As we get deeper into 2023 of the twenty-first-century world, it is imperative to note that knowledge and information demand is not slowing but continues to be more sophisticated and valuable in life and business. The present-day business world is a world of information technology. So, everyone in a business organization needs basic digital skills that are more than being able to access, read, analyze, and evaluate information. But also, the digital literacy to create, compose and send messages via any digital device through any digital platform. Here are the basic skills you need to know and practice as businesses continue to embrace technology in most business processes and procedures, especially in marketing.
Accessing information
Digital literacy is like a passport or license to explore global territories through the internet to access information and knowledge. Any company operating without a well-designed, developed, and functional website to house its information and data have not yet grasped the importance of digital literacy and appreciation of technology. No business can operate without any digital tool like a computer, laptop, or cellphone. Therefore, you need basic digital skills at any workplace to use these digital devices to access, retrieve and send data and information using these devices at work and in business. You need to access, find, evaluate, use and create messages to communicate with others via any digital platform. Let’s dive deeper into the basic digital skills you need to navigate the present-day workplace with confidence without fear of technology and accessing information.
Finding information
Information or data is now the new precious commodity of higher value than oil and gold. No small, medium or large-sized business can operate without accessing and distributing information. Businesses need surveys, data, and KIPs to guide decision-making and planning. Information and knowing how to use it relevantly will make your business active enough to activate all its business processes and procedures without suffering downtimes due to a lack of helpful information from the internet.
Efficiency in finding information on the internet will help when it comes to searching for the most appropriate services you might also need outside your enterprise or business, like vendors and suppliers. Once a need for these arises, you won’t find yourself panicking faced with so many choices on the internet.
So, the thing is being able to surf and browse the internet without wasting time locating information and without getting mixed up and buried in unnecessary data. The more digitally literate you or your employees are, the easier it becomes to find any information on the internet without getting distracted and confused about what suits and does not suit your needs for fulfilling your business goals.
Evaluate information
After locating and finding the relevant information, you need to evaluate its source, credibility, and relevance to your needs. And how to effectively apply and tailor it to your needs. That calls for analyzing and assessing the quality of the information. In business, you cannot just use information as is. It needs sifting and revising to suit your needs and purpose in your operations. That is because the internet is awash with loads of information. Any misunderstood and misused information might cost your business time and efficiency due to the wrong application, which may delay the delivery of services.
Remember, any information and technology in the wrong hands have cost many their jobs, reputation, integrity, dignity, and sanity. That is where holistic literacy skills come in to empower people with a holistic way of evaluating information and seeing what is valid and suits their needs without sacrificing their privacy and integrity in using any information.
Using Information
Be sure how you use the information you access on the internet. The most common purpose of using information is to direct and guide business operations and procedures. Therefore, information located, evaluated, and analyzed as above, needs proper application in solving your business problems efficiently as solutions to your business operations. Your information systems and software need to be practical and affordable as inputs and outputs of your business information, especially those that handle business finances and accounts. You can only make such learned choices with appropriate basic digital literacy skills.
Though the internet has relaxed some copyright rules, copying and pasting any information without adding value aligned to your business will defeat the purpose of being creative and innovative in the present-day world. Creativity in business breeds new ideas in business. And innovation creates new things that are better than the original before innovating. This principle applies in almost all industries and niches. Proper use of information enables creativity and innovation to produce a unique brand in a product or service-based business. Also, the security and safety of your data and information need to be well-managed, stored, and accessed without mixing up and getting confused, which can be stressful and time-wasting.
Creating Information
Your business does not operate in isolation nor interact and network in a vacuum. So, be clear about what information management systems are suitable for your business management needs and how streamlined and seamlessly they can be maintained and managed without tech knowledge and skills. Creating messages and content is one thing that calls for digital skills for efficient word processing and publishing whatever you want to boost your business communication processes. It needs to connect to the outside world’s relevant enterprises and stakeholders.
The only way to do so and remain in touch is through information via different channels on the internet. However, the challenge is to be in a position to choose the appropriate tools and platform to use for your communication needs. That becomes easier with more exposure to appropriate digital literacy skills for accessing which platforms are professional and which are too social and the like. The most important thing is to remain professional in building credibility and reputation in your industry and niche. You should ensure that whatever information you create is helpful and relevant to your business and what it stands for in the industry.
If you are interested in basic digital knowledge and information, you can easily enroll in this course here.
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