The tech-evolved workplace: Education leads the way

Technology has radically reshaped the world in the last 20 years.

Within the next decade alone, you can expect that everything from voice recognition technology to augmented-reality glasses to touch-based devices will be readily available in organizations everywhere. And education is leading the way.

Education is the most progressive sector in terms of moving to a state of digital maturity — where an organization uses sophisticated tools to drive performance, and demonstrates an ongoing commitment to technology, technology-led initiatives and digitally managed processes. Interactive whiteboards are already present in many classrooms and, with the increasing usage of mobile devices by students, the next five years will see real-time, digitally-enabled educational experiences becoming the norm.

With today's technology-enhanced classroom experience — including the rise of remote learning and emergence of massive open online courses (MOOCs) — it’s clear that digital innovation is at the heart of future education.

The benefits and challenges of digital maturity

The big questions facing leaders of educational institutions are: “What does digital maturity look like for my institution?” and “How can I ensure that our people and processes are working in harmony with this vision?”

Cost is often the biggest barrier to achieving digital maturity. This is a challenge for every business leader in every sector today.

The key to managing costs is the way business information processes are engineered. Are your processes designed to optimize information, providing everyone better access to the data they need and to share it easily and quickly? Do you have the infrastructure to support the broader adoption of collaborative, more productive tools such as web-based meetings?

Re-engineering information processes also increases your agility, so you can achieve the competitive advantage you seek.

Taking the first step

Achieving digital maturity can be a challenge. It isn’t easy for most businesses to carve out the time to conduct a thorough assessment of processes, redesign them and manage the required cultural changes that go with this transformation.

Fortunately, that first step is not something you need to tackle alone; an experienced managed service provider can conduct an assessment and make recommendations. They have the benefits of cross-industry experiential knowledge and up-to-date digital know-how. With an established, scalable infrastructure, the experienced service provider can combine comprehensive business process experience with information management, security and auditing tools.

The lesson?

Companies that fully leverage today’s available services and technology options can better position themselves for the future by building a more digitally mature, agile workplace. Having a robust digital framework and experienced partner support are essential to make the most of restrained budgets, remain competitive where digital capabilities are constantly changing, and grow your organization.