Digital literacy in your company: why is it important?

We have been incorporating new terms into our lexicon for a long time, in terms of information technologies of the so-called digital revolution. In this regard, one of the most viralized is digital literacy, as a metaphor for school literacy, the first training we learn in the early years, which represents the initial kick for all the knowledge that we will acquire throughout our lives.

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Digital literacy now encompasses all areas of knowledge, from education to the business world, but before bringing these technological skills to formal work settings, most people took their first steps in everyday communication with their family and friends.

This gave them significant experience to apply this knowledge in organizational settings. But what we will specifically deal with in this article is digital literacy in companies.

Today more than ever the rise of technology in the business environment shows no signs of abating, which is why companies that bring together the most digitally literate employees are emerging as today's leading organizations.

This has been accelerated by the onset of COVID-19, which has made remote work and digital conferencing a common trend. Additionally, the modern business has employees from all backgrounds, age groups, and current digital capabilities, contributing to internal disconnects, such as within departments or even across the company.

The challenge of making everyone in your company digitally competent may seem daunting, but it's also necessary for productivity, creativity, and growth.

What is digital literacy?

Digital literacy is a person's ability to perform various tasks in a digital environment. It involves locating, evaluating, and creating content using technology and communicating effectively with others. It is a set of essential skills to help navigate the information technology network that is critical to the functioning of today's society.

Being digitally literate entails taking courses online as a fintech teacher and in the workforce.

There are many tools and skills within the digital literacy landscape. However, possessing a strong set of technical skills, using computers, mobile devices, and the Internet, and interacting with others online is essential.

The correct application of technologies in digital literacy improves people's quality of life, allowing them to be more productive and efficient at work while developing interactive capabilities through different virtual environments.

Educators, school leaders, and media specialists increasingly value digital literacy skills as today's students view the Internet as a critical source of information. When students are digitally literate, they find, consume, and create digital content in their way, and they know how to share their content with others.

A student with a digital literacy skillset understands how to create strong passwords, use privacy settings effectively, and know what to share and what not to share on social media. Additionally, they are aware of the dangers of cyberbullying and work to prevent it from happening to others.

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Digital literacy extends to businesses

Technology has also been a major factor driving changes in the modern workplace. As a result, various new job duties, expectations, and ways of communicating through digital platforms are becoming part of everyday life in all sectors.

Newly graduated young professionals must develop digital literacy to prepare for these changes and, perhaps more importantly, adapt as innovations are introduced. Organizations can reap numerous benefits by improving the digital capabilities of their workforce.

Digitally literate collaborators are more efficient because they easily identify essential data/information/patterns and use them effectively. In a world where new information is constantly being published and consumed, having this capability is vital.

Workers with digital literacy skills can also connect and collaborate more effectively. These skills can also prevent generation gaps in a diverse workforce with up to five generations working together.

Importance of digital literacy for businesses

In business, several advantages, including increased job satisfaction and employee engagement, can be achieved by providing educational training on digital literacy. Incorporating new skills in the implementation of different technological tools will allow them to reach their goals more quickly and with more outstanding results.

Highlighting the importance of training staff in digital literacy, the 2019 Oracle and Future Workplace study of 8,000 managers in 10 countries found that 36% thought AI would improve their skills, while 20% said it would improve their relationships in the workplace. 

New technologies are often intimidating when introduced, but people are generally open to learning. Business leaders must demonstrate the importance of digital literacy for their employees and continuous training in the workplace.

It will help them understand that digital literacy can improve their performance and productivity, increase their general knowledge and gain a greater sense of empathy towards their colleagues in other departments, making collaboration between them more effective.

In many professions, the constant recycling of information is necessary because they are constantly changing, especially those related to computing, communication, education, or research. Obtaining digital skills will favor job placement for unemployed workers, and increase growth opportunities for active professionals.

The negative aspect of digitization is that some professions may disappear if they do not adapt to the new technological circumstances. For this reason, digital literacy is essential to incorporate the professions that are emerging in this era, which will facilitate the adaptation of people in any organizational field.

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In short, digital literacy is marking a before and after in the professional world. Most millennials were aware of technological changes growing up, but the youngest people were already born incorporating digitalization naturally. Both generations choose mostly technological professions that allow them to acquire a fast and promising labor insertion.

Furthermore, mastering these new tools will make young people more productive and efficient. But as a result of this, many jobs of trades will lose value because digital is what sells the most, and soon it will be the only thing that does.

However, generations older than millennials also deserve to be digitally literate, not only because it can allow them to remain productive at an age considered for retirement, but also because access to these digital media will bridge the generation gap by achieving better communication between grandparents, children, and grandchildren.