The Key Role of Mobile Devices in Driving a Digital Culture

When businesses discuss change and transformation, there’s rarely (if ever) a time when technology isn’t involved.

Yet anyone undertaking digital transformation will tell you it’s not just about new technologies – it’s about changing how businesses use technology to deliver greater value.

Achieving this requires more than just investing in innovative tools – businesses also need to create and nurture a strong digital culture among their workforce.

Defined as the collective mindset and practices for how an organisation adopts and integrates technology across its operations, the concept of a digital culture reached the mainstream in the wake of COVID-19 and the shift to hybrid and remote working.

At the heart of this movement are the mobile devices we use every day.

Empowering people through mobile devices

For many workers, mobile phones are just as important as laptops.

These devices allow teams to stay connected, regardless of their location, and facilitate flexible, deskless work. They’re essential for employee engagement and can help workers be more productive for longer periods.

Mobile devices also support real-time communication with colleagues and customers, grant teams secure access to data essential for their roles, and foster collaboration across platforms.

But it’s not just employees that stand to benefit from this technology. With greater flexibility and agility, businesses are freed up to become more innovative. They’re also able to access the data and analytics they need to make more informed decisions and optimise resource allocation, which can have a huge impact on an organisation’s bottom line.

All of these benefits are key components of a digital-first culture, and illustrate the importance of mobile devices in creating this.

Overcoming resistance to change

While the advantages of a digital-first culture are clear, making this a reality is far from simple.

Like any other change initiative, the implementation of a digital culture is bound to encounter resistance.

The very concept of change often creates feelings of excitement and fear in equal measure. For many, it’s difficult to imagine it as anything other than a threat, which can stop them from recognising the benefits this transformation can deliver.

This could explain why, according to Gartner, half of all change initiatives fail, and just 34% can be defined as a success. The gap between intention and action is equally telling – one survey revealed that while 88% of UK organisations believe they have a strong digital culture, 75% hadn’t actually increased their digital usage in the preceding two years.

So what does this mean for those striving to create a digital culture? What resistance can they expect to encounter, and how can this be overcome?

Give your employees effective training

Change initiatives usually require employees to adopt a new way of working, which is one of the immediate obstacles any organisation will encounter.

What’s more, with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in the business world and ongoing economic uncertainty, change initiatives can often stoke fears of job losses.

Engaging your workforce throughout the process is one of the best ways to address these concerns and reduce opposition to change. An employee is far more likely to be on board with new digital initiatives if the goals are transparent, as we ultimately only fear what we don’t understand.

Targeted training can also help employees recognise how these solutions will enhance their roles, rather than replace them. If they don’t feel their role is at risk, they’ll be far more likely to embrace the change.

By taking this approach, you’ll be best placed to get maximum value from your digital investment, as your employees will have the confidence to both utilise and innovate with your new technology.

Invest in secure and scalable mobile solutions

Resistance to change isn’t limited to employees – stakeholders and decision-makers may also have areas of concern.

Security, cost, and long-term flexibility are often sticking points when it comes to getting executive buy-in for new tools and innovations. With technology at the core of a digital-first culture, it’s essential that your investment addresses these concerns if you want to truly embrace transformation.

By choosing smartphones fortified with defence-grade security measures like Samsung Knox, you can give management the peace of mind that sensitive data will be protected, and compliance requirements will be met.

Similarly, partnering with a provider that offers flexible tariffs and payment plans can address any unease around financial risk and service requirements. With Virgin Media O2 Business, you can avoid being tied to a plan that doesn’t work for your business long-term and have the freedom to scale according to your needs.

Ultimately, getting support from across the organisation involves making the transition as seamless as possible. Virgin Media O₂  Business, in partnership with Samsung, offer centralised device management and remote support to ensure that any disruption to business operations are kept to a minimum.

With Virgin Media O₂  Business and Samsung, you can empower your organisation with advanced, reliable and resilient mobile solutions they can trust. This way, they can adopt new technologies with confidence, allowing your digital culture to thrive.