Companies are recovering quicker than expected in post-pandemic times. However, some seem to be growing faster than others. Who comes out on top? The ones that digitalised! Want to know how investing in the right technology and digitalisation strategy can kickstart your digital innovation journey and take your business to new heights? Newspapers De Tijd and L’Echo gathered industry specialists to talk about just that.
The John Cockerill case: Start your digital transformation journey with the right travel companion
“Digital transformation should always create added value for your company. To achieve that, you’ll need end-to-end integration, a coherent architecture and the right support,” Gérard Purnode, Chief Information Officer of John Cockerill, explains. "There’s no point in digitalising just for the sake of it.
“When three years ago, we embarked on a digital transformation journey , we were looking for experienced partners that could help build up our internal knowledge as well”, Gérard Purnode continues. “The Flexso team, with Project & Change Manager Anne de Vleeschauwer, fits that bill perfectly. Together, we’ve worked on short- and long-term initiatives, ranging from harmonising our purchasing and sales processes to implementing a targeted application for time management and office-space occupancy.”
A successful digital transformation requires more than a technological service provider – you need a holistic partner you can spar with on a strategic level.
Management, IT and business: the holy trinity
“Before the pandemic hit, companies were already embracing developments, such as Industry 4.0 and new technologies, including Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, RPA (Robotic Process Automation), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML),” says Alexandre Vandenbosch, Senior Manager Project & Program Management at Flexso. “The pandemic has shaken up the digital agenda: which project portfolios should now be prioritised? Which business processes should we tackle? Which new user needs should we consider first? This tactical and strategic reorientation has undoubtedly been good for many companies.”
So, digital has become more important than ever… That means expectations are soaring for management, IT and business. As the core triangle, each must work together seamlessly and team up in tackling certain projects. The CIO and his team now have a leading role to play. More than simply focussing on the technology, they have to go beyond the technical implementation and also build a business case: does the project provide a return on investment? Is it worth the extra workload? Only after determining that should companies move forward.
De Tijd and L’Echo asked our expert Alexandre Vandenbosch how companies harness the power of technology to grow at the speed of light. Read the full article:
Digital innovation – how do companies grow at the speed of light?
Ask the industry experts
De Tijd and L’Echo organised a round-table discussion with leading digital voices from John Cockerill, Orac Décor, Advanced Power Solutions, Vlerick Business School and SAP. The topics on the table: the evolution experienced by companies during the pandemic, what digital growth we can expect and the role technology has to play in that business growth.
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