Digital transformation is important for organizations to stay relevant and competitive in a rapidly changing technological world. The article discusses how digital transformation can provide value to organizations by increasing productivity, reducing costs, and boosting profits when digital tools are used to engage employees. Specifically, digital people engagement platforms that provide real-time feedback and analytics about employee behavior, emotions, and performance can help HR address challenges like turnover and talent management. For organizations to fully unlock the benefits of digital transformation, HR must adopt digital tools and lead business model changes by prioritizing the employee experience.

1. Digital transformation8
PEOPLE DYNAMICS | September 2016
The world as we know it has changed and
continues to change as new technology comes
into play. What worked a decade ago might seem
outdated today, so how do you stay afloat and
ahead of the competition? Denise Sonny takes a
closer look at the ROI of digital transformation.
BY: DENISE SONNY, Enterprise Business Development, Thomas International Africa
DIGITAL –
UNLOCKING
VALUE

2. Digital transformation 9
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE IPM | in association with HR PULSE
provided be integrated into your own digital
HR strategies, and in the case of People
Engagement Platforms, it needs to also be
regulated. Imagine a Centre of Excellence
that provides the platform for empowering
line management to read, manage, and
motivate individual and team behavior;
customise processes to suit business needs
and provide reliable and real time feedback
on behaviourial, cognitive, and emotional
analytics in the workforce. Well… you
don’t have to imagine any longer… the
future is here. Going digital means that you
will be able to provide substantial value
by applying digital innovation across the
entire business spectrum to transform your
organisation’s performance in achieving
maximum success. Organisations deploying
digital people engagement platforms to their
full potential could increase productivity by
up to 9%, reduce employee related costs by
up to 7%, and add an average of 275 basis
points to their profit margins. As a result
of HR going digital, organisations can not
only get smarter about the people they team
together, but also address the capabilities
they will require to go forward, whilst
remaining relevant.
The competitive advantage gained by
adopting new technologies is endless.
Digital Analytics will always paint a picture.
How you react to that picture will determine
your contribution to digital transformation
within your organisation. To stay ahead,
one requires knowledge, but knowledge
without application will not move the curve
that innovation, penetration and growth
require. Unlocking value within digital
transformation will require continuous
influencing engagement. If organisations
are using digital to engage consumers, isn’t
it time that HR start using digital to engage
employees and unlock value!
Focus on
employee
experience
by providing
employees with
user friendly
customer
experiences.
The world has changed, technology has
helped us to streamline operations.
“Analytics” is the new buzz word, and every
organisation out there has or at least should
have “digital transformation” on its agenda.
Why? The answer is simple… companies
want to transform from traditional to predictive
enterprises, so as to increase market share,
shareholder value, and digital GDP that is
expected to grow 5 to 6% by 2025, which begs
the question: Is Digital transformation on the
HR agenda?
Whilst many organisations’ leadership
teams are creating business models and
changing their service/product offering around
the global digital evolution, is it not time that
Human Resources start to lead these business
models by adopting digital engagement
platforms. HR is no longer a support function
to business, but an entity that provides the
foundation (employees) of an organisation,
business sector, or economy.
It is imperative that HR adopts a First
Mover Advantage to accelerate Africa’s digital
GDP to the expected $300 billion by 2025.
The basis of first-mover advantage is simple:
by being the first to enter a new market, the
business gains an advantage over its actual
and potential rivals. Organisations that
believe strongly in the benefits of adopting
new technologies and that pursue first-mover
advantage are more likely to lead in both
revenue growth and market position. They
adapt more easily to new ways of doing
business and transform all aspects of their
businesses faster than other companies.
Addressing poor performance, high staff
turnover, low morale amongst staff, succession
planning, leadership development, and talent
management challenges is high on most HR
agendas. Annual performance appraisals
are no longer relevant or effective for the
new generation of employees. Real-time
feedback is key to HR influencing business
decisions and company culture, whilst
mitigating or reducing the risk involved with
managing people. Change can be disruptive,
and it always requires an increased level
of collaboration and accountability, but
in the end, the results achieved are worth
the change. Transformation to Digital is
taking place in every dimension: consumers
changing behavior, eCommerce sites
providing convenience and scalability, mobile
payments offering low cost and less overhead.
A leading South Africa media organisation
invested 8 billion on growing its eCommerce
business last year, and reported an 18 percent
rise in full-year profit, lifted by its digital
business.
Focus on employee experience by enabling
employees for user friendly customer
experiences, effectiveness in their jobs,
and offering the progressive and innovative
environments that top employees now expect.
When employee engagement increases, there
is a corresponding increase in employee
retention by up to 87%.
Cheers to the HR leaders who have
revolutionised the employee experience by
adopting new digital people engagement
platforms. Whilst there are several
organisations that provide HR digital
solutions, it is vital that the solutions