How Indian IT Sector is Upskilling and Reskilling Employees towards Digital Readiness
Digitalization is the key to business sustainability in the post-lockdown period. Businesses that are quick to adopt new technology could emerge as leaders in their areas with highly-skilled resources becoming instrumental to their success In order to succeed in today’s tech-driven work climate, employees must constantly upskill and reskill themselves.
Better employability, improved collaborations between peers and senior managers, higher creativity and innovation, increased agility, and protection against redundancy are just a few of its advantages. To ensure a stable career journey, it is critical for IT professionals, particularly in the technology industry, to upskill themselves in order to correspond with the expectations of a dynamic and evolving employment market.
Working IT professionals were severely impacted by the pandemic. The majority of administrative and clerical occupations, which were formerly dominated by technical supervisory experts, are now being displaced by AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine learning) based automation. On the other hand, the lockdown has hastened the rate of digital disruption. Almost every company had to go online and expand its digital presence.
This shift in thinking has resulted in a demand for skilled workers who are familiar with these digital advancements and technology. As a result, upskilling current personnel is the way forward for both employers and employees.
Why upskilling and reskilling is important for employees or professionals?
Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, Robotics, and Blockchain are the most in-demand technologies in the digital landscape right now. IT professionals should endeavour to equip themselves with at least one of these technologies, regardless of their work domain quickly adapt to their organization’s changing needs. Upskilling will not only protect against redundancy, layoffs,and furloughs, but it will also empower the human capital to assist their company in fulfilling market demands and providing efficient customer result.
Furthermore, while imbibing training/upskilling programs, there exist possibilities of discovery, breakthroughs,or unique ideas, which can subsequently evolve into successful projects. upskilling of the workforce often results in employees taking initiative that are often acknowledged, supported, and rewarded by companies, thus enhancing the brand’s internal customer satisfaction index.
Businesses that understand the need for upskilling employees frequently foster a culture in which managers with their expertise and experience become mentors for growth and their staff is constantly moving upwards on the learning curve. As a result, a culture of driving continuous upskilling produces a win-win result for both the company and its employees.
How could it be done
In this post-Covid 19 era, upskilling has become easier thanks to the rise of E-learning platforms, digital channels, and easy access to industry experts. Employees find these learning and development programs to be more accessible and productive than standard training programs. Virtual learning with its extremely interactive, engaging, and scalable attributes is the finest alternative for professionals to stay relevant in today’s competitive market.
IT professionals can also save time and money by participating in these online upskilling programs, which would turn out to be more cost-effective to costs incurred on travel, lodging, and paying high fees to gain knowledge individually from professional coaching.
Trending new age upskilling that should be encouraged by organizations are
- Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning
- Blockchain
- Robot Process Automation
- Cloud Computing
- Digital Marketing
- Internet of Things (IoT)
Upskilling is required for the development of future experts in the field of technology and organizations should be able to make investments for employee career advancements. Even on an individual level investing in oneself, allows one to stay up-to-date with the new developments and advancements in the tech business.
Upskilling is the most effective way to stay current and relevant without quitting a job or taking a sabbatical. Above all, upskilling is an effective approach for employees to make advancements, in both their professional and social lives.
(The author is President, Judge India-Global Delivery, The Judge Group and the views expressed in this article are his own)
