As I have participated in multiple online panel discussions, attended industry events across the globe, and listened to our customer base this year one thing is still noticeably clear  - there is an appetite for embracing digitalization among forward-thinking organizations.

Some industries are in full swing while others lag and are nervous about dipping their toe in the water for several reasons. What is encouraging is that many have a designated person or senior member of the organization who is tasked with delivering enterprise-wide process automation, while others have individuals who have a specific need, are curious and perceptive at a departmental level, or can’t help but research ways of doing things differently to gain operational efficiencies within their individual section of the business.

A common theme is also prevailing. The companies that are succeeding and accelerating with pace are those where digitalization is mandated by the C-Suite/senior management. The top-down approach guarantees that implementation of the right solution generally happens quickly, and the onus is on senior management’s direct reports to find and implement the desired digital process automation technology swiftly to reap benefits such as cost savings, competitive advantage, innovation, and enhanced customer experience as early as possible.

Interestingly, Gartner’s recent annual Senior Business Executive Survey revealed that CEOs and CFOs are prioritizing growth, technology, and talent as key elements of their business strategy for 2023/2024 with 30+% of CEOs and CFOs prioritizing technology-related initiatives and 14-16% prioritizing cost management which in my experience often go hand-in-hand. A sound technology solution can significantly help to reduce costs through the operational efficiencies gained across an organization.