VP of Micro Focus Professional Services, Oliver McVeigh, shows how important digital transformation is to meet the high expectations of Gen Z and Millennials. Finding a partner to help you plan your digital transformation is the first step to attracting future employees and customers.
Changing Attitudes
I raised two kids in rural Ireland during the early 2000s. New parents might wonder how we survived without high-speed Internet access. We had to wait for websites to build line by line when using dial-up. In my home, the phrase, “I’ll be there in a minute,” became shorthand for “I’m online.”
Both the internet and my kids have grown up. Their generation of digital natives doesn’t occasionally go online—they live there. They’re on TikTok, they shop, they bank, and they’re online at work. With all of their Internet experience, they’ve developed high expectations for how technology should function in their personal and professional lives.
Transform to Gain Customers and Retain Talent
Attracting and retaining digital native customers and employees in a highly competitive market requires digital transformation.
On the customer side, digital natives have no patience for websites and applications that load slowly, crash, or “lag.” But these issues also affect your future workforce.
There’s already a shortfall of tech talent, according to McKinsey. And frustration with technology is a major reason employees are resigning. When it comes to Gen Z and Millennials, a 2022 Deloitte study found that over 30 percent would leave their jobs without having another one lined up.
Just like it irked me when I’d hear my kids say, “I’ll be there in a minute,” digital natives will be even more irked if your company tells them, “This onboarding application will only take a minute to load,” or “Our CRM runs slowly, but it should only take 30 seconds.”
The line between “customer” and “employee” is narrow when it comes to digital natives. And if you don’t prepare your transformation plan now, you could lose out on both.
Plan Your Digital Transformation
Like any big initiative, digital transformation takes careful planning. Consider these three topics as you get started:
- What does your digital customer base and workforce look like today? What will they look like in 5–10 years from now?
- Will any of your transformation projects positively affect your brand? Employer branding will soon evolve from a “nice to have” to a “must have” to attract new employees. And your customers will choose their providers based on the values of a company. A “trusted” brand is no longer just about your products and services—it’s about your entire company and what it stands for.
- Once you’ve integrated your workforce of digital natives, how can you retain them for the long run? What will their needs be five years on? What projects can you focus on now to meet their needs today and tomorrow?
Change Is Inevitable. Growth Is Optional.
Digital natives no longer say, “I’ll be there in a minute.” They move on to a competitor without a second thought.
So don’t put your digital transformation planning on hold. If you’re having trouble getting started, find experienced experts to help. Experts that understand your environment and unique needs—no matter the complexity. Experts that can help you achieve long-term business success.
At Micro Focus, we check all these boxes. Visit our Advisory Services page to learn how our team helps you:
- Plan your transformation and build consensus between IT and the business.
- Discover usage gaps, configurations, integrations, upgrades, and alignment of software and skills in your environment.
- Achieve the predictability you need to reduce implementation timelines, ensure solutions meet requirements, and efficiently manage organizational change.
Got questions on how to take care of your business? We’ve got answers. Get in touch with our smart, friendly experts today.
