Five ways to boost digital productivity in the transport sector

The UK’s economy hinges on digital innovation to fuel growth and enhance productivity, but alarmingly, 93% of UK businesses have reported a critical IT skills gap.

Amidst this backdrop, the transport sector is grappling with its own set of challenges, including environmental regulations, shifting consumer expectations, rapid technological advancements, and an ageing workforce. This scenario not only underscores the necessity for fresh, digitally skilled talent but also highlights the critical importance of enhancing digital productivity - a factor that’s becoming increasingly vital for the sector’s success.

Here are five practical strategies to supercharge your digital productivity: 

1.    Cultivate diverse and blended squads

The foundation of productivity lies in the diversity and skillsets of a team. Utilising a talent pool shaped by a thorough selection and training process is a solid basis for success. This approach gives you access to a wide range of skills, essential for tackling the complex challenges of digital projects in the transport sector, from analytical thinking to innovative problem-solving. Such a strategy equips the transport sector with a flexible and robust workforce, ready to advance digital innovation.

2.    Tailor training to emerging trends

Upskilling your team through customised training is essential for overcoming productivity challenges. Shifting from waterfall to agile methodologies and embracing the latest in AI and machine learning can ensure your team’s readiness for any project demand. Crucially, what sets our training apart is that it’s conducted by the very experts responsible for setting the BCS examination standards, ensuring you gain access to unparalleled educational insights. This commitment to advanced learning doesn’t just prepare your team - it propels them forward, leading to enhanced project delivery and outcomes.

3.    Manage resources cost-effectively 

Project demands in the transport sector can fluctuate widely. Adopting a flexible approach to resource management - scaling teams up or down as needed - ensures that projects remain agile and cost-efficient. This dynamic allocation of resources, tailored to real-time needs, allows for lean operations that adapt quickly to changing demands without compromising quality or incurring unnecessary costs.

4.    Navigate compliance and mitigate risk 

Simplifying IR35 compliance and HR regulatory complexities through a compliant resourcing model offered by an external partner reduces financial, legal, and administrative risks. Strategic outsourcing alleviates the burden of navigating tax legislation and HR administrative challenges, enhancing operational efficiency. It enables a focused approach to your strategic objectives and project execution, ensuring productivity remains high and your projects progress smoothly.

5.    Secure top-tier talent

Adopting a strategic recruitment approach that focuses on quality can significantly streamline the hiring process and address the digital skills gap more effectively. By prioritising the acquisition of top-tier talent with specialised skills in areas such as data analytics, business analysis, project management, software development, and cloud technologies, you can reduce recruitment times and ensure that new team members make substantial contributions from the outset. This emphasis on quality over quantity leads to improved project outcomes and enhanced productivity. For instance, our Novus Future Talent programme has empowered organisations such as Network Rail to access digital talent and meet their business needs, whenever and wherever they need it. 

Moving forward

As the transport sector navigates the acceleration of technological advancements, environmental regulations, and shifting consumer expectations, the dual pressures of a looming retirement wave and a digital skills gap threaten to hamper its progress. Yet, these challenges unveil a unique opportunity to revolutionise how we approach digital project productivity. A flexible digital talent model is the key to unlocking this potential, offering immediate adaptation to market changes, access to specialised skills, and a leaner, more competitive operational framework. It’s time to not only adapt to the changing digital landscape - but to redefine and lead its future direction. 

Let’s talk some more 

If you’re ready to integrate any of these strategies into your organisation to help boost your digital productivity, get in touch.