DSAGLIVE 2021: Employees at the heart of change

DSAGLIVE 2021 (September 20-24) aims to provide impetus to drive digitization in companies. Whether the transformation actually succeeds depends crucially on employees. Accordingly, at DSAGLIVE 2021, the German-speaking SAP User Group (DSAG) devoted itself in detail to the question of how people in the company can be taken along on this journey of change and how the HR department can help to ensure that the transformation succeeds in the interests of employees and the company.

Create a digital mindset in your company

The coverage of DSAGLIVE 2021 at a glance:

• DSAGLIVE2021: Courage to change (Preview)

• DSAGLIVE 2021: Companies in the digital dilemma

• DSAGLIVE 2021: Employees at the heart of change

• DSAGLIVE 2021: Sustainability in the supply chain

• DSAGLIVE 2021: Targeting customer needs

Human component is crucial

There is no doubt that technologies and IT projects are important components of digital transformation. But at the heart of any business transformation are the people. After all, it is they who must implement the organizational and theoretical framework of optimized processes and new software solutions in a value-creating way and fill it with life so that the transformation is successful. However, the importance of the human factor and corporate culture for transformation is often underestimated – with negative consequences for change projects.

Out of the comfort zone

The challenge: True transformation usually takes place outside of one’s comfort zone, as DSAG board members Christine Tussing (Transformation) and Hermann-Josef Haag (Human Resources & Public Sector) emphasize. It is therefore understandable that change initially causes fear and rejection among employees.

Against this background, the HR department in particular has a decisive role to play in the digital transformation: It must create the right framework in which the change can succeed and a modified corporate culture can grow. If employees do not accept the changes in processes and do not use the available technologies, the change has no chance of lasting success.

The DSAG Academy supports companies with numerous offerings related to transformation. At the same time, DSAG strives to continuously raise SAP’s awareness of the challenges user companies face in the digital transformation so that SAP solutions do not miss the mark when it comes to companies’ needs. For example, the complexity of hybrid IT landscapes must be given special consideration during the transformation.

Success factors for transformation

Various factors are crucial for the success of the digital transformation. In addition to the intensive use of data and technologies, these also include an increase in efficiency in processes. Furthermore, the early involvement of management and key decision-makers is recommended. The strategic goals that the company wants to achieve with the help of the transformation must also be defined. It is also important to develop the organization and personnel accordingly and to create a corporate culture that promotes the use of modern working methods and innovations.

Digital transformation is a journey that is completed in many small stages. There is no optimum time to start the transformation. Therefore, DSAG’s recommendation to companies that have not yet embarked on the transformation journey is to be courageous and start now, if possible, in order to secure their competitiveness in the long term.

Change as part of the corporate DNA

Transformation starts in the mind. Software solutions and technologies provide valuable support, but ultimately success will only come if employees are willing to embrace the new and apply and use the optimized processes and innovative technologies in their daily work. It is crucial that the willingness to embrace change and lifelong learning is firmly anchored in the corporate DNA. To achieve this, managers in particular must live up to their role model function and lead the way in digital transformation.