Lately, Chinese language tech big Huawei introduced a number of AI initiatives that may turn out to be a part of its digital transformation partnership with Saudi Arabia. Comparable information is coming from different nations, from the Japanese digital transformation minister asserting the need of the reform to Azerbaijan asserting its transition to paperless authorities operations. These are just some examples of the rising development illustrating that digital transformation performs a rising function not just for firms searching for revolutionary methods to enhance their efficiency, however for the entire nation. Alexandre Fernandes, an IT guide with over a decade of expertise that features working for multinational firms comparable to Hewlett Packard, Manhattan Associates, and JPMorgan Chase & Co, shares his view on the rules of digital transformation and the function 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 means of streamlining enterprise processes, automating routine operations, and enhancing buyer expertise. Alexandre Fernandes notes that he finds inspiration in the potential for utilizing software program code to unravel real-world issues.
Nevertheless, focusing solely on the technical aspect of the initiatives will not be sufficient. Every revolutionary concept can have a clearly outlined goal, and the profit it brings to the enterprise, and it must 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 doable to develop options that may convey real-world advantages to the shoppers.
His profession contains a number of examples of placing this strategy into follow. Whereas engaged on enhancing the warehouse administration system for one of many largest attire firms, Alexandre Fernandes refactored the applying code for parcel processing, which finally helped to chop order processing time by over 30%, permitting the crew to meet 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 mandatory 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. For example, it isn’t sufficient to exchange 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 danger stays on a floor stage solely and doesn’t translate into actual change and efficiency enchancment.
Right here is without doubt 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 dealing with issues of delays in processing consumer requests. The basis of the issues turned out to be the truth that there was one crew chargeable for each new characteristic enhancements and resolving current points. Consequently, the latter was pushed again as a result of decrease precedence. Alexandre Fernandes advised making a devoted crew, which might focus totally on customers’ points. Ultimately, it helped to wash out the backlog and reduce the requests’ turnaround time by over 70%. This instance highlights the concept that having the proper sources will not be sufficient: an organization wants to make use of them the proper approach, arrange the interactions between groups, and allocate sources properly for the best final result.
Alexandre Fernandes emphasizes that the power to determine productive teamwork and to remain targeted on sensible and concrete targets are of no much less significance than technical information. In 2024, he participated within the judging panel on the Globee Awards for Know-how, a number one enterprise and expertise awards present that pulls firms and people from everywhere in the world. He notes that of all of the nominees he has evaluated, those that are capable of improve their skilled expertise and information with their mushy expertise, teamwork and open-mindedness usually tend to win the award.
It is usually essential to recollect, that, whereas the idea of digital transformation will not be new, its panorama continually evolves. New applied sciences emerge bringing new alternatives, and it could be tempting to attempt them out with out a lot consideration of their inherent dangers and advantages. The concern of lacking a development 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 functions 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 must 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 growing 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, repeatedly increasing his information 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 power to shortly grasp new applied sciences and incorporate them of their course of, to supply purchasers with environment friendly software program options.