Digital transformation was high on most organizations鈥� agendas even before COVID-19 and has only risen in importance since the pandemic, compelling organizations to rethink their operating models, technologies, and ways of working. The impact of digital, including AI and intelligent automation, has also reshaped the workforce, with new skills and tasks emerging, and others either evolving or becoming threatened.
According to a recent 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网-commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting, 63 percent of business leaders are prioritizing an 鈥榓ligned and empowered鈥� workforce to support digital transformation. This should enable them to expand their talent base and work out the appropriate mix of different skills needed to meet growing demand. By understanding how transformation affects their workforce, organizations can respond faster to changes, whether it鈥檚 taking on new competitors, moving into new markets, or finding new ways to serve customers. For example, the pandemic has tested companies鈥� ability to serve customers remotely 鈥� some have risen to the challenge better than others.
The C-suite agrees that technical skills are becoming more and more important. shows that one of the biggest threats to long-term growth is talent risk; this issue rose eleven places compared to the previous year鈥檚 survey. Additionally, in the , a majority (62 percent) of respondents say a skills shortage is preventing their organization from keeping up with the pace of change.
Clearly, upskilling is now more critical than ever. Another 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网 survey, , found that 77 percent of HR leaders plan to upskill up to 30 percent of their workforce in digital capabilities over the next 2鈥�3 years.
Source: A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网, July 2020
Adapting your workforce to a permanent storm
COVID-19 alone hasn鈥檛 singlehandedly changed the world of work. But it has forced organizations to address a number of workforce challenges sooner than anticipated. Like re-skilling existing employees, bringing in new and temporary workers, adjusting to remote working, and integrating people and machines.
The World Economic Forum () calls this a 鈥渄ouble disruption鈥� of automation and COVID-19鈥�, with a huge churn of workers and host of new roles. And, frankly, traditional workforce planning won鈥檛 be able to address this huge task. HR leaders need a new way to approach a future filled with uncertainty and constant, fast change. According to Report 2020, from the WEF:
Source: The World Economic Forum, Report, 2020
Workforce shaping
Workforce shaping introduces a dynamic approach to planning resource needs. Using horizon scanning and scenario planning, along with continuous dialogue with business units, organizations can chart what skills they need in several years鈥� time 鈥� and where they need them.
It鈥檚 also about understanding the impact of digital technologies 鈥� primarily automation and AI 鈥� and how humans and machines will work together to drive business value.
Factors such as operating models, back office transformation and automation will all impact the way that tasks are carried out, which in turn drives the demand for different skills and capabilities.
In the 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网 survey The Future of HR 2020, those companies that embraced workforce shaping reported greater levels of value add to the business from People/HR Management.
Upskilling will be an integral part of this approach, and the scale of learning and development effort should not be underestimated, as new roles such as data scientists emerge. Additionally, there is likely to be an increasing use of contingent, temporary or gig workers, with organizations seeking to access capabilities on an as-a-service basis 鈥� via managed services. This can help them acquire vital automation capabilities and reduce fixed office costs. Organizations鈥� footprints are also likely to be impacted by the growth in activities carried out virtually in the cloud.
Base: 780 professionals involved with digital transformation strategy decisions
Source: A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网, July 2020
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The pace of disruption presents an opportunity to transform the HR function. We can work with you to build a multi-year workforce roadmap, which can align your technological and human capabilities with your business needs, and give you the flexibility to adapt your skills and resources to fast-changing markets.
