Get tech ready: the 4 pillars of tech readiness your company should embrace.

Successful businesses need to be “tech ready”. What does that mean? It is not just about being aware of the latest AI tools or CRM software, but also about building a strong foundation that supports sustainable growth and innovation. This foundation is held up by the 4 pillars of tech readiness: the right culture, skills, infrastructure, and budget. Depending on the tech involved, there is sometimes even a fifth pillar: data. All these elements are crucial for businesses that want to thrive in the digital era, but why? In this blog, we explore the pillars of tech-readiness and show you how to get ready for the next disruptive tech that will hit the market, probably sooner than you think.

From adoption challenge to competitive advantage.

Being tech ready is a smart, strategic move forward that will help you unlock countless benefits for your business. It is not an easy thing to do, though. There is no “plug-and-play" plan for you to simply integrate, as every business has its own, unique context. Becoming tech ready requires a long-term investment and the willingness to adopt a forward-thinking approach. In essence, it requires a holistic approach – much like rebuilding your business from the ground up, where the integration of the four pillars play a crucial role. This foundation enables your business to prepare and implement effective tech strategies and to ensure they are set up for success in an increasingly competitive digital world. It all comes down to creating an environment that fosters innovation, agility, and resilience, so you can quickly adapt to new technologies and seize the opportunities that come your way. Through careful planning, investing in the right skills, and the development of a supportive infrastructure and culture, you can turn the challenge of tech adoption into your competitive advantage.

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The 4 pillars of tech-readiness:

1. Cultural readiness.

Cultural readiness represents your company’s mindset towards technological change and innovation. It’s all about fostering an openminded approach that welcomes new technologies but also encourages experimentation, learning from failures, and a continuous focus on improvement. This means creating an environment in which team members feel empowered to suggest new ideas, test out new technologies, are not afraid to make mistakes, and have a genuine interest in staying up to date with all the latest around tech.

Right now we are moving one step closer to a more digital world every day. Businesses that encourage technological curiosity and openness to change are the ones that stay ahead. Nobody wants to be the next Blockbuster, but everyone wants to be the next Netflix. Cultural readiness is the soil in which the seeds of innovation can sprout. Without it, even the most advanced technologies or skilled employees won't be able to fully unleash their potential, as they will meet a resistance to change or a lack of support from the organizational culture.

What can you start doing today?

Make leadership tech-savvy: Leaders must actively promote and embody the values of continuous learning and openness to change. Their support and enthusiasm for embracing new technologies will be contagious and set the tone for the rest of the organization.

Celebrate innovation: Recognize and reward initiatives and ideas that contribute to technological advancement within your company, even if they’re not always successful. This encourages the readiness to learn, make mistakes and experiment.


Minimize bureaucracy and break down silos: Unnecessary administrative tasks and silos within a business hinder the path to innovation. Facilitate cross-team collaboration and embrace diverse viewpoints to cultivate an environment where innovation thrives.

Google.

Google thrives on a culture that celebrates big ideas from everyone, focusing first on what their users need instead of what profit they can bring. It’s a place where mistakes are seen as an opportunity to learn, and where everyone is encouraged to think differently and take risks. Google keeps track of a wide range of data and information to get better and stay creative, proving that its innovative spirit is key to its success. It is this innovative and creative mindset that has led to the creation of successful products like Gmail and AdSense.

Netflix.

Netflix fosters a culture of freedom and responsibility that empowers its employees to freely make decisions and experiment with new ideas. The company promotes a set of core principles, including curiosity, open dissent, diversity, and inclusion, as well as courage, transparency, and continuous improvement. This culture has been pivotal in its evolution from a DVD-by-mail to the global leader in online streaming services.

Paving the path for innovation.

When cultural readiness is at the core of your organization, adopting new technologies does not only become smoother, you’re also automatically positioning yourself at the forefront of innovation. This pillar turns challenges into opportunities and ensures that your organization is not just reacting to technological changes but that it is proactively shaping them.

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2. Skill readiness.

Skills readiness is all about making sure your team possesses the necessary technical skills and knowledge to effectively utilize and innovate with new technologies. It's not just about having a few IT guys on board but about cultivating a deep, organization-wide understanding of relevant technologies and how they can be applied to your daily business processes. Having the right skills to work with new technologies, means having both basic digital literacy and advanced technical expertise across the team.

Skills readiness equips your team with the agility to adopt new technologies efficiently, reducing the time and resources spent on the learning curve. It enables your organization to be more innovative, improve productivity, and better serve customer needs. Additionally, a workforce that is confident in its tech skills is more likely to identify opportunities for improvement and innovation.

What can you start doing today?

Continuous learning and development: Implement ongoing training programs and provide access to learning resources to keep your team’s skills up to date. This includes online courses, workshops, and seminars on the latest technologies relevant to your industry.

Hiring for diversity in skills: When hiring new talent, look for individuals with diverse tech skills and experiences that complement your team's existing capabilities. This diversity can spark innovation and provide new perspectives on how to get the most out of new technology.

Encouraging cross-functional collaboration: Create an environment where employees from different departments can collaborate on projects. This not only facilitates the sharing of skills but also encourages non-technical staff to gain a better understanding of tech applications and possibilities.

Salesforce.

Recognizing the importance of skills readiness, Salesforce offers extensive training and certification programs through its Trailhead platform. The platform enables both employees and customers to gain proficiency in the company’s technologies.

Siemens.

Siemens runs a comprehensive digital education program for its employees. The company invests in training initiatives to make sure employees are skilled in digital technologies, cybersecurity, and AI, preparing them for the future of work.

Skilling up for the digital age.

By prioritizing skills readiness, your business not only prepares its teams for the digital age but makes sure they play a proactive role in shaping it. This preparedness boosts your competitive edge and can also enhance employee satisfaction and engagement, because team members will feel more competent and valued. Skills readiness is essential if you want to implement new technologies successfully and use them to their full potential.

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3. Infrastructure readiness.

Infrastructure readiness refers to the physical and digital frameworks that support the effective use and integration of technology within an organization. This encompasses everything from robust IT systems and network capabilities to cloud services and cybersecurity measures. It's about having a scalable and flexible infrastructure that can support current technological needs while being adaptable enough to work with future advancements.

A solid technological infrastructure is the backbone of any modern business. It enables efficient operations, data security, and seamless integration of new technologies. Without a ready and resilient infrastructure, companies may struggle with downtime, cyber threats, and the inability to scale operations or adopt new tech solutions efficiently. Infrastructure readiness ensures that businesses can respond quickly to market changes, customer needs, and emerging tech opportunities without being held back by outdated or inadequate systems.

What can you start doing today?

Conduct regular assessments: It is important that you regularly evaluate your existing infrastructure. By doing so you can more easily identify areas that need improvement or upgrades to be able to support new technologies.


Invest in scalable solutions: Go for scalable cloud services and modular IT solutions that can grow and adapt with your business needs while avoiding the limitations of rigid, out of date systems.


Plan for flexibility: Design your infrastructure with flexibility in mind, that will promote easy integration of new technologies and collaboration tools that can improve your productivity and innovation.

Nike.

Nike’s investment in digital infrastructure has propelled the company into the future of retail. With its advanced online platforms, mobile applications, and the use of AI for personalized marketing and product customization, Nike has set a new standard for how traditional retail businesses can use technology to engage with customers and streamline daily operations.

IKEA.

The world-renowned furniture retailer, IKEA, has implemented a robust tech infrastructure that supports everything from supply chain management to a smooth digital shopping experience. With the augmented reality (AR) feature in their app, customers can visualize furniture in their homes before purchasing it. This would never have been possible if it weren’t for IKEA's forward-thinking tech infrastructure.

(Infra)structural integrity.

By investing in infrastructure readiness, your company can be sure of a strong, secure, and adaptable technological backbone. You will be setting the stage for seamless tech adoption and innovation. This pillar promotes operational efficiency but also empowers your business to explore new opportunities and competitive advantages in the digital landscape.

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4. Budget readiness.

Budget readiness refers to the strategic allocation of financial resources to support the adoption and integration of new technologies within an organization. It's about securing a dedicated budget for technological investments, including the acquisition of new tools, staff training, and upgrades to existing infrastructure. This financial planning and allocation is crucial for a smooth transition and effective use of technology to achieve your business goals.

Without proper budget readiness, you might have a hard time to keep up with the latest technological advancements and you might risk facing inefficiencies, weak links in your security, and missed opportunities for innovation. A well-planned technology budget ensures that you can timely invest in new technologies that drive competitive advantage, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the customer experience. It also ensures that the necessary resources are available for continued maintenance, updates, and training, resources that are vital for the long-term success of tech initiatives.

What can you start doing today?

Strategic planning: Include technology investments into the strategic planning process. Get an understanding of how technology aligns with and supports your business objectives to make informed budgeting decisions.

Flexibility: Maintain flexibility in the budget so you are able to respond to new technological opportunities or challenges that arise. The tech landscape is evolving rapidly, and agility in budget allocation can offer a significant advantage.

ROI analysis: Evaluate potential technology investments through the lens of return on investment (ROI). Do not only take into account the initial costs but also their long-term value in terms of efficiency gains, revenue growth, and customer satisfaction.

Examples of budget allocation strategies.

Setting aside a technology innovation fund: Companies like Google and 3M allocate a portion of their budget for innovation and research & development (R&D). This allows them to explore new technologies and applications without the pressure of immediate ROI.

Phased technology adoption: Some businesses choose for a phased approach to technology adoption whereby investments are spread out over multiple budget cycles. This strategy enables iterative learning and adjustments based on initial outcomes and reduces financial risk.

Enter into financial partnerships: Organizations may also explore partnerships with technology providers or financial institutions to manage costs. This can include leasing hardware or software, utilizing cloud services to reduce upfront investments, or taking advantage of financing options designed for technology upgrades.

Ready funds for future tech.

By ensuring budget readiness, your company is ready to navigate the technological landscape proactively, making strategic investments that support your long-term vision and operational goals. This readiness is not just about having the necessary funds at the ready; it is also about prioritizing technology as a key driver of your business success and allocating resources accordingly.

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Extra – Data readiness.

Data readiness means having the right systems, processes, and policies in place to collect, store, manage, and analyse data effectively. It's about ensuring that the relevant data are accessible, reliable, and secure so they serve as an asset that can inform decision-making, drive innovation, and improve operational efficiency. Data readiness requires you to have the infrastructure and capabilities to handle data at scale, maintain the quality, and comply with relevant data protection regulations.

Data is often described as the new oil that powers the engines of any modern business. Data readiness enables organizations to leverage this valuable resource to gain insights, predict trends, enhance customer experiences, and optimize processes. Without it, your business risks making uninformed decisions, missing out on opportunities for growth, and falling behind in competitive markets. Additionally, with increasing concerns about data privacy and security, being data-ready also means ensuring the protection of customer information, building trust and complying with legal standards.


The data pillar is especially important in this time of rapid AI developments. By making data accessible, clean, and well-managed, your organization can feed advanced AI algorithms with the high-quality input they require to generate accurate insights, automate processes, and fuel innovations. The synergy between data readiness and AI enables your business to unlock new levels of efficiency, personalized customer experiences, and strategic decision-making.

Turn disruptions into opportunities.

With technology developing at the speed of light, becoming “tech-ready” offers you a strategic advantage that will help you reap the benefits and future-proof your business. As discussed, this readiness builds upon the foundational pillars of cultural, skills, infrastructure, and budget readiness, with the addition of a fifth pillar, data readiness, depending on the technology used. Each pillar promotes the capacity to innovate, adapt, and unlock new value. Essentially, being tech-ready is about creating a resilient, forward-thinking organization that is always ready to take advantage of the latest wave of technological breakthroughs so that it can turn potential disruptions into powerful engines of progress and growth.

Do you want to get a grasp of some crucial emerging technologies in your field? Check out our handy scorecards that unveil their potential at a single glance.

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