As we enter the second half of the year, there is one thing that all business leaders can agree on; 2020 has not been what we expected. The challenges faced by organizations across the board have changed our ways of working, shifted consumer expectations and impacted the global economy in ways we are still processing.
As the UAE begins to reopen leaders must consider how their organization can adapt to the “new normal”. The immense change we’ve seen in recent months has led to the fast adoption of IT transformation and digital workspaces to allow organizations to continue operating, however now is the time to re-evaluate how this experience can be used to take transformation to the next level. “Keeping the lights on” is not good enough, to truly strive organizations need to utilize IT and emerging technologies to be resilient no matter the circumstances.
First and foremost; Consider your team
Remote working has been a mixed bag; some have loved the flexibility and found it to have a positive impact on their productivity and work/life balance, while others have struggled to utilize digital workspaces without the routine of working in the office. The most important thing for CIOs and business leaders to do now, is to listen to feedback and understand how to improve the existing infrastructure for team members.
If you treat the last few months as a real-life test for virtual workspaces, you can use insights to enhance your digital solutions further. The future of working is increasingly digital and flexible, and improvements can empower your workforce to become more agile, driving increased productivity and company loyalty. Consider the areas which are highlighted for improvement and identify where employee training or infrastructure changes can be used to enhance these. At Dell Technologies we have a range of remote working solutions you can consider as part of your future ready strategy.
Use AI to stay agile
As the full implications of recent events come into focus, it’s crucial that businesses remain agile and reactive to consumer behavior to ensure their success. AI and big data have incredible potential to support in this, with analysis showing how customer behavior is changing in specific markets in real-time. Utilizing this data can enable businesses to successfully forecast demand along with any challenges customers are facing, meaning they can be more reactive to consumer needs, driving loyalty and sales. This is particularly relevant in the manufacturing space, where predictive analytics can be used to allow flexible supply, saving costs where required and increasing production to meet demand where required.
In the UAE this is particularly relevant. As rules relax but travel remains restricted, businesses can consider behavior specifically within the country or individual Emirates to adapt accordingly. The usual summer slow-down we see may not happen this year with residents reluctant to travel abroad, however the implications of this for businesses is unclear. Constant analysis of trends will enable organizations to gain a deeper understanding into the changing marketplace and give an advantage over competition.
Keeping security at the core
The fast adoption of digital solutions has led to an increase in cyber and phishing attacks in the UAE. While this is to some extent inevitable, it’s fundamental that IT departments are aware of the threats and take a proactive approach to keep data, applications, employees and customers safe.
Security is crucial at every touch point to make your organization more resilient. At Dell Technologies we have a range of security solutions to ensure your organization is protected should an attack occur.
