Why a Technology Mindset Matters in the Metals Industry

Historically, companies introduced new foundational business systems every few decades. These implementations often required radical changes, and workers had to learn complicated and time-consuming new systems and processes. Today, advanced technology and cloud solutions allow for more frequent but less invasive updates.

For example, the rapid pace of AI development might allow workers to shift a workflow process every six months to adapt to changing customer requirements. Given the quickened pace of technology adoption, an agile mindset can be valuable for metals leaders to instill among employees, as such a mindset can help workers apply changes more frequently and with less resistance.

Metals leaders that want to use technology to enhance business operations can benefit from implementing the following strategies to create a culture of technology adoption.

New and updated technology is developing at a rapid pace. Companies have easier access to new tools and features than they did in previous years. But how do metals leaders know which tools are worth the investment of time and money? A process for determining if and how a new tool might benefit the company should be integrated into the culture.

Metals leaders should have a plan to support employees as they explore new tools and discover their benefits. Teams need guidance on how to evaluate the tools, determine their value, and create a timeline for how to integrate or discard the tool. Establishing this framework helps build a culture of technological innovation.

The more technology becomes ingrained in company operations, the more important it is for IT leaders to be included in business strategy. In the past, executives might have made strategic business decisions and simply passed along the information to IT teams. However, the overlap between business and IT requires increased collaboration.

Metals executives must elevate technology leaders’ voices and positions in the company if they plan to continue investing in updated technology. IT leaders should understand the business, and business leaders should understand the role of technology. A culture of collaboration among leaders is critical for businesses using technology to sustain future growth.

Many metals companies have an idea of who they are looking for when they fill positions within the company. Hiring managers evaluate a candidate’s industry knowledge, skills, and experience as well as the ability to manage customer relationships. However, technological agility is also important.

To create a culture in which new technology is quickly adopted and integrated into processes, metals leaders must consider a candidate’s technological mindset and willingness to be agile. Executives who plan to use advanced technology in the coming years should staff their teams with employees who can adjust their workflow as necessary, and one way to build that culture is to hire people who can support it.

For larger system implementations, metals companies can spend an extraordinary amount of time determining which individual software system best suits their business. Most cloud-based platforms might appear to be a good fit, but the most important factor to consider is which team is best suited to implement the new system.

Advanced, large-scale systems can provide a solid technology foundation, so it’s critical for metals leaders to build teams that can help them realize the greatest value and return on investment.