Lately, Chinese language tech large Huawei introduced a number of AI initiatives that may develop into a part of its digital transformation partnership with Saudi Arabia. Comparable information is coming from different international locations, from the Japanese digital transformation minister saying the need of the reform to Azerbaijan saying its transition to paperless authorities operations. These are just some examples of the rising pattern illustrating that digital transformation performs a rising position not just for firms searching for progressive methods to enhance their efficiency, however for the entire nation. Alexandre Fernandes, an IT marketing consultant with over a decade of expertise that features working for multinational firms reminiscent of Hewlett Packard, Manhattan Associates, and JPMorgan Chase & Co, shares his view on the ideas of digital transformation and the position AI can play in it.
In a nutshell, digital transformation is a strategy of using novel applied sciences to enhance an organization’s efficiency by streamlining enterprise processes, automating routine operations, and bettering buyer expertise. Alexandre Fernandes notes that he finds inspiration in the potential for utilizing software program code to resolve real-world issues.
Nonetheless, focusing solely on the technical aspect of the initiatives isn’t sufficient. Every progressive thought can have a clearly outlined goal, and the profit it brings to the enterprise, and it ought to be developed and elaborated with the specifics of the promote it operates. “For a digital transformation to be successful, it is crucial to define the problem at hand clearly through gathering and analyzing requirements,” he provides. This strategy makes it potential to develop options that may carry real-world advantages to the shoppers.
His profession consists of a number of examples of placing this strategy into observe. Whereas engaged on bettering the warehouse administration system for one of many largest attire firms, Alexandre Fernandes refactored the applying code for parcel processing, which ultimately helped to chop order processing time by over 30%, permitting the workforce to satisfy extra orders in a shorter time. That is an instance of how digital transformation and implementation carry tangible advantages to the corporate.
One other precept Alexandre Fernandes finds mandatory to say is the significance of teamwork. Whereas it may be simple to concentrate on the technological facets, a profitable digital transformation requires interplay between a number of groups and contemplating how the corporate operates now. As an illustration, it’s not sufficient to interchange printed documentation with paperless processes, as you additionally want to show staff to make use of these new processes and make them perceive why this extra effort is required from them. With out collective effort and balanced teamwork, innovation threat stays on a floor stage solely and doesn’t translate into actual change and efficiency enchancment.
Right here is among the vivid examples proving the significance of teamwork from Alexandre Fernandes’s expertise. He was consulting a monetary service firm within the USA, which on the time was dealing with issues of delays in processing person requests. The basis of the issues turned out to be the truth that there was one workforce answerable for each new function enhancements and resolving present points. Consequently, the latter was pushed again because of decrease precedence. Alexandre Fernandes steered making a devoted workforce, which might focus totally on customers’ points. Finally, it helped to scrub out the backlog and minimize the requests’ turnaround time by over 70%. This instance highlights the concept having the proper assets isn’t sufficient: an organization wants to make use of them the proper means, set up the interactions between groups, and allocate assets correctly for the best end result.
Alexandre Fernandes emphasizes that the flexibility to ascertain productive teamwork and to remain targeted on practical and concrete targets are of no much less significance than technical information. In 2024, he participated within the judging panel on the Globee Awards for Expertise, a number one enterprise and know-how awards present that pulls firms and people from everywhere in the world. He notes that of all of the nominees he has evaluated, those that are in a position to improve their skilled expertise and information with their delicate expertise, teamwork and open-mindedness usually tend to win the award.
It is usually essential to recollect, that, whereas the idea of digital transformation isn’t new, its panorama continually evolves. New applied sciences emerge bringing new alternatives, and it could be tempting to attempt them out with out a lot consideration of their inherent dangers and advantages. The concern of lacking a pattern and being surpassed by opponents can result in rushed and ineffective innovation. To keep away from that, one must develop a deeper understanding of the know-how in query. For instance, there are a number of functions behind the time period “AI and machine learning”, from chatbots serving to with buyer interactions to predictive analytics turning into a part of the availability administration system. Every of them ought to be thought-about individually, in reference to the present wants of the corporate.
All through his 14 years of working in Software program Engineering and IT Consultancy, Alexandre Fernandes amassed a various expertise of growing software program options for real-world issues. He highlights that it doesn’t matter what applied sciences are added to the pool, the precept of specializing in real-world firm wants stays the identical. Since 2019, he has labored at Publicis Sapient IT consultancy as a Senior Affiliate, repeatedly increasing his information and expertise over a number of domains, which is one other key to success within the quickly evolving realm of digital transformation. He provides that one wants distinctive problem-solving expertise and the flexibility to shortly grasp new applied sciences and incorporate them of their course of, to supply shoppers with environment friendly software program options.