Two years into the pandemic, businesses are entering a new phase of digital transformation beyond the scramble to adapt to the forced remote work environment. With this new era comes opportunity, and significant challenges. The longevity of the pandemic has cemented many temporary measures that now act as new standards. Digital offerings are no longer a perk – they are a necessity. As a result, there is now a massive technology gap for businesses, and, even more importantly, a lack of talented developers who are capable of tackling it. Filling the software development shortage can be a daunting task, but the new reality is here, and transformation is required yet again.
Recognizing the problem
Business leaders need to be communicating with their teams proactively to identify shortages as early as possible and as specifically as possible. Doing so helps prevent issues from getting larger and harder to manage down the road. Many businesses are already focusing on scaling up technology offerings in high-demand areas like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cloud services. Addressing gaps in those areas proactively, and areas of anticipated demand in the near future, will ensure scaling is as efficient and seamless as possible.
Tackling areas of opportunity
When there is a recognized talent shortage, it is critical that business leaders collaborate with managers to check in on staff and help them prioritize the tasks and skillsets that are most important. A proactive approach can also help mitigate shortages by identifying potentially hidden talent among existing staff, or the opportunity to develop it. Surveys and one-on-one conversations between managers and staff can help identify areas of potential talent growth. Then, leadership can help existing employees access software engineering training to expand their knowledge and the depth of capabilities they can offer to the company.
That said, due to the labor shortage, top tech talent is hard to come by no matter how specific your assessment or management systems. In these instances, business leaders can turn to technology outsourcing companies to cover short- and long-term gaps. This type of partnership can also help businesses identify the weak points within the organization and make recommendations for proper technology implementation and digital transformation.
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