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// EDITOR ’ S QUESTION ?
SHADAB ANWAR , MANAGING DIRECTOR , TECHROBOTIX FZCO
S mall and Medium Enterprises ( SMEs ) are a stable structure for economic growth and have identified their most important operational elements as providing personalised client interactions and maintaining workflows with seamless internal communications . Digital Transformation is a critical component to help achieve these functions . Existing and emerging digital technologies play an important role in sustaining societies and propelling productivity . The digital skills and proficiencies of the people also exhibit positive effects on economic performance .
Digital Transformation has increased the need for digital skills . Digital skills at their core are skills that enable people to effectively use digital devices to communicate , collaborate and problem-solve . These competencies range from basic practical skills like emailing or using application software like Microsoft Word or Excel to higher-level skills such as AI , Big Data analytics and Machine Learning . However , SMEs are still unequipped , and the prevailing digital skills gap does nothing to help .
The digital skills gap indicates the disparity between the supply and demand of employees with basic skills and IT professionals that are highly skilled to facilitate digitisation . This gap in turn obstructs economic and social progress of organisations . Not addressing this digital skills gap leaves SMEs lagging behind in digital innovation and threatens Business Continuity .
This brings to light the question – how can SMEs , the backbone of economic progress , take on the digital skills gap ?
First and foremost , organisations should be able to identify the specific skills and understand its long-term requirement for business growth and progress . Increasing investments towards digital skills development , since there is a need for continuously upskilling the organisation ’ s present personnel by formally training them and offering on-the-job courses , is key .
As a result , SMEs can equip their employees with relevant digital skills in an evolving environment which will lead to a boost in staff retention , thus solving the difficult task of finding a suitable replacement .
Furthermore , all SMEs need to consider themselves banks of never-ending knowledge that can partner up and collaborate with each other , governments and educational institutions to highlight the importance of innovative technology for development .
They must make sure of equitable distribution and access to education and information , giving rise to fair opportunities and bridging the gap between what is taught in classrooms and the current requirement of digital skills .
Apprenticeships also play an important role in helping SMEs by assisting them in discovering and training new members with digital skills that will help them excel .
Through constant collaboration , targeted skill development and educating the young , closing the digital skills gap is no more a daunting task . �
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THE DIGITAL SKILLS GAP INDICATES THE DISPARITY BETWEEN THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND OF EMPLOYEES WITH BASIC SKILLS AND IT PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE HIGHLY SKILLED TO FACILITATE DIGITISATION .
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