To successfully ride the “Making Indonesia 4.0” wave, Indonesian businesses must turn to digital solutions to automate their processes and boost their bottom line. A study by the Economist Intelligence Unit and SAP shows that Indonesian SMEs are confident about their ability to leverage new technologies, scoring 8.26 points compared to the Southeast Asian average of 7.91 points.

While this suggests a promising development in Indonesia’s call for nationwide digital transformation, it also prompts us to ask: Will Indonesian industries innovate so much to the point of glossing over the needs of their people?

People as digital enablers

What’s needed to sustain Indonesia’s digital momentum is an ethos that looks at people as drivers of—and not just spectators to—digital transformation. “Making Indonesia 4.0” must go beyond business imperatives and look into the people who will make it happen.

To champion people as the centre of digital transformation, shifts in traditional mindset are needed. We need to break away from the status quo and embrace a digital reality that values dynamism and cross-functional collaboration.

 To do this, here are some ways you can consider:

Recognise talent and leadership potential. Know how to keep top talent. For your business to go through Indonesia 4.0 successfully, you need people engaged with their work and current responsibilities.

Be flexible. Today’s workforce and the way we work have changed, leading to greater opportunities for autonomy and flexibility. Giving employees more flexible working arrangements will make them more invested in your company’s digital success.

Lead with big data. Using fact-based information can enable improvements in the way the workforce does things. You can also use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools that can help identify and solve skills gap within your company.

The ideal digital transformation is a people-led transformation. You must give them first the opportunities to unlock their potential so they can push your organisation to be more agile, competitive, and Industry 4.0-ready.

Engage and empower your people today to drive better business outcomes. Get started here.