As digital transformation becomes more prevalent, businesses are looking to move their operations to cities that are best equipped to handle the change.
One of the most prominent examples of this has been London; as mentioned in a Contino report, company executives discussed how digital transformation had transformed their business operations and made them successful.
While London is on the rise for organisations to adhere to the digital transformation process, so too is Sheffield. Let’s explore the success of some of these businesses.
The State of Digital Transformation in Sheffield
CityFibre
Natalie Ward is the City Manager of CityFibre in Sheffield. CityFibre is the UK’s leading provider of full-fibre infrastructure, and they are on a mission to make Sheffield the best-connected city in the country.
Natalie served as a vital link between the general public and the CityFibre team, ensuring that the project was conducted with minimal disturbance. She also created awareness about full-fibre technology and the many advantages it may provide to the city.
When it comes to digital transformation, this last year has proven the internet’s incredible adaptability and how much we rely on all things digital.
CityFibre invested £115m in Sheffield to ensure that its full-fibre network reaches almost every home and business locally, transforming Sheffield into one of the world’s best digitally connected cities.
Natalie believes that the investment will also transform Sheffield’s forward-thinking corporate community. Next-generation full-fibre connectivity may boost productivity and innovation, providing organisations with the platform to achieve their growth goals.
Natalie led the Sheffield project to deliver a modern, state-of-the-art digital infrastructure for residents and businesses, consisting of connectivity that is futureproofed.
Sheffield Hallam University
Alex Prince, Head of Knowledge Exchange and Innovation at Sheffield Hallam University, believes that there is potential for Sheffield to become a leading digital city for transformation and innovation.
In conjunction with Barnsley Council, Sheffield Hallam University has launched a new project, Digital Innovation for Growth, to help businesses in the Sheffield City Region improve their competitiveness through digital technologies.
Digital Innovation for Growth is a free service that assists SMEs in the Sheffield City Region in making the most of digital technology to develop their businesses, improve their products or services, increase efficiency, and adopt new working methods.
It connects your company to free consulting and facilities, including Sheffield Hallam University specialists and state-of-the-art design, prototyping, and testing facilities at DMC 02, located at Barnsley’s Digital Campus.
The project will focus on seven key areas: enhanced cyber-security, improved design, software engineering, data analysis, artificial intelligence, user experience, and rapid prototyping.
“The Sheffield Innovation Programme is an excellent example of how institutions can collaborate to help businesses in the Sheffield City Region innovate and develop,” said Alex Prince.
Alex went on add to how he was extremely proud of Sheffield Hallam’s work so far and how they managed to undertake 400 projects so far. The city has seen a lot of investment in its infrastructure, and many initiatives are aimed at helping businesses to adopt digital technologies.
However, Alex believes that more needs to be done to raise awareness about digital transformation’s benefits and help businesses understand how they can make the most of it.
Conclusion
Digital transformation is an ongoing process and one that requires careful planning and execution.
While London and Sheffield may be at different stages in their journey, both cities are making significant strides in becoming more digitally connected and innovative. With the right support, any city can transition to a digital future.
