Eva Karen Þórðardóttir, CEO of the Digital Skills Cluster, is convinced that digital solutions are relevant for companies in the industrial sector.
A recent study conducted in Iceland reveals that small and medium-sized enterprises are not as far along in implementing digital solutions as larger ones. Eva points out that these findings are consistent with the reality she experiences in her work. Industrial companies are also at different stages. "The construction industry is coming out worst in this for us, but also restaurants and accommodation providers," she says. This comes as a surprise to us at Iðan, but Eva points out that the pace in these sectors is fast and it's not necessarily a lack of solutions, but rather a lack of activating people to use them.
The role of the Digital Skills Cluster is to help companies see and analyse opportunities for digital transformation. The Digital Skills Cluster is accessible to all companies, and Eva emphasizes that they are independent parties who are not trying to sell any magic solutions. She points out that companies often focus on specific technological solutions that are supposed to solve various tasks but forget to do so in line with the company's strategy. She also believes that careful consideration must be given to how to activate the company's human resources. It's a bad investment to put money into technological solutions if there is no will or skill within the company to use them.
To analyse the digital skills of employees, a survey can be conducted with the Digital Skills Wheel, which is accessible here.
It's about "using data to make good decisions," says Eva. "So let's try to make this exciting and fun and see what it can do for us."