A+ Talent: The Key Factor for Digital Transformation

Technology opens the door to transformation, but it's talent that bridges the gap.

Have you ever wondered what the relationship is between talent, experience, and methods for successfully implementing your digital transformation strategy?

According to McKinsey, 60% of companies identify a shortage of talent and technology skills as a key obstacle to their digital transformation initiatives. McKinsey & Company

In the era of technological disruption, every company faces the challenge of digital transformation. But what makes a digitalization strategy successful? It's not just about investing in software or infrastructure. The most critical and differentiating factor is human talent. In this blog, we demystify the concept of A+ Talent and show you why it's the true engine that drives innovation, efficiency, and your company's ability to not only survive, but thrive in today's market.

1. The 3 pillars of a digital transformation strategy

At Avantech, with 28 years of experience, we have identified three determining factors for the success of any business strategy. Whether consolidating your company, growing, diversifying, or going global, these are the pillars that support it:

• A+ qualified talent
• Proven experience (knowledge, practice, and mastery)
• Proven methods

These factors are the foundations that will support the implementation of your digital transformation strategy over time. They are key to aligning the company's philosophy and culture, organizational structure, technological infrastructure, and its leverage. All three factors are essential and complementary. However, the most important and relevant is qualified talent. Talent is the cornerstone of any company's growth.

2. A+ Talent: Beyond technical skills (hard skills) and soft skills

In the past, human resources were considered a company's "core asset," but in practice, few companies actually applied this approach. Many companies, especially SMEs, viewed their employees simply as employees. Today, that mentality has changed.

We've proven that the difference between a competent employee and an outstanding one lies not only in technical skills (hard skills), but in soft skills. This is where true A+ talent resides. Technical skills make you competent, but soft skills make you outstanding.

The characteristics of A+ talent are:

• They go beyond the core competencies required for the role.
• They are self-manageable and highly competitive.
• They adapt easily to multigenerational teams.
• They are cooperative, collaborative, and reliable.
• They have a clear life purpose and demand constant growth.
• They possess above-average emotional intelligence.

3. How to identify and manage A+ Talent

The main challenge of transformational leadership is managing this type of talent. This involves developing a clear career plan, implementing performance evaluations, and constantly offering new opportunities and challenges. A career plan isn't a luxury; it's the best investment for retaining your stars.

Where do you start looking?

To identify A+ talent, you must be disruptive and use differentiating methods. At Avantech, we apply our A+ methodology to find the 10% of candidates who exceed expectations. Dare to be disruptive. Your recruitment process should be as innovative as your digital strategy.

Whether you're looking for a new team member or want to develop the potential of a current employee, the approach is the same: identify those who complete at least 90% of their job duties, on time and in the correct manner, something that only 10% of the workforce can achieve. Because talent is the cornerstone of any company's growth.

The World Economic Forum estimates that around 44% of workers' skills will be disrupted in the next five years, making it essential to identify and develop highly adaptable talent. World Economic Forum

Would you like to identify and develop A+ talent in your company?