressive. Many companies struggle to implement technology into their operations in a way that creates real business outcomes such as higher revenue or lower costs.

Why is technology not being used effectively in most companies?

There are several reasons why companies struggle to implement technology effectively.

Unrealistic expectations. Managers often expect technology to solve problems. In reality, it is the people in the company who solve the problems; it is their creativity, innovation and ideas that drive business efforts, not the technology.

The lack of a clear business case. Leaders often don’t create a business case for every project or technology integration to ensure their investment delivers clear, measurable results. First, as I wrote in an article recently, performance metrics are only one piece of the puzzle.

The wrong people drive digital transformation. Successful digital shifts occur when led by people who understand the business and have a strong focus on results. IT leaders typically excel at managing complex technologies, but strategists focus on business goals.

What should companies focus on instead of an innovative culture?

Companies often seek to create a culture that encourages innovation, creativity and risk-taking. While these are essential elements of a successful business, companies too often fail to deliver on this promise. Instead, they focus on things like brainstorming sessions, which are usually ineffective unless part of a systemic culture change.

A successful business must have the right set of tools that enable employees to collaborate and produce superior work. Teams may struggle to create practical solutions if they don’t have the right tools, and that doesn’t simply mean technology. It means a genuine and systemic culture of creativity that includes leadership support and the right technology for business goals and objectives.

Companies should consider what they can do to eliminate barriers that inhibit creativity and risk-taking, such as providing the right training. Also, they should tear down the silos. Relieving these elements helps companies better match teams with technology, but it’s crucial to think about humans first.

If your employees don’t have the right skills or knowledge to do their jobs well, it doesn’t matter what type of technology you bring to your business. For example, if the business and its people are isolated, there are unnecessary barriers to communication and collaboration. New technology won’t help that, and your metrics will suffer.

Teams are the key to the practical use of technology.

So how do you create the perfect balance between technology and your team? For starters, make sure technology adoption in your business is being managed by the team using it, not the IT team. The team using the technology must be actively involved in the selection, design and implementation of that technology to ensure it meets their needs.

The IT team should focus on maintaining and implementing the technology as efficiently as possible, while the team using the technology should be responsible for making sure it meets their needs. They should communicate with the IT team and management to identify potential solutions if problems arise. Leaders can encourage this activity by ensuring that the IT group is service oriented, treating other departments and teams as their customers.

Technology alone is not the answer.

In the fight for customers and growth, it’s easy to let technology drive your day-to-day operations. But while technology can help improve efficiency, productivity and profitability, you can’t let it run the show. Keep employees engaged and motivated and ensure customers are served to the best of their ability. Also, make sure the right leaders are in place to get the most out of technology resources.

Remember, technology alone does not drive an organization’s innovation, creativity, and risk-taking. It is the people within the organization who create and sustain these elements. Therefore, companies should focus on their teams to ensure that the technology is used effectively. Make sure the right people are driving digital transformation with a strong focus on results. This will help your business use technology effectively, resulting in tangible business results.

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