Digital transformation: needs and objectives

The concept of “technology dependence” has long had bad connotations: disconnection from reality, interpersonal communication difficulties, decrease in empathy, aggravation of diseases, such as obesity or social anxiety, or even the emergence of others like nomophobia (the state of stress caused by having no access to or being unable to use one's mobile phone).

If 2020 has shown us anything, it is that we can and should use technology to benefit society. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, claimed that the pandemic has accelerated our dependence on digital technologies, and also emphasized that the benefits of connectivity can save lives.  All social actors were forced to resort to technology to be able to survive the so-talked-about “new normal”. 

On a business level, the past year has reinforced the need for digital transformation. Companies in virtually every sector are increasingly reliant on knowledgeable and highly productive qualified IT professionals, as these companies must adapt to the online world immediately.  

As organizations' information systems become increasingly more complex, with several technologies and platforms operating simultaneously in the same system, the skills and training of professionals must adapt to the real needs of the roles and not just focus on a particular technology or platform. To achieve this, it is essential to invest in formal training and role-based certification, such as that offered by Microsoft, which uses extensive market research to develop training programs that address the skills gap within organizations.

To prove this growing need, in June 2020, IDC published a white paper entitled Benefits of Role-Based Certifications, which found that IT professionals who obtained a relevant role-based technical certification, perform 26% better, on average, than their non-certified colleagues with the same responsibilities. This is particularly important for organizations and professionals responsible for technology transformation in support of critical business objectives, which implies the need for continuous professional development of these professionals. 

In conclusion, at a time when it is critical for any organization, regardless of its mission or social role, to embark on a digital transformation journey and improve its relationship with technology, it is even more critical to understand that training and certifying the professionals at the forefront of this transformation is the best and most important investment to make this year. 
 

Article published on Jornal Económico on February 18, 2021