Major UK businesses are asking one in six employees to learn new skills to deliver digital business models, according to new research*.The new study from the spend management provider has found that 91% of major UK business leaders are likely to refocus, redeploy, reskill, or upskill their workforce in line with digitisation of business processes. They will invest over 4% of turnover in digitisation in a bid to stave off economic headwinds.
Of those expecting their workforce to be affected, an average of 15.3% of staff are likely to face change. However, a significant minority – over one in ten major businesses – anticipate that digitisation will adversely affect at least 30% of their employees.
Employees will add value to firms by learning about advanced tools such as new software, programme and coding, or new platforms that are revolutionising business. By combining talent and technology, organisations will be in a better position to manage digital processes into the future.
Ilija Ugrinic, UK Market Director, said: “Our research confirms British businesses are investing billions of pounds in digital evolution and transformation. The very process of switching to digital business models is causing major companies to rethink how they use their talent. No matter the sector, businesses investing in digital evolution and transformation must support their employees with the right training to ensure adoption. Without this, an investment with the capacity to drive growth can fall flat and businesses will fail in adapting to the ever-changing evolving opportunities and challenges they are faced with.”
A third of major UK businesses view adoption of technology or digital processes as the biggest training priority this year. However, the research has found employees are not fully receiving the training that they need.
The data suggests that the pandemic has accelerated the pace of digital investment. Pre-pandemic, just over half (51%) of UK businesses had invested in digital transformation. This year, UK business leaders will invest 4.3% of annual turnover on a range of departments and services critical to digitally transforming business.
Proactis has discovered this continued investment in digital transformation will require equal investment in training teams for it to be a success. One in four major businesses are already prioritising this by also digitising HR processes.
*Proactis eRecovery report
