Let us time travel back in time to 1995. Here's what the looked like for me: I had entered the full-time workforce and got my first email address. Not everyone used it yet (admin assistants printed emails for some people). I used Netscape Navigator to browse the World Wide Web. I only had access to the Internet at work, so I got to turn off my computer at the end of the day and went home--with no work following me. Pagers were still a thing and cell phones were nascent.
In just 25 years, the world has changed significantly. Email is ubiquitous. Our watches are connected to the Internet (well, not mine). And Google Chrome is the gateway to endless entertainment and information.
While most people in office buildings are tethered to electronics and the internet for most of their day (both work and not work), the promise of digital has not been fully fulfilled. Since becoming a digital professional circa 1999, I have seen the evolution from both sides--someone who has had to learn new things and someone who has to get other people to accept and use new things. I myself am not an early adopter of new technology or gadgets but I do adapt pretty quickly when needed. But not everyone does. And therein is the crux of the problem.
Digital transformation isn't about technology. If all we had to do was make computers do things, we'd be done with the transformation. The technology is here. It's been here for years.
People on the other hand, don't change so easily. Digital transformation is about the people who have to adopt new ways of working. We cannot program people to do something differently.
If we want to truly transform an organization or a team to be digital-first, we need to help the people adapt. Start with the people, give them technology to make their lives easier or better, and provide support as they go through the process of changing how they work.
Helping make digital transformation a success is my focus now. It comes from my two decades of work in digital usability, user experience, content strategy, and information architecture as well as my education which focused on history and diplomacy.
I have a unique seat at this table. One that allows me to see things from many angles: as an in-house web lead, as a consultant helping organizations build useful and usable websites and digital products, and as a leader in my professional community.
How can I help you transform?