Your digital ecosystem is made of all the digital tools and assets you use in your organisation. And like any other ecosystem, it requires attention to stay relevant and effective. In the digital world, this means monitoring the technologies and tools your ecosystem consists of and improving it by introducing new solutions. In this post, we’re going to show you how to do it hassle-free.

Imagine a small, old-fashioned company that still uses fax and phone to deal with the majority of their operations. Even if they have an email address, it’s rarely used. Everything takes a lot of time, and customers are more and more frustrated. You wouldn’t want to do business with such a company, would you? Of course, this example is exaggerated, but it shows why it’s so important to improve your digital ecosystem regularly.

Nowadays, the digital world is developing extremely quickly, and staying on top of things can be a challenge, even for large and modern companies. And, of course, implementing new technologies and solutions takes time and money. So, what can you do to implement new technologies effectively? Follow this three-step process.

Step 1: Research

You should never implement new technology just for the sake of implementing it. Everything has to be purposeful. Start by doing research – what digital tools can really improve the way your company works? Today, companies frequently invest in:

• Artificial intelligence and big data
• Digital training tools
• Wearables and smart devices
• Cloud computing
• Virtual and augmented reality
• Internet of Things
• Blockchain

Check if any of these tools can make your work easier or more effective. You can also study market research to find out which tools/technologies are prevalent in your market sector. However, don’t go overboard! Consult your team, pick one or two most interesting technologies, and think about how they can improve your work. If you don’t see a specific potential for a given tool, discard it and move to the next one.

Step 2: Assemble a team

Unless you are a solopreneur, you can’t implement the whole new technology on your own. Create a team of internal and external experts who will help you with the implementation process. After all, someone has to oversee and direct each action and stage. Typically, new digital product teams consist of project owners, tech architects, researchers and web developers. Sometimes other experts, such as legal advisors, are also necessary.

Step 3: Implement the technology

In the last step, you can start implementing your technology. Of course, there is no one-fits-all process that you can copy-paste; everything depends on the technology you’re after and your business profile. However, in most cases, you need to think about:

• Integrating this new technology with your current IT ecosystem
• Setting it in the most optimal way
• Training your team to use it effectively

In all of these stages, you can work with a company that’s experienced with a given technology. A cloud computing company will help you move your IT infrastructure to the cloud, whereas an AI consulting company will help you devise and implement the proper AI-powered tool.

There are also other tools used to help you integrate new solutions into your digital ecosystem. There are frequently referred to as DXPs (digital experience platforms). They help you manage all of your IT/marketing/sales-related projects, including implementing new technologies. Of course, it is likely you’ll still need some help. Find an experienced IT agency that will be able to help you with your digital ecosystem and ask them to help you. In many instances, that’s the shortest way to improve your digital ecosystem!