Go digital – or close down

Is it possible to imagine running a business without using the internet or a calculator? No, of course not. In the same way, it is crucial that companies focus on digital development. That is the opinion of Lars Bork Dylander from the IT company SOA People. He points out that companies that are lagging behind in the digital revolution will quickly be outcompeted by more progressive companies.

“Technological developments in artificial intelligence (AI) are happening so fast that companies that don’t get on board now risk facing major problems in the future – even if they try to jump on the bandwagon later. It will be virtually impossible for companies that remain in Industry 3.0 to compete with Industry 4.0 companies. The advances brought about by AI, IoT, robots, etc., will simply be too great. So companies that want to succeed in the future must be prepared to make full use of the new technologies, otherwise I believe they will find it difficult to survive.”

According to Lars Bork Dylander, management in many companies is still uncertain about the actual significance of digital transformation for their business in the here and now. However, he himself has no doubt that digitisation and new technologies will have a huge impact on companies’ development and competitiveness. ‘Technological development offers a number of clear advantages when it comes to making things smarter, cheaper and more efficient, so companies can use digitalisation to strengthen their competitiveness and positioning.’ If Danish companies were not already aware of the importance of digitalisation, then, according to Lars Bork Dylander, the coronavirus pandemic has shown how crucial digitalisation is and why it cannot wait until tomorrow. “The competition was already there before, but during the coronavirus crisis, we were forced to adapt, and now we see how powerful digital solutions are when problems arise, because they are flexible and adaptable,” emphasises Lars Bork Dylander, adding that the digital initiative is also important in terms of attracting qualified employees. “Digital companies are often attractive places to work, and if you want to attract young employees, you need to invest in the latest technology, because young employees expect their workplace to be digital.”

Although many companies believe they are undergoing a digital transformation, Lars Bork Dylander believes that many companies still view AI, data science and algorithms as something that is difficult to access. “As with all other technological developments, progress is always a step towards something new and better. When the car was invented, many people had to get used to it, and many continued to drive horse-drawn carriages, so a phase of apprehension is not unusual when it comes to new technology. We just have to say that the tools needed are already available in the form of new intelligent platforms, so it’s a matter of exploiting the opportunities,” says Lars Bork Dylander, emphasising the need for education and information. He acknowledges that educational institutions are making a great effort and sending many young IT professionals into the labour market, but this is not enough to meet the demand, and therefore, companies themselves also have a major task in contributing to education and recruitment, he believes. “For AI to really make its breakthrough in companies, we need more young IT professionals in the labour market and the rest of the workforce to be upskilled.

“In the old days, when the PC was the new work tool, people were offered further training and a so-called PC driving licence. Perhaps today we should consider an AI certificate as part of the skills upgrade for the practical application of the new technology,” says Lars Bork Dylander.