Digital Dexterity: What It Is and How to Develop It in Your Organization

Digital dexterity is the willingness and ability of employees to use digital tools effectively, adopt new ones quickly and stay open to technological change. It combines skills (knowing how to use the tools) and attitude (wanting to use them). It is not innate: you develop it through hands-on training, in-app support, managers who lead by example and regular measurement of how tools are actually used.

The digital landscape is evolving rapidly, and with it, much of how businesses are organized: new tools, new working methods, new organizational structures, new governance models… Times are changing, and digital transformation is a long but now indispensable process. Its success depends on many factors, but one is a little more essential than the others: the human factor. More and more companies are aware of the importance of digital dexterity and its integration into their processes and strategies. According to Gartner, it is an essential skill for businesses in the digital age. But what is digital dexterity, and how can we improve it? In this article, discover the keys to understanding and mastering digital dexterity for better performance. The willingness and ability of teams to adopt new digital solutions are prerequisites for successful digital transformation. This attitude towards change and the digital skills to respond to it can be grouped under a single banner: digital dexterity.

Is this ability innate or can it be acquired? And how can it be cultivated? Who should be responsible for it? We'll tell you more.

Open-mindedness and Agility: The Watchwords of Digital Dexterity

Simply put, digital dexterity is the willingness and ability of teams to effectively and fully utilize current and emerging digital technologies. The context in which the vast majority of businesses operate, across all sectors, demands continuous evolution and updates: software is becoming increasingly autonomous, organizations are more flexible, and job skills are being redefined. In theory, this is a boon for the company: resource optimization, improved customer experience, simplified data management… In practice, it's a challenge for teams: while these changes represent new opportunities, they require the ability to embrace new tools and working methods. Digital dexterity is, in this respect, essential: by developing the ability of teams (whether accustomed to new technologies or not) to adapt, learn, understand the stakes, and adopt a "welcoming" attitude, the company greatly improves its chances of a successful digital transformation. The challenge is not whether someone already knows how to use the tool, but how to make them want to do so to their full potential.

Digital dexterity vs. digital skills vs. digital culture: what is the difference?

The three terms are often used interchangeably, but they cover different things:

To structure digital skills, the European Union relies on the DigComp framework, now in version 3.0, which defines five competence areas: information search, evaluation and management; communication and collaboration; content creation; safety, wellbeing and responsible use; and problem identification and solving.

The key takeaway: training people in skills is not enough. Without the motivation to adopt the tools and a work environment that encourages it, digital dexterity stays low.

How to Develop Digital Dexterity Within Your Organization

Digital dexterity is not acquired overnight; it is particularly dependent on a company culture and a digital work environment. Developing personal digital dexterity is essential for feeling comfortable in the digital world and adapting to new technologies. Today, digital challenges are not limited to IT teams; they must be shared by everyone. It is therefore essential to promote digital flexibility at all levels of the company and to support change. Training is a crucial lever to achieve this goal, as is support in getting to grips with new tools. Your company must also create a digital work environment where employees can experiment and learn at their own pace. Digital workspaces, online learning platforms, and online communities are effective ways to encourage learning and collaboration. In-app guidance is another way to develop digital dexterity, giving users the information they need at the moment they need it, step by step. To be effective and sustainable, the effort must be collective: HR teams are often supported by business project managers, who are closer to the field, and sometimes by IT departments, who are experts in the tools provided.

A digital adoption platform like K-NOW, our application GPS, is designed to help your employees adapt efficiently to perform their daily tasks. Thus, whether you deploy a new application, a new module, or a new version of your software, your users are guided directly in the interface, at the moment they need it.

Who Champions Digital Dexterity?

Fear of change is a human reaction, regardless of age or experience. But to achieve large-scale digital dexterity, it is essential to maintain an open mind towards change. Employees who resist this evolution can hinder the success of the initiative. To encourage them to develop their digital skills and replace apprehension with excitement, strong leadership is necessary. At the helm of such projects, we generally find HR teams, responsible for career management and aligning the workforce with the company's needs. It is often their responsibility to encourage employees to adopt an open mind, to be ambitious in embracing novelty, and to develop their digital skills. HR departments must clarify their intentions and the stakes of this digital dexterity, both for the company and for the daily lives of the teams. Change management involves a long period, which allows for the "internalization" of new habits and reflexes. Managers and team leaders can also steer these projects. As the primary contacts for their teams, they are particularly familiar with the needs and objectives, as well as any reluctance or obstacles their colleagues might encounter. Of course, if management initiates the project, they can also lead it, especially in smaller companies.

How do you measure digital dexterity?

What is not measured rarely improves. To track digital dexterity, combine self-reported indicators with real usage data:

• Skills self-assessment: a short questionnaire built on the five DigComp areas positions each population and guides training.
• Application adoption rate: share of active users, features actually used, processes completed end to end.
• Autonomy: volume of "how do I" tickets sent to the help desk, recurring requests for help on the same screens.
• Speed of adoption: time between the release of a new version and the return to normal activity levels.
• Perception: satisfaction surveys on the tools and on the support received.

Break these results down by job, site or tenure rather than by age. A Gartner survey of 3,120 workers in the US, Europe and Asia/Pacific found that employees aged 55 to 74 were the second most likely age group to adopt new ways of working. Gaps usually reveal a lack of support, not a generational limit. To choose your indicators, see our guide to software adoption KPIs and track them at every rollout.

Which Digital Tools Help Build Digital Dexterity?

According to a Gartner survey published in 2018, only 7% to 18% of organizations had the digital dexterity needed to adopt new ways of working: few teams approach a transition calmly and without assistance. Fortunately, digital tools such as office suites, online training platforms, project management platforms, and instant messaging are all tools that can help companies develop their teams' digital dexterity. Simulators and role-playing games are complementary ways for employees to learn and train in new technologies in a hands-on way. By providing online collaboration tools, you also encourage communication and collaboration among your employees, whether they are in-person or remote.

With K-STUDIO, our e-Learning Authoring software, you can train hundreds or thousands of employees to be immediately operational on a new version of HR, CRM, ERP, Purchasing software, collaborative tools, and more. Employees practice on a faithful replica of their applications, with no risk to production data.

Do you want to optimize your employees' use of your business applications? Knowmore offers digital adoption solutions tailored to your employees. Support them throughout their learning journey and foster a dynamic learning environment within your company. By making digital dexterity a priority, you place your users at the heart of change, empowering them with skills and autonomy to effectively respond to a constantly evolving economic environment.