While talks of digital transformation — or even acceleration — dominated the headlines in the past two years, a recent study by Dell Technologies (Dell) found that only 8% of the Philippine workforce (from senior business leaders to IT decision-makers and staff) are pursuing modernization projects.

Dell commissioned market research company Vanson Bourne, to survey 10,500 business leaders in 40 locations the Asia Pacific (APAC) region including 200 from the Philippines and was conducted from August to October 2021.

Survey results also show that about 36% of Philippine respondents are slow or reluctant to embrace change.

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“Most organizations around the world, including (those in) the Philippines, realize the need to digitally transform, but they find digital transformation hard, and their people don’t always embrace change,” Ronnie Latinazo, country general manager for the Philippines, Dell Technologies. “This human-technology friction is only compounded by the pandemic, and what we end up with is businesses that are more digitally resilient, but many of their people are exhausted.”

Evolving digital world

The research titled “Building Your Breakthrough” highlights how there is still a potential for transformation to stall as 67% of respondents in the Philippines believe it is their people’s resistance to change that can lead to failure. At 49%, close to half of the Philippine respondents, fear they will be shut out of the evolving digital world due to a lack of people with the right authority/vision to capitalize on the opportunity.

“To build a better future that works for all, we need to recognize that business success and employees’ well-being are inextricably linked,” said Amit Midha, president, Asia Pacific & Japan, and Global Digital Cities, Dell Technologies. “Our latest research highlights that sustainable digital transformation happens at the intersection of people and technology.”

According to Dell, achieving an “effective breakthrough” entails implementing a three-pronged approach.

1. Provide employees with consistent and secure work experiences, not defined by where they work.
2. Help drive productivity by augmenting human capabilities with technology tools to allow employees to focus on what they do best
3. Inspire employees through an empathetic culture and authentic leadership

“Today, businesses aspiring for sustainable success need to be asking themselves how they can thoughtfully and purposefully help their people navigate further change,” Latinazo said.