The in-demand skills of IT professionals are constantly evolving right along with the technologies they use. Terri Crymes, principal instructor of the WalkMe Digital Adoption Institute, shares the latest on the evolving role of the digital adoption professional and the most hirable skills that are quickly emerging and will be needed for the future.
According to the World Economic Forum, 85% of the jobs of 2030 don’t exist todayOpens a new window . Surely, the skills and experiences that make up those careers are already taking shape. One such path is as a digital adoption professional (DAP) who advances the use of digital technologies within their organizations by elevating user experiences and ultimately driving return on technology investments.
Specifically, the DAP Architect takes on the behind-the-scenes adoption of new and constantly changing digital technologies across an organization. They weave a digital adoption platform into the company tech stack, configure it to comply with privacy and security requirements, and manage data integrations between systems. DAP Architects are technical IT professionals who possess a profound understanding of how the end-user experience across a business’s software and applications affects the success of critical digital transformations. The role is inextricably linked to the success of digital transformations and the company’s bottom line by maximizing the value of digital investments.Â
The up-and-coming DAP Architect career path is a chance for IT professionals to tie their value as individuals to their company’s ROI from technology. The role ties to employee experience, growth, retention, and productivity strategies as DAP Architects use technology to improve the experience and productivity of interacting with digital products. Responsibilities of this function reach across every department within an enterprise. It’s exciting, in-demand, and here’s how to add it to your resume.Â
See More: Are Tech Degrees Becoming Obsolete Over Tech Skills?
The Steep Cost of Weak Digital AdoptionÂ
A recent WalkMe study Opens a new window of almost 1,500 senior business leaders found that the inability to utilize technology tools fully cost the average enterprise nearly $100 million in 2021. This figure factors in the cost of failing to realize the full value of software investments, digital transformation projects that did not meet their goals because end users did not use the technology as expected, support and training to compensate for employees’ lack of digital dexterity, and replacing employees who left due to frustration with technology. According to the same study, enterprises intend to spend an average of $30 million addressing their digital adoption challenges in the next three years. In order to close the costly digital adoption gap that most enterprises are currently experiencing, organizations must have the necessary talent focused on digital adoption. One critical role is the DAP Architect.Â
A lack of digital adoption is also taking a toll on employees. The time spent trying to figure out workplace technology and processes has skyrocketed alongside the rapid digitalization seen in recent years as organizations sought new ways of working remotely during the pandemic. A recent Harvard Business Review studyOpens a new window found that employees toggle between applications about 1,200 times each day, adding up to about 9% of their annual time at work. Technology overload has employees in a chokehold, wasting their time and distracting them from accomplishing their goals on the job with efficiency and ease. Everyone wants to increase the adoption of helpful workplace technologies, and because technology is ever-changing, digital adoption strategies will be a necessary investment well into the future.Â
Must-have Skills for Succeeding as a DAP
DAPs use digital adoption platforms (DAPs) as their digital canvas to create delightful experiences like walkthroughs, smart tips, and automation that benefit end users while providing tremendous value to their organizations. They build a consistent user experience across enterprise tech stacks to guide users through the digital jungle that is the everyday screen of most knowledge workers today. DAPs can be used to guide any user in any industry. Fast food workers can benefit from on-screen guidance to efficiently place and fulfill orders without lengthy training sessions. The same technology can help a senior sales professional at a SaaS company close a million-dollar deal on their CRM.Â
There are many facets to the evolving role of the DAP. Some focus primarily on the end-user experience, taking responsibility for utilizing the aggregate data gained from a DAP across applications to elevate user experiences and process efficiencies constantly, whereas other DAPs, like the DAP Architect, zoom in on the technical infrastructure and compatibility of a digital adoption platform.Â
The beauty of the DAP is that everyone has the opportunity to get in at the ground floor because it is such a new profession. There are ample certification opportunities to prepare for this line of work with its own special skill set. And while no formal educational background is required, more technical DAP roles such as the DAP Architect would be best suited for someone who already has expertise in the IT field.Â
The Most Hirable Skills in Digital Adoption
Not always top of mind when thinking of an IT professional, communication and collaboration skills provide tremendous advantages on the job as a DAP. This new function truly reaches across an organization affecting every individual who uses software to do their job. Understanding the nuances of effective communication is critical in digital adoption infrastructure and interactive content.
Implementing a DAP across the multiple platforms that make up an enterprise tech stack is no small feat. Project management skills are essential for successfully managing several integrations, moving parts, and timelines while working with stakeholders from across the organization.Â
Lastly, business acumen is a not-so-secret superpower for a DAP Architect and a prerequisite for any DAP. They will all need to understand their business’s specific needs and how their digital adoption strategy and platform can be used to drive business outcomes. At the end of the day, DAPs are highly accountable leaders who directly impact a company’s bottom line by using technology to accomplish business goals, so business acumen is a must-have skill.Â
Not every DAP Architect will adorn the formal title or even have it as their full-time job, but adding the DAP Architect capabilities to your professional wheelhouse is a worthwhile investment in your IT career. There is a serious need for improved digital adoption in organizations across industries. While there are incredible technology solutions out there, there is a necessary talent component that must not be overlooked. Arm yourselves with the ability to be a part of the solution by adding DAP Architect to your resume.Â
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