19 July 2019

The gap towards maximising digital transformation rewards

ServiceNow’s latest survey has uncovered that people want to work in new ways. Results show that Singapore business leaders are close to achieving digital maturity but still feel that there is a need to strengthen strategic planning at the organisation level to reap the full benefits of digital transformation.

The company polled 516 CIOs across 12 countries on digital transformation in the workplace. More than two thirds (76%) of CIOs in Singapore strongly believe in the value of digitised workflows in order to foster better collaboration and communication across various business functions (91%), and in improving overall organisational productivity (80%) and efficiency (76%).

However, respondents also cited that different business functions within their organisations had developed separate processes to digitising workflows because of a lack of strategic planning at a higher level with half of CIOs believing that their own organisations have successfully integrated technology across business functions for greater productivity.

Top limitations cited in adopting these new technological practices include

- Possession of inadequate technology (48% compared to a 41% global average),

- A shortage of skills (46%, same as the global average) and

- Ineffective collaboration among departments (46% compared to 37%, the global average).

“Companies which streamline digital workflows across the enterprise have proven to be more operationally efficient, resulting in greater success when attracting and retaining talent. Identifying the right processes for integration is essential in equipping employees with the right tools to continuously improve their work.

"CIOs need to ensure that digital culture starts from the top level and resonates down through the entire workforce,” said Mitch Young, SVP and GM, APJ, ServiceNow.

According to the study many CIOs in Singapore believe that close collaboration with C-suite executives is imperative in order to drive change within an organisation. Three quarters (76%) of respondents report they work closely with their CHRO (Chief Human Resource Officer) and CTO (Chief Talent Officer) to successfully implement new talent strategies. Another 59% have partnered up with their COO to action more streamlined workflows.

“Organisations across every industry are trying figure out how to embrace digital transformation and at the same time CIOs and CHROs are being asked to deliver great employee and customer experiences. In order to truly achieve a successful transformation journey, there must be a robust plan and unparalleled communication at the organisation level,” said Young.

More than half of the respondents in Singapore (53%) say that 60% of an organisation’s workflow are digitised today. In the next three years, the number is projected to grow to 89% with more emphasis on a standardised workflow for seamless management between departments.

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Read more about the report, Workflow Quarterly: The Leadership Issue