Best Digital Transformation Courses 2024

There are 7 critical topics that should be covered by those wanting to build a career in digital transformation. Understanding emerging technology is a profession, so too Human Resources, Strategic Leadership, Communications and Innovation Management. However, for a successful digital transformation professional, they should have a broad and reasonably deep understanding of all elements in this diagram.

Business leaders, managers and decision makers need to get into uncomfortable new areas of complexity in topics they would normally not have had to deal with in their career, in order to help deliver digital transformation.

The qualities and characteristics of traditional businesses that have digitally transformed is that their entire teams understand all elements listed. For example, a business leader will not have to understand how to implement Machine Learning  but she will have to understand the business capabilities of the technology if she is to successfully leverage it in her strategic planning.

“Leaders may not be replaced by AI but leaders that understand AI will replace those that don’t.”

Whilst there are a wealth of academic providers offering digital transformation courses for ‘corporates’, the focus is still very much on the individual. We found it difficult to find details of courses that were easily accessible online and tailored for groups. If your goal is ‘chalk and talk’, with little need for interaction, again – the market is flooded with this option. However, if your organisation needs a cohesive training solution that’s tailored to your market, fits the needs of your people and ticks all the learning and development goals, Ionology is a front runner.

Almost all digital transformation frameworks are built to help businesses find competitive advantage. Few are customised for non-commercial environments and even fewer have modern, data-powered digital transformation frameworks made specifically for the public sector.

There’s been an explosion of digital transformation consulting opportunities in recent months and with good reason. Few businesses hold all of the skills required under one roof to strategically reposition their business in the digital economy.

Finding customer insights from publicly accessible data, workforce design, digital upskilling, data-enriched strategy, understanding emerging technology and building innovation roadmaps; these specialisms are rarely found under one roof.

As more businesses become aware that the IT department can only digitise a business, they ultimately seek support for their transformation from consultants.

Digital transformation consultants differ from traditional business consultants. The use of data in every aspect of helping a business to transform its products, services and business models is radically different to the old business models that have powered winning companies in the past.

Whilst the MIT & Eruditis courses are listed, we felt they added to this target group (consultants) as an ‘afterthought’. We struggled to find specific digital transformation courses that are designed to help consultants become ‘Digital Transformation Consultants’. The process is twofold. One, the consultant must learn the theory of digital transformation, but this is no use on its own. As a consultant, they must take this theory and bring it to life for the client – to consult using digital transformation (whole different ball game to just reading the book!). The Ionology course for consultants takes the theory, but supercharges it. They show the consultant how to pitch, consult and implement digital transformation using Ionology tried and tested methods. Consultants are taught how to use the Ionology framework. Once certified, they can use this methodology and blueprint for success with their clients.

Technology permeates every aspect of our society: communication, logistics and supply chains, medicine, transportation, farming, and manufacturing. Cryptocurrencies are disrupting banking systems. Hyperconnectivity—through communication systems, sensors, wearables, and smart devices—has blurred the boundary between the physical and digital worlds.

There is an ample selection of courses that cover emerging technologies as well as technology specific niches. The courses tend to be hands on, project based and outcome oriented.

The technology courses are aimed at technology professionals and require some level of prior knowledge.

The technology industry often claims that technology is transforming the world. It’s certainly a critical component but technology isn’t the only component. As the 7 Most Critical Topics in Digital Transformation show, technology alone will not create a transformed organisation. It is, however, unique in the depth of knowledge required to effectively make it an enabling force on the transforming journey.

In terms of fulfilling the needs of the audience, this was one of the more fruitful offerings. Individually, courses offered blended options, a solid practical undertone and addressed the (essential) link of tech and business, but again we couldn’t find the ‘golden egg’ when it came to hitting all of these markers in one course. The research also highlighted that big brands don’t always indicate gold standard, showing once more – thorough research is essential when choosing your provider (good job we’re here to help!).

Post Covid, many national and regional government Enterprise Development Organisations are implementing radical programs to help small and medium businesses to digitally transform.

Most businesses of this size have got stuck. They were promised that the introduction of technology would make them more efficient. That technology alone would make them more competitive. They invested and have failed to capture additional marketshare or see a return on capital beyond their investment. Quite often the technology has led to more complexity and cost within the business, not less.

The response of the Industrial Development Agency is to help their client companies transform their products, services and business models.  They want their client companies to use data to find new export markets. To find that white space of opportunity and to be able to move swiftly into it.  No time for long winded documents – it’s hit and move. Fast, agile, efficient and practical.