intelligent

RISING ABOVE THESE CHALLENGES

DEMANDS THAT SMES DIVE

DEEPER INTO THE NEEDS

OF BOTH EMPLOYEES AND

CUSTOMERS THROUGHOUT EVERY STAGE OF DIGITAL EVOLUTION . employees and customers throughout every stage of digital evolution . In practice , this is all about putting humans at the heart of each decision and understanding individual needs and expectations . In doing so , businesses will be able to work through cultural barriers to adoption and build engagement from the outset . This is especially key when unsuccessful projects have largely been born from internal dynamics , as respondents from IDC ’ s research blamed a lack of buy in from employees , conflicting opinions or priorities from leadership / management and a lack of collaboration between the organisation ’ s departments as the top reasons for failure .

“ Ultimately , employees are tasked with making digital initiatives take off . So , when business leaders empower them to embrace and unlock their value , they can amplify positive outcomes , offer insights for improvements and continually build on successes . For example , taking a human-centric approach offers valuable outcomes beyond purely business benefits such as process optimisation and cost reduction – successful management is shown to drive meaningful outcomes such as boosted customer experiences ( 45 %) and improved employee productivity , satisfaction and retention ( 42 %). As SMEs shape their digital strategies for the year ahead and beyond , developing inclusive digital solutions and constantly being mindful of people will go a long way towards bridging the gap between innovative products and market success .” �