Pictured above: Igor Matich.
In the rush to embrace the latest tech trends, many businesses risk missing the bigger picture. Igor Matich, Founder of Dynamo6, argues that true digital transformation starts not with tools, but with people, purpose, and process.
Working in technology, it’s easy to get caught up in the next big thing – the shiny new AI, the latest cloud platform. As an early advocate of global cloud platforms, I’ve seen firsthand how quickly trends can emerge and evolve. But for true, impactful digital transformation, I’ve always believed the core of success lies beyond the tech itself. It’s about the people who will use it and the processes that guide its implementation.
Many organisations still grapple with the fundamental “why” and “how” of technology adoption. The perceived safety of being a “fast follower” or simply adopting what everyone else is doing, harking back to the adage, “Nobody got fired for using IBM,” can be incredibly tempting. However, playing it safe can lead to an endless cycle of outdated or misapplications of fantastic technology, bureaucratic hurdles, and ultimately, a stifling of genuine innovation. It doesn’t create the competitive advantage that drives market success.
Consider New Zealand’s global successes – Fisher & Paykel, Orion Health, Xero, Tīra Group, Tait Communications, and Gallagher. They weren’t built by playing it safe. They were created by leaping first, focusing on their niches, and investing heavily in their strengths. The real lesson for ambitious leaders is to play to your strengths and take calculated risks.
Technology can drive immense growth, efficiency, and deepen customer engagement. Without meticulous thought and planning, it can quickly become disruptive, leading to employee friction, security vulnerabilities, and significant headaches for leadership and finance departments. It happens through intention. A problem defined for technology to solve, balanced with crucial considerations like cost optimisation, ongoing security, scalability, and the people who use and maintain it.
While AI presents massive opportunities, it also carries inherent threats and limitations. Proper training is essential to ensure productivity, protect intellectual property, and maintain robust security measures. This highlights a critical truth: the investment in people and process is as vital as the technology to remain competitive. As a 2023 report by Accenture emphasises, the success of digital transformation initiatives hinges more on effective change management and employee adoption than on the technology itself. Truly embracing AI often requires first principles thinking, demanding we unlearn some of our current ways of doing things to truly unlock its potential. Before chasing the latest innovation, ask yourself: Does it have a clear “why” and “what” for your business? And crucially, will you invest in your people adopting it?
The journey to a future-proof business isn’t about rushing to acquire the latest shiny technology. It’s about a strategic, people-centric approach that balances innovation with practicality, vision with cost-effectiveness, and ambition with security. It’s about leveraging technology to empower your people and streamline your processes, ensuring that every technological investment serves a clear purpose that drives tangible and sustainable success.
At Dynamo6, we partner with ambitious organisations to harness the power of technology to build customer-centric products, empower their workforce, and achieve lasting success. We combine Kiwi innovation with global technology to deliver secure and scalable cloud, security, and digital solutions. Let’s make it happen, together.
www.dynamo6.com | 0800 396 2666
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