Category Archives: Digital Transformation

Four Ways Governments Can Accelerate the Digital Transformation of Their Economies

GUEST POST from Art Inteligencia

In today’s digital world, governments have a critical role to play in accelerating digital transformation. As technology continues to evolve, governments must find ways to embrace and apply new technologies, while also ensuring that their citizens have access to the most advanced digital services.

To ensure success, there are several key steps that the government should take.

1. Governments Should Invest in Digital Infrastructure

By investing in the infrastructure necessary to support digital transformation, the government can create a platform for innovation and adoption of new technologies. This includes things like high-speed broadband, 5G networks, and cloud computing capabilities.

2. Governments Should Provide Incentives to Spur Digital Adoption

This could come in the form of tax breaks, grants, and other incentives to organizations that are investing in digital transformation. This will help create a climate of investment and innovation, which will in turn help accelerate the transformation process.

3. Governments Should Create a Supportive Regulatory Environment

This means creating laws and regulations that are conducive to digital transformation, such as data privacy and security laws. This will help ensure that organizations can safely and securely adopt new technologies and services.

4. Governments Should Invest in Digital Literacy and Education

By investing in digital literacy and education, the government can ensure that citizens have the tools and knowledge necessary to take advantage of the digital transformation. This can include programs such as coding boot camps and digital literacy courses for adults.

Conclusion

By taking these steps, the government can create an environment that is conducive to digital transformation and help accelerate the process. In doing so, the government can ensure that its citizens have access to the most advanced digital services and technologies, and that organizations can take advantage of the opportunities that come with digital transformation.

Image credit: Pixabay

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Frontier Airlines Ends Human-to-Human Customer Service

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Frontier Airlines Ends Human-to-Human Customer Service

GUEST POST from Shep Hyken

In a bold move to cut costs, Frontier Airlines announced that it would no longer offer human-to-human customer support. As a customer service expert, I was surprised at this move. I have waited to see the fallout, if any, and thought the company might backpedal and reinstate traditional phone support. After almost two months, it hasn’t returned to conventional customer support. The dust has settled a bit, and people (passengers and employees) are adjusting to the decision.

The decision to go digital is different from the decision Northwest Airlines (which eventually merged with Delta) made in 1999 to introduce online check-in to its passengers. The idea behind that technology, and eventually the technology driving online reservations, was to give the customer a better and more convenient experience while at the same time increasing efficiency. The big difference in that decision versus Frontier’s was that there has always been (and still is) an option to connect to a live agent. If passengers didn’t want to use the self-service tools the airline provided, they could still talk to someone who could help them.

That does not appear to be the case with Frontier. There is no other option. The airline is relying on digital support. If you check the website for ways to contact them outside of their self-service options on the site or mobile app, you can use chat, email or file a formal written complaint. Chat is in the moment, and can deliver a good experience—even if it’s AI doing the chatting (and not a human). Email or a written complaint could take too long to resolve an immediate problem, such as rebooking a flight for any last-minute reason.

For some background, Frontier Airlines is a low-cost carrier based in Denver. It has plenty of competition, and when you combine that with rising expenses in almost every area of business and a tough economy, Frontier, just like any other company in almost any industry, is looking to cut costs. In a recent Forbes article, I shared the prediction that some companies will make the mistake of cutting expenses in the wrong places. Those “wrong places” are anywhere the customer will notice. Cutting off phone support to a live human, just one of Frontier’s cost-cutting strategies, is one of those places the customer may notice first.

If a customer wants to change or cancel a flight, make a lost-luggage claim and more, if they have the information they need on hand and the system is intuitive and easy to navigate, the experience could be better than waiting on hold for a live agent. Our customer service research found that 71% of customers are willing to use self-service options. That said, the phone is still the No. 1 channel customers prefer to use when they have a problem, question or complaint.

Frontier’s decision to stop human-to-human customer support has generated controversy and criticism from customers/passengers and employees. The company’s management defends its decision, stating that they need to cut costs to remain competitive. They claim you can eventually reach a human, but their passengers will first have to exhaust the digital options. While self-service automated customer support may help the airline cut costs and increase efficiency, it obviously frustrates customers and negatively impacts employees.

The big concern is that 100% digital or self-service support is still too new. We are still a long way from technology completely replacing the human-to-human interactions we’re used to in the customer service and support worlds. Efficiency is important, but so is the relationship you maintain with your customers and employees. It takes a balance. The best companies figure this out.

Consider this: Video did not kill the radio star. ATMs were predicted to eliminate the need for bank tellers. And for the foreseeable future, technology will not kill live, human-to-human interactions. Frontier customers looking to save money will be forced to adapt to its new way of customer service. Knowing this upfront will help. But also consider this, something I’ve been preaching for several years: The greatest technology in the world hasn’t replaced the ultimate relationship-building tool between a customer and a business, and that is the human touch.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com.

Image Credit: Pixabay

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Top 10 Human-Centered Change & Innovation Articles of January 2023

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Top 10 Human-Centered Change & Innovation Articles of January 2023 Drum roll please…

At the beginning of each month, we will profile the ten articles from the previous month that generated the most traffic to Human-Centered Change & Innovation. Did your favorite make the cut?

But enough delay, here are January’s ten most popular innovation posts:

Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2022 — Curated by Braden Kelley

Back to Basics: The Innovation Alphabet — by Robyn Bolton

99.7% of Innovation Processes Miss These 3 Essential Steps — by Robyn Bolton

Top 100 Innovation and Transformation Articles of 2022 — Curated by Braden Kelley

Ten Ways to Make Time for Innovation — by Nick Jain

Agility is the 2023 Success Factor — by Soren Kaplan

Five Questions All Leaders Should Always Be Asking — by David Burkus

23 Ways in 2023 to Create Amazing Experiences — by Shep Hyken

Startups Must Be Where Their Customers Are — by Steve Blank

Will CHATgpt make us more or less innovative? — by Pete Foley

BONUS – Here are five more strong articles published in December that continue to resonate with people:

3 Steps to a Truly Terrific Innovation Team — by Robyn Bolton

Why are so many people quitting? — by Mike Shipulski

Why is it important to innovate in 2023? — by Janet Sernack

Forbidden Truth About Innovation — by Robyn Bolton

3 Things Politicians Can Do to Create Innovation — by Greg Satell

If you’re not familiar with Human-Centered Change & Innovation, we publish 4-7 new articles every week built around innovation and transformation insights from our roster of contributing authors and ad hoc submissions from community members. Get the articles right in your Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin feeds too!

Have something to contribute?

Human-Centered Change & Innovation is open to contributions from any and all innovation and transformation professionals out there (practitioners, professors, researchers, consultants, authors, etc.) who have valuable human-centered change and innovation insights to share with everyone for the greater good. If you’d like to contribute, please contact me.

P.S. Here are our Top 40 Innovation Bloggers lists from the last three years:

Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2020

Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2021

Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2022

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Top 10 Human-Centered Change & Innovation Articles of December 2022

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Top 10 Human-Centered Change & Innovation Articles of December 2022 Drum roll please…

At the beginning of each month, we will profile the ten articles from the previous month that generated the most traffic to Human-Centered Change & Innovation. Did your favorite make the cut?

But enough delay, here are December’s ten most popular innovation posts:

Forbidden Truth About Innovation — by Robyn Bolton

A Letter to Innovation Santa — by John Bessant

Preserving Ecosystems as an Innovation Superpower — by Pete Foley

What is a Chief Innovation Officer? — by Art Inteligencia

If You Can Be One Thing – Be Effective — by Mike Shipulski

How to Drive Fear Out of Innovation — by Teresa Spangler

3 Steps to Find the Horse’s A** In Your Company (and Create Space for Innovation) — by Robyn Bolton

Six Ways to Stop Gen-Z from Quiet Quitting — by Shep Hyken

Overcoming the Top 3 Barriers to Customer-Centricity — by Alain Thys

Designing Innovation – Accelerating Creativity via Innovation Strategy — by Douglas Ferguson

BONUS – Here are five more strong articles published in November that continue to resonate with people:

What Are Strategic and Market Foresight? — by Braden Kelley

Innovate for Good – Breaking Paradoxes — by Teresa Spangler

Leading Your Way Through Crisis — by Greg Satell

Innovating in a Downturn — by Geoffrey A. Moore

Brewing a Better Customer Experience — by Braden Kelley

Have something to contribute?

P.S. Here are our Top 40 Innovation Bloggers lists from the last three years:

Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2020

Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2021

Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2022

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Voting Closed for the Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2022

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CLICK HERE TO SEE WHO HAS BEEN NOMINATED

For more than a decade I’ve devoted myself to making innovation insights accessible for the greater good, because I truly believe that the better our organizations get at delivering value to their stakeholders the less waste of natural resources and human resources there will be.

As a result, we are eternally grateful to all of you out there who take the time to create and share great innovation articles, presentations, white papers, and videos with Braden Kelley and the Human-Centered Change and Innovation team. As a small thank you to those of you who follow along, we like to make a list of the Top 40 Innovation Bloggers available each year!

CLICK HERE TO SEE WHO HAS BEEN NOMINATED

Our lists from the ten previous years have been tremendously popular, including:

Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2015
Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2016
Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2017
Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2018
Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2019
Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2020
Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2021

Do you just have someone that you like to read that writes about innovation, or some of the important adjacencies – trends, consumer psychology, change, leadership, strategy, behavioral economics, collaboration, or design thinking?

Human-Centered Change and Innovation is now looking to recognize the Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2022.

It is time to vote and help us narrow things down.

The deadline for submitting votes is December 31, 2022 at midnight GMT.

CLICK HERE TO SEE WHO HAS BEEN NOMINATED

The ranking will be done by me with influence from votes and nominations. The quality and quantity of contributions to this web site by an author will be a BIG contributing factor (through the end of the voting period).

You can vote in any of these three ways (and each earns points for them, so please feel free to vote all three ways):

Sending us the name of the blogger by @reply on twitter to @innovate
Adding the name of the blogger as a comment to this article’s posting on Facebook
Adding the name of the blogger as a comment to this article’s posting on our Linkedin Page (Be sure and follow us)

The official Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2022 will then be announced here in early January 2023.

CLICK HERE TO SEE WHO HAS BEEN NOMINATED

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The Phygital Future

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Designing Seamless Experiences Across Worlds

The Phygital Future

GUEST POST from Chateau G Pato

For too long, organizations have treated their physical and digital channels as separate silos, managed by different teams, budgets, and metrics. This disconnect is the root cause of friction, frustration, and failure in the modern customer journey. Customers do not think in channels; they think in experiences.

The future of customer engagement, employee empowerment, and service delivery is Phygital: the seamless, human-centered integration of the digital (technology, data, online) and the physical (locations, people, products). Phygital design is not about adding a screen to a store; it’s about using technology to dissolve the boundaries, focusing entirely on a single, continuous, and highly contextual journey. The goal is to maximize the utility and speed of the digital world while preserving the authenticity and human connection of the physical world.

The Failure of the Digital-First Mandate

The pendulum swung hard toward “Digital-First,” driven by efficiency and the push toward automation. While automation is vital, the pure digital-first mandate often fails at the last mile — the human interaction. Imagine a customer who spends 45 minutes online researching a product, only to have to repeat their entire story to an employee when they walk into a physical store. This is the Phygital Friction Gap — a moment where the digital intelligence is lost, forcing the human to restart the process. This failure occurs because the organization hasn’t designed the two worlds to share context, forcing the customer to carry the burden of the organization’s internal silos.

Phygital design solves this by recognizing that the highest value comes from the intersection, where the speed and intelligence of the digital world elevate the sensory and relational depth of the physical world.

Three Pillars of Seamless Phygital Design

Designing for the Phygital future requires a shift in mindset and strategy, moving from parallel channels to a single, interconnected Experience Architecture.

Contextual Continuity:
The fundamental rule of Phygital design is Never Ask the Customer to Repeat Themselves. The digital system must carry the customer’s intent, history, and context forward, regardless of the channel they jump to. This requires integrating the CRM, data analytics, and inventory systems so that an in-store associate can see the customer’s browsing history and cart status instantly via a mobile device.
Human-Augmentation, Not Replacement:
Technology should not be used to replace human interaction, but to augment the human professional. Use AI for mundane, high-volume tasks (data entry, scheduling) to free up employees to focus on high-value, high-empathy interactions (problem-solving, creative consultation). A Phygital environment uses digital intelligence to make the human associate smarter, faster, and more efficient.
Experiential Utility and Delight:
The physical space must be designed to maximize what the digital cannot offer — sensory experience, immediate gratification, and social connection. If a customer can buy the product cheaper and faster online, the store must offer a compelling reason to visit, such as interactive prototyping, localized expert advice, or a community event. Technology is used to add delight to the physical world, not just efficiency.

Case Study 1: Transforming the Bank Branch into a Consultation Hub

Challenge: Dying Relevance of the Physical Bank Branch

A major retail bank faced the imminent closure of many branches as customers shifted to mobile banking. The few customers who still visited branches were usually facing complex financial problems that demanded significant human expertise and time, clogging up service lines.

Phygital Intervention:

The bank didn’t just add tablets; they re-architected the entire journey. Customers were required to pre-book complex appointments through the mobile app (Digital). This allowed the digital system to collect context and queue the request to the correct specialist before the customer arrived. When the customer walked in, geo-fencing technology alerted the specialist (Physical) to the customer’s arrival. The specialist greeted the customer by name, already possessing their case history, eliminating the need to repeat their issue. This fusion of digital scheduling and physical, informed human contact cut wait times for complex issues by 70% and successfully repositioned the branch as a high-value Consultation Hub rather than a mere transaction counter.

The Ethical Imperative: Transparency and Trust

As we design Phygital experiences, we must address the ethical imperative. The constant collection of data (from location tracking to browsing history) to enable seamlessness can be perceived as invasive. Phygital Trust is built on transparency: customers must understand what data is being used and why, and feel they have genuine control. The seamlessness of the experience should always feel helpful, never creepy.

Case Study 2: Supply Chain Visibility in Manufacturing

Challenge: Lack of Visibility and Trust Between Partners

A global industrial manufacturer struggled with complex, long-lead-time orders, leading to constant back-and-forth communication and mistrust with clients regarding production status. Clients wanted the assurance of seeing the physical process but couldn’t visit the plant.

Phygital Intervention:

The manufacturer implemented a real-time Digital Twin strategy. They placed IoT sensors on key machines and production stations (Physical) and aggregated this data onto a secure, cloud-based platform (Digital). This allowed the client, via a secure web portal, to see the exact stage and location of their custom component in the plant, complete with real-time video feed snapshots and verifiable production data. The physical asset became the source of truth, but the digital interface provided the constant, transparent access the client needed. This Phygital visibility didn’t just improve efficiency; it transformed the client relationship from transactional to one of deep, shared trust, proving the ROI of transparency.

Conclusion: Experience Architecture is the New Battleground

The Phygital Future is here, and it demands that we stop designing for channels and start designing for the human journey. Leaders must champion Experience Architecture — a holistic view of the customer’s path. The organizations that win will be the ones that use the invisible power of data to create visible, human-first magic in the physical world.

“Phygital design is not about technology; it’s about context. It’s the art of giving the human everything they need, exactly where they need it, whether they are holding a smartphone or standing in a store.”

Your first step into the Phygital future: Map one critical customer journey and identify every point where Contextual Continuity is lost when the customer jumps from digital to physical. Eliminate that friction.

Extra Extra: Because innovation is all about change, Braden Kelley’s human-centered change methodology and tools are the best way to plan and execute the changes necessary to support your innovation and transformation efforts — all while literally getting everyone all on the same page for change. Find out more about the methodology and tools, including the book Charting Change by following the link. Be sure and download the TEN FREE TOOLS while you’re here.

Image credit: Pixabay

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Voting Closed – Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2022

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Our lists from the ten previous years have been tremendously popular, including:

Human-Centered Change and Innovation is now looking to recognize the Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2022.

It is time to vote and help us narrow things down.

The deadline for submitting votes is December 31, 2022 at midnight GMT.

You can vote in any of these three ways (and each earns points for them, so please feel free to vote all three ways):

Sending us the name of the blogger by @reply on twitter to @innovate
Adding the name of the blogger as a comment to this article’s posting on Facebook
Adding the name of the blogger as a comment to this article’s posting on our Linkedin Page (Be sure and follow us)

The official Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2022 will then be announced here in early January 2023.

Here are the people who received nominations this year along with some carryover recommendations (in alphabetical order):

Adi Gaskell – @adigaskell
Alain Thys
Alex Goryachev
Andy Heikkila – @AndyO_TheHammer
Annette Franz
Arlen Meyers – @sopeofficial
Art Inteligencia
Braden Kelley – @innovate
Brian Miller
Bruce Fairley
Chad McAllister – @ChadMcAllister
Chris Beswick
Chris Rollins
Dr. Detlef Reis
Dainora Jociute
Dan Blacharski – @Dan_Blacharski
Daniel Burrus – @DanielBurrus
Daniel Lock
David Burkus
Dean and Linda Anderson
Diana Porumboiu
Douglas Ferguson
Drew Boyd – @DrewBoyd
Farnham Street
Frank Mattes – @FrankMattes
Geoffrey A Moore
Gregg Fraley – @greggfraley
Greg Satell – @Digitaltonto
Helen Yu
Howard Tiersky
Janet Sernack – @JanetSernack
Jeffrey Baumgartner – @creativejeffrey
Jeff Freedman – @SmallArmyAgency
Jeffrey Phillips – @ovoinnovation
Jesse Nieminen – @nieminenjesse
John Bessant
Jorge Barba – @JorgeBarba
Julian Birkinshaw – @JBirkinshaw
Julie Anixter – @julieanixter
Kate Hammer – @Kate_Hammer
Kevin McFarthing – @InnovationFixer
Lou Killeffer – @LKilleffer
Manuel Berdoy

Mari Anixter- @MariAnixter
Maria Paula Oliveira – @mpaulaoliveira
Matthew E May – @MatthewEMay
Michael Graber – @SouthernGrowth
Mike Brown – @Brainzooming
Mike Shipulski – @MikeShipulski
Mukesh Gupta
Nick Partridge – @KnewNewNeu
Nicolas Bry – @NicoBry
Nicholas Longrich
Norbert Majerus and George Taninecz
Pamela Soin
Patricia Salamone
Paul Hobcraft – @Paul4innovating
Paul Sloane – @paulsloane
Pete Foley – @foley_pete
Ralph Christian Ohr – @ralph_ohr
Randy Pennington
Richard Haasnoot – @Innovate2Grow
Robert B Tucker – @RobertBTucker
Robyn Bolton – @rm_bolton
Saul Kaplan – @skap5
Shep Hyken – @hyken
Shilpi Kumar
Scott Anthony – @ScottDAnthony
Scott Bowden – @scottbowden51
Shelly Greenway – @ChiefDistiller
Soren Kaplan – @SorenKaplan
Stefan Lindegaard – @Lindegaard
Stephen Shapiro – @stephenshapiro
Steve Blank
Steven Forth – @StevenForth
Tamara Kleinberg – @LaunchStreet
Teresa Spangler – @composerspang
Tim Stroh
Tom Koulopoulos – @TKspeaks
Tom Stafford
Yoram Solomon – @yoram

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We’re curious to see who you think is worth reading!

5 Strategies to Avoid Common Pitfalls of Digital Transformation

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5 Strategies to Avoid Common Pitfalls of Digital Transformation

GUEST POST from Art Inteligencia

Digital transformation is an essential business strategy for businesses that want to stay competitive in today’s increasingly digital world. However, the process can be complex and intimidating, and it can be easy to fall into common pitfalls that can derail your progress or even lead to failure. Here are five strategies to help you avoid those pitfalls and ensure your digital transformation is successful.

1. Have clear objectives

Before beginning your digital transformation, you need to define your objectives. What do you hope to achieve? Are you trying to increase efficiency, reduce costs, or improve customer experience? Having a clear vision of what you want to accomplish will help guide your decisions and ensure you stay on track.

2. Invest in the right technologies

You need to make sure you are investing in the right technologies for your digital transformation. Doing a thorough assessment of your current systems and processes will help you identify what needs to be replaced or upgraded. Investing in the wrong technology can be a big waste of money and resources, so make sure to do your research.

3. Develop an implementation plan

Once you have chosen the technologies you need, you need to develop an implementation plan. This will help you stay organized and ensure that each step is completed in the right order. It should include timelines, budget, resources, and any other necessary details.

4. Get everyone on board

Digital transformation can only be successful if everyone in your organization is on board. Make sure to involve all key stakeholders in the process, from the top down. This will help ensure buy-in and support for the project, which is essential for its success.

5. Monitor and measure progress

Finally, you need to be sure to monitor and measure progress throughout the digital transformation process. This will help you identify obstacles and course correct if needed. You should also use metrics to measure success and make sure you are meeting your objectives.

By following these strategies, you can ensure your digital transformation is successful and avoid common pitfalls. With the right plan and commitment, you can reap the benefits of a digital transformation and stay competitive in today’s digital world.

Extra Extra: Futurology is not fortune telling. Futurists use a scientific approach to create their deliverables, but a methodology and tools like those in FutureHacking™ can empower anyone to engage in futurology themselves.

Image credit: Pixabay

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Five Steps to Digital Transformation Success

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Five Steps to Digital Transformation Success

GUEST POST from Art Inteligencia

Digital transformation is increasingly becoming an integral part of businesses in the modern age, as companies seek to leverage technology to gain a competitive edge. But, while the potential benefits of digital transformation are tantalizing, it’s not always easy to make the transition. To ensure a successful digital transformation, here are five key steps you should consider.

1. Understand Your Goals

Before you begin your digital transformation, it’s important to understand your goals. What do you want to achieve with your digital transformation? Do you want to improve customer service, create a more efficient process for managing data, or something else entirely? Being clear on your goals will help you to focus your efforts and ensure you’re making the most of your digital transformation.

2. Develop a Strategy

Once you’ve established your goals, you’ll need to develop a strategy for achieving them. What technologies and processes will you need to implement? What resources and personnel will you need to make it happen? Having a clear strategy will help to ensure success, as you’ll have a roadmap for getting from A to B.

3. Focus on the Customer Experience

Digital transformation should always be focused on the customer experience. How will the changes you’re making improve the customer experience? Will they make it easier to purchase products or services? Will they make it faster to access customer service? By focusing on the customer experience, you can ensure your digital transformation is successful.

4. Invest in Technology and Resources

Digital transformation is an investment, and you’ll need to invest in the right technologies and resources to make it successful. This could include investing in new software, hardware, personnel, and training. While these investments may be costly, they’re necessary in order to ensure the success of your digital transformation.

5. Plan for Change

Finally, it’s important to plan for change. Digital transformation can be disruptive to your business, so it’s important to plan for the changes and prepare your team for the transition. This could involve training staff on new technologies, creating a communication plan to keep everyone in the loop, and establishing processes for dealing with any issues that may arise.

Digital transformation can be a daunting process, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. By following these five key steps, you can ensure your digital transformation is successful and that your business can reap the rewards.

Image credit: Pixabay

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