Magazine

The Digital Champion (DC) is the secret asset of successful organizations. This emerging position has become essential in helping companies remain competitive and responsive. As a driver of innovation and productivity, it bridges the gap between new technologies and business needs, enabling companies to navigate today’s digital landscape with efficiency and agility.

Today, discover this fascinating role through the eyes of Mathieu , Microsoft consultant and part-time DC at Qwerio. Drawing on his wealth of experience, Mathieu guides us through an exploration of this strategic position, from its origins to the essential skills required for the job.

What is a Digital Champion?

Definition and historical background

The Digital Champion was born out of the rapid evolution of digital technologies and the growing need to support companies in their digital transformation in France and around the world. At the end of the 20th century, the emergence of the Internet and the development of digital tools turned the business world upside down, making it essential to adopt these new technologies in order to remain successful.

Over time, companies realized that it was not enough to implement new tools; they also had to train employees, adapt processes and change mindsets. Thus, the need for a role dedicated to this mission arose. The DC emerged as the answer to this need, offering technical, pedagogical and organizational expertise.

This role stands out for its ability to promote and facilitate the adoption of innovative technologies within companies. It plays an essential role in advising, raising awareness and training teams, ensuring that each member makes effective use of the solutions made available to them. By bridging the gap between new technologies and end-users, he maximizes their impact on the organization and their ROI.

Main tasks of the Digital Champion

The Digital Champion has several essential missions, which vary according to the organization’s specific needs.

Promotion and adoption of new technologies

The DC is responsible for promoting the use of new technologies within the company. He identifies solutions that can improve business processes and works to get them adopted by teams. For example, with our customers, Mathieu focuses mainly on the integration of Microsoft 365 tools, such as Teams, OneDrive and SharePoint, to improve collaboration and operational efficiency. He can also develop new topics and propose, for example, low-code solutions (Power Platform) to digitalize processes via dedicated applications.

Project management

As a cross-functional project manager, he coordinates digital transformation initiatives. He works with various departments to ensure smooth implementation of technologies. His ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical teams is crucial to the success of these initiatives.

Team training

The DC organizes and runs training sessions for the professions, to help them understand and use the new technologies available to them. It also creates interactive workshops and ongoing training programs to keep skills up to date and ensure sustainable adoption of digital tools.

Innovation and technology watch

An important part of this role is keeping abreast of the latest trends and developments. He or she carries out regular technology watch to identify new opportunities that can benefit the company. They also take inspiration from best practices used in other sectors and adapt them to the specific needs of their organization.

Decentralization of competencies

The Digital Champion promotes the decentralization of skills by encouraging employees to develop digital applications and solutions. He supports the initiatives of “citizen developers”, those employees who, although not professional developers, create innovative solutions to meet the immediate needs of their team.

The DC is therefore a key player in the digital transformation of companies. By combining technical expertise, pedagogical skills and organizational abilities, they guide companies through the complexities of a constantly evolving ecosystem.

Skills and qualities of a Digital Champion

The role of DC requires a unique combination of technical and human skills, which are essential to the success of its missions.

Technical skills

Digital fluency : In-depth knowledge of digital tools and collaborative platforms, including Microsoft 365, Teams, OneDrive and SharePoint, is essential.
Project management : The ability to plan, execute and oversee digital transformation initiatives is essential, including defining objectives, allocating resources and managing risks.
Data analysis : Analyzing data to identify trends and assess the impact of digital initiatives is necessary.
Knowledge of emerging technologies : Technology watch helps identify new opportunities and propose innovative solutions.

People skills

Communication : Explaining complex technical concepts in a clear and accessible way, and maintaining ongoing communication with all parties involved is paramount.
Leadership and influence : Inspiring and motivating teams, leading change and overcoming resistance.
Pedagogy : Knowing how to teach and transmit knowledge, creating effective training programs, abandoning your expert posture to make yourself accessible.
Empathy and listening : Understand end-users’ needs and adapt solutions accordingly.
Collaboration and teamwork : Create synergies between departments to achieve common goals.

A typical day in the life of a Digital Champion

Daily activities

A typical day for Mathieu combines project management, training, communication and innovation.

• Meetings and planning : The day often begins with meetings to plan activities, take stock of current projects and define priorities.
  Needs analysis : Understand teams’ specific challenges and identify how digital technologies can help them.
  Training and workshops  : Organize training sessions and interactive workshops to help teams adopt new solutions.
  Solution development : Collaborate with developers to create customized solutions and test their effectiveness.
  Support and communication : Provide technical support to teams and maintain ongoing communication with all parties involved.

Interactions and collaborations

The success of a DC depends on its ability to collaborate with various departments.

• Businesses : Work directly with business departments, gathering their feedback to improve solutions.
  IT teams : Collaborate with the IT team to implement and manage technology solutions.
  Management: Ensure that digital initiatives are aligned with the company’s strategic objectives, and benefit from management support.

The strategic importance of the Digital Champion

Strategic alignment

The DC ensures that digital initiatives are aligned with the company’s strategic objectives. At our customers’ sites, Mathieu ensures that the technologies adopted support the organization’s objectives, working closely with management to define clear objectives and establish a detailed digital roadmap.

Leadership and change management

Il inspire et motive les équipes en partageant une vision claire de la transformation digitale auprès des équipes. Il gère les aspects humains du changement, organise des formations et crée un environnement de confiance pour adresser les résistances. En soutenant une dynamique de progrès, il encourage les collaborateurs à proposer des idées et à expérimenter sans craindre l’échec.

Using KPIs

Il utilise des indicateurs de performance clés (KPI) pour mesurer l’impact des initiatives numériques et ajuster les stratégies en conséquence. Il communique régulièrement les résultats aux parties pour assurer une transparence et un engagement continu.

Conclusion

This emerging profession has become an indispensable element in the successful digital transformation of companies in France and around the world. DCs help companies adopt new technologies, improve their processes and stay competitive. Thanks to their combination of technical and human skills, DCs align digital initiatives with the company’s strategic objectives.

To find out more, watch our webinar “Discovering the Digital Champion”, in which Mathieu explains the importance and impact of this role for our customers in France and abroad. He explains how a DC can facilitate the adoption of new technologies, inspire and motivate teams, manage complex projects and foster a culture of innovation.

At Qwerio, we are committed to supporting our customers in their digital transformation by providing experts like Mathieu.

Would you like to add a Digital Champion to your team, or benefit from the advice of one of our experts? Contact us to benefit from our advice.