Just lately, Chinese language tech big Huawei introduced a number of AI initiatives that may turn into a part of its digital transformation partnership with Saudi Arabia. Comparable information is coming from different international locations, from the Japanese digital transformation minister asserting the need of the reform to Azerbaijan asserting its transition to paperless authorities operations. These are only a few examples of the rising pattern illustrating that digital transformation performs a rising position not just for firms in search of modern methods to enhance their efficiency, however for the entire nation. Alexandre Fernandes, an IT advisor with over a decade of expertise that features working for multinational corporations corresponding to Hewlett Packard, Manhattan Associates, and JPMorgan Chase & Co, shares his view on the ideas of digital transformation and the position AI can play in it.
In a nutshell, digital transformation is a technique of using novel applied sciences to enhance an organization’s efficiency by way of streamlining enterprise processes, automating routine operations, and bettering buyer expertise. Alexandre Fernandes notes that he finds inspiration in the potential of utilizing software program code to unravel real-world issues.
Nonetheless, focusing solely on the technical facet of the tasks isn’t sufficient. Every modern thought can have a clearly outlined goal, and the profit it brings to the enterprise, and it ought to be developed and elaborated with the specifics of the promote it operates. “For a digital transformation to be successful, it is crucial to define the problem at hand clearly through gathering and analyzing requirements,” he provides. This strategy makes it attainable to develop options that may convey real-world advantages to the purchasers.
His profession consists of a number of examples of placing this strategy into follow. Whereas engaged on bettering the warehouse administration system for one of many largest attire corporations, Alexandre Fernandes refactored the applying code for parcel processing, which finally helped to chop order processing time by over 30%, permitting the group to satisfy extra orders in a shorter time. That is an instance of how digital transformation and implementation convey tangible advantages to the corporate.
One other precept Alexandre Fernandes finds vital to say is the significance of teamwork. Whereas it may be straightforward to deal with the technological features, a profitable digital transformation requires interplay between a number of groups and contemplating how the corporate operates now. As an example, it isn’t sufficient to interchange printed documentation with paperless processes, as you additionally want to show staff to make use of these new processes and make them perceive why this extra effort is required from them. With out collective effort and balanced teamwork, innovation threat stays on a floor degree solely and doesn’t translate into actual change and efficiency enchancment.
Right here is likely one of the vivid examples proving the significance of teamwork from Alexandre Fernandes’s expertise. He was consulting a monetary service firm within the USA, which on the time was going through issues of delays in processing person requests. The foundation of the issues turned out to be the truth that there was one group chargeable for each new function enhancements and resolving current points. Consequently, the latter was pushed again on account of decrease precedence. Alexandre Fernandes advised making a devoted group, which might focus totally on customers’ points. Ultimately, it helped to wash out the backlog and lower the requests’ turnaround time by over 70%. This instance highlights the concept having the best sources isn’t sufficient: an organization wants to make use of them the best means, manage the interactions between groups, and allocate sources properly for the best consequence.
Alexandre Fernandes emphasizes that the flexibility to determine productive teamwork and to remain targeted on lifelike and concrete objectives are of no much less significance than technical data. In 2024, he participated within the judging panel on the Globee Awards for Expertise, a number one enterprise and expertise awards present that draws firms and people from all around the world. He notes that of all of the nominees he has evaluated, those that are capable of improve their skilled expertise and data with their mushy expertise, teamwork and open-mindedness usually tend to win the award.
It is usually necessary to recollect, that, whereas the idea of digital transformation isn’t new, its panorama continually evolves. New applied sciences emerge bringing new alternatives, and it might be tempting to strive them out with out a lot consideration of their inherent dangers and advantages. The worry of lacking a pattern and being surpassed by rivals can result in rushed and ineffective innovation. To keep away from that, one must develop a deeper understanding of the expertise in query. For instance, there are a number of purposes behind the time period “AI and machine learning”, from chatbots serving to with buyer interactions to predictive analytics changing into a part of the provision administration system. Every of them ought to be thought-about individually, in reference to the present wants of the corporate.
All through his 14 years of working in Software program Engineering and IT Consultancy, Alexandre Fernandes amassed a various expertise of creating software program options for real-world issues. He highlights that it doesn’t matter what applied sciences are added to the pool, the precept of specializing in real-world firm wants stays the identical. Since 2019, he has labored at Publicis Sapient IT consultancy as a Senior Affiliate, constantly increasing his data and expertise over a number of domains, which is one other key to success within the quickly evolving realm of digital transformation. He provides that one wants distinctive problem-solving expertise and the flexibility to shortly grasp new applied sciences and incorporate them of their course of, to offer shoppers with environment friendly software program options.
