S_HIFT to Tackle Digital Disruption for Brands
April 27, 2017
ASIA PACIFIC – Ogilvy & Mather Asia Pacific, IDC Asia Pacific, and DHR International Asia Pacific have today announced a new partnership called S_HIFT. The agreement sees the triumvirate formed to help clients tackle the ever growing complexities of digital disruption in business. The collaboration works to unify the C-suite in the areas of branding and customer experience (Ogilvy), technology advisory (IDC), and talent leadership (DHR), to deliver a holistic approach to digital transformation.
Speaking on the launch of the partnership, Jerry Smith - Chief Operating Officer of Ogilvy said: “At the end of 2016 we conducted research across the region to better understand how prepared organisations are when it comes to the digital transformation of their business. Over 90% responded describing themselves as ‘somewhere on the journey’, however one of the biggest challenges identified was the ownership of the agenda in the boardroom. It was clear that transformation of this magnitude for any organisation transcends functions and departments. Collaboration holds the key, and in discussions with our partners at IDC and DHR, it seemed logical that we ourselves collaborate for the mutual benefit of our clients”.
At the foundation of the partnership are research papers and executive briefings designed to help the C-suite clarify and simplify the challenges they face with digital disruption. The first of these will focus on Omni-Experience from May 9 in Shanghai, followed by Singapore and Hong Kong. Each briefing will provide attendees exclusive access to research data that explores what is informing new customer experience trends, best practice insights, and pathways to success across various organisation functions.
“There is complexity when it comes to the digital transformation of a business, it’s not just the role of IT - technology should enable Marketing, Sales, Customer Service, R&D, and Supply Chain Management as they all stand to benefit from it. But the technology itself isn’t just the answer, it’s just one part of the bigger questions we’re hoping to help answer in this partnership. At the end of the day, any transformation must deliver business results for strategic growth” added Jason Gorud, Group Vice- President of IDC Asia Pacific.
The role of DHR will be to satisfy the business need to focus on the identification, recruitment and development of talent that is tasked to deliver digital transformation for an organisation. “S_HIFT brings the leadership factor into play. Never before have organisations been so hard pressed to deliver change to both meet demands of today’s consumers and to stave off the onslaught of a new wave of disrupters. Deploying leadership capable of making the leap has never been so important” said Steve Stine, Asia Pacific Managing Partner of DHR.
S_HIFT will also be providing consultative services to clients of each of the partners.“ Many organisations are struggling to find clear and manageable structures and solutions to bring together various parts of the business that need to work together. The bespoke consultative approach of S_HIFT helps unify the boardroom through structured assessments and tools we’ve jointly created. These are critical to help our clients plan, implement, and deliver the short, medium, and long term strategic growth they need from digital transformation” added Smith.