Companies with high digital maturity were twice as likely as those with low digital maturity to report net profit margins and growth in overall revenue this year, according to the 2021 Deloitte Digital Transformation Executive Survey.
Today, even businesses that once considered themselves wholly separate from tech no longer have that luxury. Without achieving digital transformation, they risk falling behind, regardless of their industry.
In order to stay ahead of the curve and find success in a constantly evolving landscape, businesses must employ professionals with strong tech skills. These 8 roles are critical for practically any modern organization.
1. Business Analyst
A business analyst bridges the gap between business interests and technological solutions. They serve as the middleman between leaders and IT, identifying needs, gathering requirements for the entire organization, and developing ideas for making operations and other matters run smoothly.
This professional is essential for helping you hone your mission and processes, as well as identifying the tools and methodologies that will allow you to reach your goals.
2. Cybersecurity Specialist
Cybercrimes — ransomware attacks, malware, hacking, data breaches, and so on — pose an enormous threat to every business. The cost of addressing them can be huge. That’s why a cybersecurity specialist is so pivotal in today’s world.
The cybersecurity specialist acts as the gatekeeper of your systems, ensuring you are protected. They will comb your programs searching for vulnerabilities and patch them as needed. They will also offer general guidance and develop solutions to safeguard data and software before attacks occur.
3. Database Administrator
Although not the most glamorous role, the database administrator is no less of a critical one. Given the vast amounts of data businesses of all types generate and store, it’s essential to have someone manage this information. That’s the core of the database administrator’s job: they handle the data, devising solutions for storing, maintaining, and keeping it secure. Moreover, they develop ways of actively using the information and making it accessible.
4. Data Scientist
While the database administrator is responsible for managing the data through database solutions, the data scientist makes sense of it. Combing through the information using a variety of often self-developed technological tools, they study the data and translate it into a digestible format and actionable insights.
From there, they make recommendations to the business and its leaders about how to best use the data to perform even better as a company, helping them see what the data means and how to best use it.
5. IT Specialist
This behind-the-scenes technology guru is instrumental in making sure your organization is operationally effective. While the specifics of the role vary from business to business, this person is a Jack of all trades — all trades technological, that is. They may, for example, fix tech issues, develop systems and programs, install software, identify and patch vulnerabilities, and make recommendations about what technology to purchase.
Depending on the size of your organization, you may employ one or several IT specialists to manage your technology infrastructure. Some may specialize in particular areas, such as Apple devices.
6. Software Developer
A highly in-demand role, the software developer is necessary for any technologically savvy company. These professionals conceptualize, design, and build a variety of programs, systems, applications, and other tools.
In some cases, your business will be creating software to sell and distribute to the public. But even those that don’t create software for external use can still benefit from developers. Businesses across sectors often have a need for internal systems to help them do their jobs better, and developers are the ones to create them.
7. UX Designer
The look and feel of your products — programs, software, and applications — are important characteristics that can make or break the user experience, also known as UX. It takes extensive market research, a strong aesthetic, the ability to put oneself in the customer’s shoes, and many other skills and qualities. These are all qualities characteristic of UX designers.
The UX designer essentially conceptualizes the customer’s journey and interactions with your brand, so this is a role you shouldn’t overlook.
8. Web Developer
Your website is often the first point of contact between your business and a prospective or current consumer. A web developer is the professional who brings your website to life. They create what is effectively a marketing tool — one of the most important ones in your arsenal — and are the ones responsible for building or solidifying your online presence.
Sometimes, web design brings a separate role, although often, these positions are combined into a single job. While the developer builds the bones of your website, the designer makes it aesthetically pleasing to visitors, so both are important in defining your digital presence.
Whether you realize it or not, every business is a tech business. That’s why these technical roles are so important to keeping your business thriving and successful — no matter what your industry or sector.