Digital has arrived in our lives so quickly and now it is well established in the entire social, cultural and work environment. Nowadays it is impossible to turn back and would be, by the way, a failed countermove. However, the term “disruption” does not necessarily have to be interpreted in a negative way. It actually indicates the proactivity of a brand towards innovation.
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Why we talk about digital disruption and what it is
Digital disruption is closely linked to digital transformation; the difference is that the first one occurs when a technological innovation totally destabilises a given area, revolutionising the status quo; while the second one simply indicates the process of replacing analogue with digital.
This is mainly a cultural challenge that combines multiple digital resources in order to redesign and improve a business according to new technological solutions and advanced systems such as: automation, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain and much more.
This change of direction is physiological and it is generated by the expectations of customers who, as a result of a cultural and more generally lifestyle change, now have new desires and needs.
What it means for companies
The digitalisation process hardly ever requires a total rethink of the value proposition or business model. This requires instead the transformation of activities through the use of digital tools and the discovery of new opportunities.
A company that wants to become a leader in its field can no longer avoid the digital transition, as today digitalisation touches every aspect of an organisation. First of all, it is necessary to start with the mindset, revolutionise it and have an open mind in order to catch all the opportunities that this new world offers.
Although there are many obstacles to overcome, the digital transformation also brings several advantages to companies. These include:
- automation, which contributes to a decrease in errors and in an increasing speed, allowing a meticulous control of all processes;
- an increase in the perceived value of the company that enhances market competitiveness;
- an improvement of the quality and quantity of the supply provided;
- collaboration and communication between employees;
- customisation of products/services towards one-to-one communication.
Examples of digital disruption
Some cases of digital disruption started before the last wave of ICT innovations, but became stronger with the advent of smartphones. Let’s think for example about the watch, now totally replaced by the smartphone. In fact, who looks at the time on the clock anymore?
Another example is the dear TomTom, which has also been completely replaced by apps with a GPS device. Not to mention the crisis of publishing, which began at the time of PCs, but which has dramatically intensified with the spread of smartphones and tablets, which allow instant access to any kind of information.
These are just some of the examples of digital disruption that we could mention, but it is clear that there are many others. It is crucial to be objective and discern which changes bring real benefits and which ones can cause damages.
Tips for a successful digital transformation
There are some best practices to follow in order to face the change with more serenity:
- living it with a different mindset. We often live so well by our comfort zone that we only care about what is outside when we are forced to: we should avoid closing ourselves off by accepting change and making it our own;
- adopting a detailed and targeted strategy so as not to improvise anything and reduce risk to a minimum;
- building a more agile, flexible and collaborative company structure, in which there is greater internal organization, especially in the case of big companies;
- preferring innovative and smart solutions that can be an efficient support for the team.
Become a JO Education partner and ride the wave of digitalisation
Companies alone cannnot deal with digital disruption: it is important to have a good guide. If you are looking for a partner to support your company in the digital transformation, rely on the team of JO Education.
If, on the other hand, you are interested in this or similar topics, continue reading our JOurnal.