The global workforce is in the midst of a digital transformation, where more and more initiatives are relying on digital technologies and competencies to drive the business forward. However, the lack of digital skills among workers is hampering the transformation of companies around the world. Taking the UK as an example, only one in ten UK workers possess digital skills, research has found.

There are four steps companies can take to close the digital skills gap and prepare their workforce for digital transformation:

1. Evaluate employee skills

   What digital skills do your employees currently have that are a value-add for the business? These can include software knowledge, CRM experience, Microsoft Suite expertise, or internal, proprietary systems.
   
   

2. Reveal gaps in talent

   Do you have a workforce in place who can handle digital transformation, or do you need to seek outside talent?
   
   

3. Offer on-the-job training to your existing workforce

   Continuing education--whether in the workplace, through a professional association, or at a higher education institution--can supplement an individual’s skill set and have a big impact. According to a report on adult training and education from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, 66% of adults surveyed thought a work experience program was very useful for improving work skills. Read more here.
   
   

4. Promote from within

   Promoting internally is significantly less expensive than recruiting for the same role externally. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM’s) Human Capital Benchmarking Report, the average cost-per-hire is $4,129. And, external hires often get paid more. A study by Matthew Bidwell, an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, showed external hires get paid 18% to 20% more than internal employees do for the same job.

Shifting the emphasis from manual skills to digital skills in the workforce is critical for companies to stay ahead of the competition, lower the cost of doing business, and maintain a productive workforce. Implementing a digital credentialing program within an organization can help prepare your organization for digital transformation. Digital badges allow a company to quickly identify talent, promote from within, and reward lifelong learning.

Speak to our team now to find out how digital credentials help impact the bottom line.