It seems like we’ve all been talking about hybrids for a long time, but in NSW it’s finally a reality after the state achieved 80% dual vaccination coverage. Victoria is likely to be close behind, while offices in other states and territories are already operating in this new world of work.
Some people in our two largest states are struggling to get back into the office full-time, others will return as infrequently as possible, and the reality for most people will be somewhere in between those two extremes.
However often people are in the office, the experience should and will be different because these spaces are primarily for collaboration and generating ideas. The challenge for business leaders will be to make the most of the chemistry that happens when people are in a room together.
The good news is that the pandemic experience has made people more open to trying new things or approaching major tasks in different ways, but the transition to hybrid means that leaders must rethink how new ideas are created, brought to life, and operationalized.
In their recent report – Thriving through innovation: Lessons from the top – CSIRO and the University of Queensland state that less than half of companies have introduced a new product or service in the last three years and only nine per cent of innovations are considered marketable. leading or new in the world.
Most organizations are under pressure to innovate, but teams should resist the temptation to look for new ways to do anything and everything. Efforts should be focused on processes and services where they have the opportunity to lead the market or create a new one.
SAP works closely with leading consultancies including Accenture, Capgemini, Deloitte and EY to help clients find innovative ways to solve business problems. Together, we help you focus on improving your business.
This includes helping institutional banks manage their customers’ working capital in a more data-driven manner, maximizing productivity and saving Australian taxpayers by working with government to improve processes associated with departmental portfolio transformation and generating blue carbon insight. of Australia’s most exciting renewable opportunities.
Three drivers of innovation
Whatever challenges and opportunities your organization faces as we head into the post-pandemic phase of economic recovery, our advice is to focus your efforts on improving one of three factors:
Agility
Your organization had to react quickly when the pandemic hit, and will need to maintain that mindset to take advantage of changing conditions in the coming months.
Efficiency
Any organization has a better chance of success if the tasks that need to be done every day run like a well-oiled machine. Innovate on top of great business processes and focus on areas where you can differentiate.
Endurance
No organization does anything in isolation, so make sure you have the right connectivity and ecosystem of partners. This allows you to respond to changing market conditions more sustainably and build trust between your shareholders and the capital markets.
Employees, customers, partners and consultants must be involved in every step of the innovation process. At first this means getting them into the room together with the board, sticky notes and markers. But the bigger challenge is maintaining alignment and momentum after that face-to-face meeting, as follow-ups and side chats happen remotely in the digital world.
We are entering an exciting period of economic recovery, but leadership teams must focus their innovation efforts, their people and their business partners to succeed in the post-pandemic world of hybrid work.
About the Author: Des Fisher is the Head of Innovation at SAP in Australia and New Zealand.