skills that are needed for business transformation.

As the world recovers from the pandemic, it’s time to look back and reflect on how the world has changed. The way we live, work, shop, socialize and communicate has shifted dramatically in less than two years. The idea of going back to normal is not a reality. Instead, a new normal is evolving.

It’s crucial for businesses to change to meet these new demands. An effective business transformation isn’t easy, but it is necessary. It’s a vast process that won’t happen overnight. When done correctly, however, it can enable your company to attract the consumers and talent necessary to spur business growth.

Ultimately, a comprehensive business transformation requires direct collaboration between workers within various departments. Before putting a business transformation strategy in place, it’s critical for your company to ensure it has secured the skills necessary for implementation.

Below, we’ll take a closer look at the various departments that contribute to a business transformation and the role they play.

management

Any type of major change within the company should start from the top and filter down. The same holds true for a business transformation. The first step in any transformation strategy is to secure a buy-in from the senior leadership team. Without this support, it will be nearly impossible to secure the resources necessary to drive success.

It’s vital for your company leaders to understand the importance of a business transformation and the value that such a shift will bring to the company. These leaders must also be committed to implementing these strategies and to leading by example. When workers see that the executives are committed to the transformation, they will be more willing to embrace the changes as well.

operations

The operations team is a critical component of the business transformation process. These workers are able to see the big picture behind the transformation. They have a unique perspective to see how these changes are affecting both the employees and the customers. Input from the operation team is crucial and they must play a key role in the development of the business transformation strategy as well as monitoring its success or failures.

Members of the operation team also tend to have good working relations with multiple departments within the company, such as the finance department, customer service, IT and HR. It’s through these members that collaboration can really take hold to ensure a smooth implementation process.

It’s important to ensure these members understand their role and that they have the skills and tools needed to effectively monitor the strategy’s implementation process and collaborate with other departments.

accounting

A business transformation is quite an undertaking and like most business processes it does require an investment from the company. This means that the accounting team must be part of the developmental process. These members must have a full understanding of the company’s financial status and work hard to secure the funding necessary to implement a transformation plan. This typically requires direct collaboration with the executive team that approves the company budget.

For example, a digital transformation will likely require new technology and software. Not only will the company need to invest in purchasing this technology or digital services, but it will also need to provide adequate training and plan for ongoing maintenance costs. It’s up to the accounting team to determine these costs and to budget for them accordingly.

IT

Most business transformations require the introduction of new technology. With so many options available today, however, input from the IT department is paramount. While the planning team as a whole may be able to determine the broader type of technology needed to secure a transformation, it’s the IT experts who should research and test various options to determine what specific technology platforms will be most effective at helping the company reach its goals.

The IT department is also responsible for managing the digital transformation aspects of the plan, including installation, implementation, ongoing support, security and maintenance. Depending on the specific types of technology, the IT department may also be responsible for the training process as well.

training

No matter what type of changes your company is planning, there will always be some type of learning curve involved. Whether it’s the introduction of new technology or a change in various business processes, workers will need to receive adequate training. Otherwise, it’s likely that your business transformation will never be fully realized or add real value to the company.

This training element should be considered during the planning process. For example, your team should determine what type of training is necessary, how long the training will take, who is responsible for the initial training as well as who is responsible for ongoing training and support. Having these details determined right from the start will ensure a smooth implementation process and that all employees understand the various aspects of the transformation.

customer service

To maximize the potential of your business transformation, you want at least some of these changes to affect the way your company serves its customers. With this goal in place, it’s important to include members of the customer service team in the planning process. After all, these workers have an in-depth understanding of what the customers want and can provide valuable insights.

It’s equally important to ensure you properly train workers filling customer-facing roles and provide them with the tools they need to effectively communicate any changes to the customer. This step will ensure a cohesive business transformation both internally and externally.