Digital India needs to upskill its workforce
Given the growing importance of digital competences in today’s technology-driven world, digital India has to upskill its workforce. Digital proficiency has been shown to be one of the most valuable assets. Being a leader in economic growth has become crucial for the success of people, businesses, and our nation. This calls for an emphasis on digital skills development in tandem with digitalization because doing so becomes necessary for managing the constantly changing digital ecosystem.
According to a report by finance startup Khatabook, the Covid-19 global pandemic has caused statewide lockdowns in 2020, which has resulted in a drop in business volume for Indian Micro, Small, and Medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
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They stand to gain a lot by upskilling and developing their digital skills. Due to a lack of awareness, information, capital, infrastructure, and other factors, small firms have been relatively slower to adopt the most recent technologies than larger companies.
With the use of digital skills, Indian small businesses may compete with larger corporations while gaining more visibility and market share without having to invest a significant amount of resources. Additionally, it can help small organisations digitise a number of internal processes, including human resources, marketing, finance, and customer relationship management.
Roadblocks to digital skilling for small businesses
Only 7 in 10 digital employees in India apply for advanced digital skills in their professions, according to a 2021 report titled “Unlocking APAC’s Digital Potential: Changing Digital Skill Needs and Policy Approaches.” By 2025, 58% of Indian workers who lack fundamental digital skills would need to acquire them. Small enterprises, however, nevertheless have some challenges when trying to acquire digital skills.
Lack of time and slow capital growth are the biggest practical obstacles to offering digital skill training to employees of small enterprises. Investing in the newest technology, getting the finest internet, and keeping specialised staff to oversee digital systems may all be pricey endeavours.
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Small enterprises must also overcome a number of obstacles to adapt the digital learning curve such as lack of knowledge, financial limitations, ownership costs, a talent scarcity, adoption problems, usage problems etc. E-learning is further hampered by employee resistance to embracing technology and a dearth of university-level and non-academic courses pertinent to business demands.
Bridging the digital skill gap is a collaborative effort
The growth of small companies online is being fueled by the trifecta of the government, EdTech startups, and technology businesses. Additionally, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in India has promoted IT education and digital skilling through a number of projects (MeitY).
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are being used by EdTech companies to create tailored training programmes that adjust to users’ learning objectives and current skill sets. These businesses also offer certification programmes that assist professionals in improving their skills through academic and business subject matter experts.
Through the 2022 Union Budget, the government has also significantly increased its support for digital skilling this year. For millions of Indians, the proposed “Digital University” and “Digital Ecosystem for Skilling and Livelihood” (DESH-Stack e-portal) could provide access to high-quality online education.
With the help of these programmes, people will be able to flexibly upskill and reskill online at any time and from any location. It’s an improvement Indian business people need to train workers who can compete in the global knowledge economy and adapt.
Investments required by small businesses
Small enterprises must invest in the appropriate digital tools and channels since doing so will improve their operations and give them greater exposure. Due to the fact that technology improvements will continue to affect all facets of business operations, it is crucial that small firms also invest in training current staff. If businesses do not keep up with the usage of technology throughout all of their business processes, they face the danger of losing out on future opportunities for growth.
Developing digital skills is now essential for remaining current, not just a luxury or cutting-edge strategy. The role of people and machines will become increasingly entwined as we move forward in time. In order to assess whether small enterprises are prepared for the fast-paced times that lie ahead, it will be important to see how quickly they pick up how to work with machines.
Small enterprises who have mastered digital technology are already reaping the rewards of the newest trends that affect their sectors. They are data-driven experts who are also aware of their limitations. It’s critical for firms embarking on a revolutionary digital journey to embrace technological advancements in the digital space.