From the point of view of managers and employees, there is still a lot of work to be done to achieve the digital transformation of Quebec and Ontario businesses. This is one of the findings that can be drawn from a survey published Friday, conducted by Léger on behalf of the firm Talsom, specializing in supporting companies that venture into this field.
Only 31% of managers believe that the adoption of technologies is high within their company, according to this survey carried out in December 2021 among more than 700 employees and managers of companies with 250 employees or more, from sectors as varied as the construction, retail, finance and manufacturing. In a similar poll conducted a year earlier, that figure was 28%.
The lack of technological skills and the lack of financial resources are the obstacles most cited, within the framework of the study, to justify the situation.
On the other hand, 60% of companies have a digital transformation plan, according to managers. This testifies to their awareness of the importance of this issue and their desire to make things happen, believes the president of Talsom, Olivier Laquinte.
Digital transformation can affect several aspects of the business, for example cybersecurity, manufacturing production tools, invoice or human resources management software and marketing platforms. Several projects funded by the provincial government’s Digital Transformation Offensive aim to catch up with hundreds of Quebec businesses.
IKEA, artificial intelligence and virtual reality
One such project, led by the Digital Governance Institute (IGN), aims to help furniture and kitchen cabinet companies sell their products online. In particular, they must take photos of their products and create their e-commerce platform.
“There is an urgent need to act. If this market does not take the digital turn, IKEA will continue to take market share from them. Our entrepreneurs who do economic development in the regions, who use Quebec wood must organize themselves to continue to grow,” judge Jean-François Gauthier, president and CEO of IGN. He points out that small or medium-sized companies do not always have the time or the means to put these changes at the top of their priorities.
The Regroupement des cabinets de courtage d’assurance also wants its members to reach a high level of digital maturity. Among them, 80% of companies have a digital transformation plan or intend to have one, says CEO Éric Manseau.
“We are talking about management systems and basic tools, but we also want to prepare for the subsequent phase, which is the use of artificial intelligence, big data that we want to collect to improve our productivity and our offer to customers. There are companies that develop solutions such as robots that will help the broker advise the client,” says Mr. Manseau.
As for future solutions, the Alliance Métal Québec is also ambitious. The organization has supported a dozen manufacturers in the development of a platform where virtual reality replaces face-to-face business meetings.
“Each company has developed its digital world, and a customer can be in the United States and contact our manufacturers in this environment to see the products”, explained the general manager, Philippe Blais, underlining that it can be for example truck beds, shelves or mobile stages.
According to Olivier Laquinte, from Talsom, the support of the Ministry of Economy and Innovation for this kind of project is a strong signal that this shift is positive, if not vital, to ensure the competitiveness of companies in the sector. ‘here.