Companies attuned to current market trends are potentially ahead of their competitors. It has not been today that adopting technological solutions has become an essential necessity for long-term survival and success in the current business landscape, and the big challenge is knowing how and which sectors to apply these solutions to. But the differentiator would be how this improves the lives of employees or customers, in other words, people doing for people.
In Brazil, according to a survey commissioned by IBM in 2022, 41% of companies actively implemented artificial intelligence (AI) in their daily business operations, with 73% of information technology (IT) professionals accelerating investments in the past two years. For most participants, AI helps to address skill gaps and labor shortages, as information security is a major challenge in data management.
However, for Eduardo Freire, CEO and corporate innovation strategist atFWK Innovation DesignIt is necessary to be careful when addressing this subject. "We are in a scenario where the greatest competitive drive to use technological solutions is the need for data. When companies are born with technological implementation, they have a certain competitive advantage over those that do not use technologies," he explains.
“Technology can optimize internal processes and facilitate the management of a company, thus improving our educational service. This is essential. However, this approach is typical of traditional management. When a company grows and does not use technology, it is necessary to incorporate it to improve operations,” he adds.
It is not enough to have the technology, you need to know what it is for and how to apply it
For the CEO, although it is a benefit for companies, careful study should be conducted on how and in which sector to apply the new technologies. "We must be careful not to sell technology for the sake of technology," he warns.
Below, he discusses five essential tips so that companies do not make mistakes when trying to innovate and end up forgetting the most important thing: business management.
1. Don't apply technology for the sake of it
“The main advantage of technology is the possibility of creating an environment conducive to innovation. This process involves understanding the context, investing in knowledge and ensuring that the technology will be used strategically, and not because it is 'trendy'. In fact, it is essential that the team is motivated and engaged in using the tool in business management”, he analyzes.
2. Make sure the technology is aligned with the company’s goals
“When it is decided that companies will adopt a certain technology, managers must include employees in the process from the beginning, in order to promote an organizational culture that values innovation and continuous learning. A good example here is to offer training to explain how the technology works, how it will help in day-to-day activities and how it should be used,” he points out.
3. Plan the management strategy for the future
“It’s no use just implementing technologies; it’s important to keep in mind that market trends are constantly changing and evolving. Therefore, companies must always be proactive and available to test not only new technologies, but also business models that can drive innovation and competitiveness,” says the CEO.
4. Know in which sector to apply the technology
“It is necessary to analyze and understand that not all sectors of a company need technology. Those that benefit most from the innovations brought by this tool are related to the core of the business, such as operations, customer service and product and service development,” he explains.
5. Get out of the obvious
“When we think ‘outside the box’, we are able to identify opportunities for innovation. With technology, we can transform various sectors, but we must always focus on the value it can add to customers and the company”, concludes Eduardo Freire.
