Adjusting to the Fourth Industrial Revolution
We’re all familiar with the term ‘industrial revolution’. We all sat through the same history lessons where we were taught how it forever changed Britain’s economy and led us to adopt new ways of working. But revolution didn’t just stop in the 1800s – modern history has in fact witnessed three, and the world is now gripped by a fourth. The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is an amalgamation of technology that has blurred the lines between the physical, digital and biological spheres. The explosion of this revolution is unprecedented, with the COVID-19 pandemic the spark that lit the fuse.
Industry 4.0 was on the horizon long before the pandemic with many companies anticipating a change – but that doesn’t mean that the seemingly overnight upheaval of the working world wasn’t a difficult transition. Working from home increased eight-fold in April 2020, accounting for 43.1% of the UK workforce. This sudden change in reality catalyzed the need for agile business, with companies forced to keep up. With an average increase of seven years in the rate at which companies have enhanced their digital offerings, COVID-19 tipped industry over the technological edge.
For companies that had already started to accept the transition, the sudden arrival of a pandemic was the impetus for change. Innovative businesses built upon substantial foundations and leveraged the evolving landscape to their advantage. Being adaptable fostered a resilience that made navigating this new reality much easier, meaning some companies didn’t just survive, they thrived.
VISFO was one such company. Our team were quick to adapt, relishing the opportunity to be part of such a pivotal transformation. By utilizing new digital offerings, we were able to upskill and meet the new demands of the tech space, arming ourselves with the resilience to double our workforce over the course of the year.
It was not, however, solely the tech industry that felt the impact of this revolution. All manner of businesses were forced to sink or swim. Historically cautious pharmaceutical (pharma) companies could not deny that it was time for change – with the need to deliver solutions at a greater pace than ever, 4IR was their opportunity to meet the increasing demands in the healthcare space and retain or build on their position in their respective fields.
Facing new ways to access and analyse big data, engage with communities and cross-collaborate, it was time for pharma to think differently – which is where VISFO came in. With roots firmly grounded in science and medicine, we were perfectly placed to serve the rapidly changing needs of pharma companies. Our team, consisting of everything from software engineers and designers to clinical experts and health economists, work to deliver data-driven insights enabling clients within pharma to act smarter, faster and always in the patient’s best interest.
So how did VISFO adapt and what were some of the crucial factors that led to our success in navigating the ‘new normal’?
Leadership in the 4IR
There are two crucial ingredients for navigating this transition. First, managing a team that is adjusting to an entirely new way of working requires an entirely new type of leadership and, “at the heart of that is good communication” says Tom Henderson, VISFO’s Head of Product. “We have daily stand-up meetings and cross-team sprint reviews, to keep everyone informed and encouraged.” Matt Stoker, one of our Front-End Developers, tells us, “I still feel like I work with my team every day, we have everything we need to adapt and improve even though we are no longer physically working together.”
Disruption drivers
The second, a willingness to be disruptive. At its core, disruptive thinking is thinking differently, which is at the heart of what we do. Investing in disruptive practice and being comfortable with its outcomes has proven instrumental to leveraging this revolution instead of falling victim to its challenges. Our diverse team can create innovative solutions enabling our clients to find more agile solutions and answer the unmet needs of patients.
The next normal
The past few years have created a very rare window of opportunity to reflect and redefine the kind of future we want not only as business but as a group of individuals. Our vision always has been to make science personal, something 41R has catalyzed and made a reality for patients through increased access to digital health, improved health outcomes, and reduced health inequalities.
Individually, we all enjoy a better work-life balance; less commuting time, less stringent working environments, flexible hours as well as a fast-paced work environment that continues to stimulate and challenge us. VISFO is determined to keep moving forward – we have maintained our hybrid model, offering everything from regular on-site meetups to virtual hangouts, creating an inclusive and supportive workplace and enabling the delivery of projects that really do make science ever more personal.
