The survey conducted by Salesforce, a Californian cloud computing company and leader in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) services, breaks down the stereotype according to which younger people have a greater knowledge of digital tools. A broad statement that needs to be made less smoky: they have advanced skills in the use of social networks but get lost in the mare magnum of digital skills useful for the world of work. The survey was attended by 23,621 people between the ages of 18 and 65 from 19 countries scattered throughout every continent, including Italy.
In Italy 86% of the sample interviewed (1,327 people) claim that they do not have the digital skills that companies are looking for today and, as regards the skills needed for the next five years, the number of unprepared rises to 87%. There average of the 19 countries taken into consideration shows gaps everywhere in the world: 73% know they are not prepared for the technologies required by the world of work and 76% feel they cannot keep up with the demands of the next 5 years. An inadequacy (or a sense of inadequacy) that prompted Salesforce to “allow anyone to learn and leverage the digital skills necessary for today’s and tomorrow’s jobs”, underlines the Salesforce country leader for Italy Mauro Solimene. Thus was born the Italian Digital Talent Factory, a virtual place where everyone can get information, get ideas and get involved in the use of technologies regardless of the level of technical-scientific preparation. A service through which it is also possible to discover which training path to undertake to become protagonists of one’s professional life.
Digital insecurity
Italians who are unprepared are 13% more than the global figure (73%, already high in itself) and those who fear being unprepared in the near future are 11% more than the global average. Yet, the technology is the same everywhere, just as the use made of it is almost identical. It must be considered that, in our latitudes, the scarce digital culture instills a sort of insecurity that makes the approach to technologies less easy and almost reverential.
Italy in detail
Looking at the data in relation to the age of the interviewees, interesting aspects are discovered. The graph below is divided into skills by age group: baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964), generation X (born between 1965 and 1980) millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) and generation Z (1997-2012).
The first thing that emerges is that each group is particularly prone to surfing the web and the use of social media, with the only exception of the baby boomers who, with only 39% of advanced skills, do not seem to juggle much in the use of social networks.
A fare most flaw is the ability to analyze data, a skill that entered the world of work in a transversal way only in the last 10-15 years and, before then, required above all of administrative-accounting staff and company controllers. In addition to data analysis, each age group has its own Achilles heel: baby boomers do not stand out in the use of smart technologies and digital communications (21% know them in depth), the latter do not break through. not even in the strings of generation X (29%). For their part, smart technologies do not meet the favor of millennials who, more than the 37% of high acquaintances, are represented by the 19% (1 in 5) who know very little about them.
Generation Z appears to be the most prepared and needs reflection: those born between 1997 and 2012 fall into the category and therefore, since the Salesforce survey concerns the world of work, it takes into consideration those born close to 1997 more than children. born after 2005 (who are now between 10 and 17 years old). They are able to distinguish themselves better probably because they have taken possession of the technologies that have been made available to them by the companies they work for but little is known about their specific knowledge before they started working. A sobering fact: in Italy only 17% of respondents are following paths to perfect their digital knowledge while abroad 28% of those who responded to the survey are doing it.
The index of preparation
Salesforce has created its own index that takes into account both the preparation of people, their ability and participation in updates of their digital skills. The Salesforce Index, whose global value is 33 out of 100, sees Italy achieve 25 points, or eight less than the average (already not too high).
If Indian citizens who participated in the survey feel ready to respond to the technological challenges offered by the world of work (with a score of 63 out of 100), citizens of other countries have a much less confidence in their own abilities. This leads us to think that there is a need for a greater cultural diffusion of technologies.
Italy is a country for managers
Digital skills in relation to professions can be measured both on the basis of the age of the employees and on the basis of their company classification which, in the specific case of Italy, sees managers more prepared than those of foreign companies.
Italian managers are better prepared in the use of productivity software, as well as being more familiar with web browsing and social media. More generally they have higher or higher intermediate knowledge than their foreign peers. It is a positive sign: digital tools are taking root even among the top management and this will dictate internal procedures and processes oriented towards digitization.
Salesforce initiatives
In addition to the aforementioned Digital Talent Factory, Salesforce Italia has created a triangulation model with its partners and with universities. A virtuous circle for the creation and acquisition of skills whose ultimate purpose is to satisfy the requirements of job vacancies, in which the candidates’ digital knowledge plays an increasingly decisive role. Hence the numerous collaborations with about twenty Italian universities including SDA Bocconi, Ca ‘Foscari University of Venice, University of Cagliari, University of Bergamo, University of L’Aquila, University of Catania, Catholic University of the Sacred Cuore, IULM and 24ORE Business School.
Conclusions
One can certainly discuss how necessary it is for an accountant to have a thorough knowledge of social media or how useful data analysis is for a worker but it should be noted that the survey wanted by Salesforce should be read from a cultural and cultural point of view. therefore broader: there can be no digital literacy in the absence of a previous evangelization. It is not a question of inculcating digital culture, it should be chosen as a practical alternative capable of simplifying the daily life (professional and private) of each individual.
If institutions (schools above all) and businesses must participate in both evangelization and the dissemination of digital culture, it is appropriate to expect every person to roll up their sleeves regardless. In this regard, Salesforce offers two other platforms: Trailblazer Community and Trailhead. The first is a global community of 15 million people who support each other in learning digital skills, while Trailhead is a free learning site that has already been used by 3.9 million people.