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Technology Circle: Recommended concepts, components and methodologies of transformation strategies
24.03.2020
Our fourth online Technology Circle Event in February 2021 focused on concepts and components as well as on project methodologies of transformation strategies towards the digital business world.
The Digital Transformation Toolbox
After the introduction to the new online networking platform presented by our hosts Albert Hilber and Sébastien Meunier, Prof Dr. Marc K. Peter from the FHNW School of Business went first through the learnings of the last Technology Circles to then introduce concepts and components for the digital transformation strategies. He pointed out how important it is to understand the customer’s needs and what technologies they are using. When connecting those insights, companies will build better, more efficient products for the benefit of the clients. A further component of the digital strategy is data-based innovation. As an example, Marc Peter presented two Swiss use cases – two data-driven platforms one to sell old metal (Schrott24.at) and the other one to optimize unused capacities of logistics providers (Pickwings.ch).
Digital business development follows a strategic analysis, followed by defining the strategic options and then defining the concrete strategy and the roadmap. Ask yourself: Are there any quick wins.
Future Mode of Operation
Thomas Zwicker, Manager from Project Competence shared his
broad experiences and lessons learned on the transformation journey of SMEs and gave the participants insights on the “Future Mode of Operation” (FMO) of successfully transformed SME organizations.
Growing client expectations need for quicker responses and adaption of the SME. These transformation activities are focused on culture, organization, products, services, and flexible, client-centric employees. The key to the success of the digital transformation is that the SME entrepreneur and his team take on the challenge with leadership and commitment, plan and implement the necessary changes. Keep Digital@heart!
Workplace transformation
Guest speaker Valérie Savoy from the Future Work Group introduced the factors of influence that rapidly changed our work environment:
- The digital transformation with accelerated and networked solutions changed the way we work. It has changed the perception and the relationship between work and leisure.
- Digital technologies with new tools such as collaboration solutions allow employees to work more mobile and flexible
- The Covid-19 pandemic situation and the unexpected and precipitated compulsion of home-office.
In order to be able to fully satisfy these new requirements, the entrepreneurs must search for new workplace concepts with flexible workstations, infrastructure (Co-working), mobile working (work where you are), and adapted technology (WLAN, WAN, 4/5G, ICT, Data security). This will have positive effects such as greater effectiveness, increasing overall employee satisfaction, and reducing economic and ecological costs by decreasing traffic load and commuting time.
Work Better: Examples from the practice
Régis Monot from Steelcase France pointed out, that Covid-19 is more than a change agent, it is an accelerator for workplace trends. The result of a research that was conducted by Steelcase confirmed the trend toward the “Hybrid Future”: 84% of leaders around the world say they will allow more flexibility about where, when, and how people work.
Steelcase research found out that people need 5 things:
- Safety: To be safe and feel safe
- Belonging: It’s about inclusion, trust, and shared purpose
- Productivity: To be able to focus and collaborate
- Comfort: Physical as well as cognitive and emotional
- Control: more control over where and how to work
These insights lead to new design principles of office spaces: Individual spaces (Workplace), social spaces (Coffee area, lounge), collaborative spaces, learning spaces. By arranging them in an effective way it will create a better office ecosystem.
The platform used for this virtual event allowed to network and exchange with the keynote speakers and participants. Overall, the Technology Circle Event presented a platform for ideas, best practice sharing, and reflection.
Based on the survey on possible future technical areas, we have planned the next Trinational Technology Circles:
| 5th Technology Circle: | Cloud & Data imperative in manufacturing | 18.05.21
16:00 – 18:30 |
| 6th Technology Circle: | New Technology: Technology trends, innovation and use cases | 21.09.21
16:00 – 18:30 |
| 6th Technology Circle: | IIoT and advanced technologies for the digital transformation:
Use Cases |
16.11.21
16:00 – 18:30 |
Thank you for the support and participation of our partners in the tri-national Titan-e program.
