Upskilling Within Tech: When and How to Do It

Technology is one of the fastest growing industries. Between cloud computing, serverless tech, and generative AI (Artificial Intelligence), it’s essential for employers to keep a finger on the pulse of the latest trends.

With employees being on the frontlines of these changes, the best way to keep up is through upskilling. Keep reading to learn why upskilling is so important and the best way to do it.

Examples of Upskilling in Tech

Upskilling your employees requires a keen understanding of the evolving technology landscape. The following are various areas in which upskilling can take various forms tailored to your organization’s specific needs and trends.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

AI has quickly taken the world by storm and is in high demand. Businesses are working to leverage AI, as well as Machine Learning (ML), to improve customer experiences for industries like healthcare, finance, and transportation. In fact, one-third of businesses currently use AI and ML models like ChatGPT and Bard within their organizations.

Tech teams could significantly benefit from upskilling in AI or ML. By learning how to use these tools, they can optimize their workflows and streamline tasks. Doing so could easily open the doors to innovation and collaboration, moving the needle in developing cutting-edge tech solutions.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is the availability of resources such as storage, servers, and applications (through “the cloud”) and is growing at an unprecedented pace. The global cloud market is estimated to grow to $947.3 billion by 2026, with 94% of businesses already using cloud services in 2023, according to Zippia.

Tech professionals like DevOps engineers, software developers, and system administrators can learn to leverage cloud computing resources and services effectively to maintain an edge in the market.

Project Management and Agile Methodologies

Agile project management places a large focus on improvement, team input, and delivering quality products. This type of approach is flexible and especially beneficial when the requirements for tech-related projects change unpredictably.

By mastering Agile methodologies (like scrum), project managers can nurture and lead teams while ensuring projects are completed with efficiency.

Why Tech Upskilling Is So Important

In today’s digital era, where technology and automation are reshaping industries, the importance of tech upskilling is undeniable. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report strikingly highlights this urgency, revealing that half of all employees will need reskilling by 2025 due to the rapid adoption of technology and automation.

Upskilling in tech is essential due to its varying benefits, which can include:

Attracting top talent
Maintaining a competitive edge
Keeping your team agile
Improving employee satisfaction and retention
Increased productivity

These advantages keep you at the forefront of the ever-evolving tech industry.

3 Tips for Establishing an Upskilling Program

So, how can you establish an effective upskilling program? Consider these three tips to help you create an environment where continuous learning, growth, and excellence are the norm.

1. Conduct a Skills Gap Analysis

Conducting a comprehensive skills gap analysis is the first step in establishing an upskilling program. This evaluation can give you a clear idea of your team’s current skill set against the skills needed to achieve your goals. You can gain helpful insights through tools like:

Employee surveys
Performance reviews
One-on-one meetings

The analysis also ensures that your investment in training directly contributes to the program’s strategic goals and the organization’s business needs.

2. Develop a Tailored Curriculum

Once you’ve identified the skills gap, the next step is to develop a tailored curriculum that aligns with the identified skills gaps. You can do so by:

Setting clear, achievable goals
Defining what success looks like (such as mastering new programming language or software tools)
Creating a roadmap with smaller milestones and timelines for each
Including a mix of theoretical learning and hands-on practice

3. Foster a Culture of Learning

When you actively participate in upskilling initiatives, it can set a powerful example for the rest of the team and motivate them to follow suit.

However, a common concern with this type of culture can be the perceived lack of time. Tech employees are constantly working on various projects, so some may feel as though they don’t have time to engage in learning opportunities outside of work. To combat this, consider integrating upskilling learning sessions into regular work hours. This way, no one has to sacrifice productivity or forfeit meeting project deadlines. Try incorporating strategies like:

‘Learning Fridays,’ where a portion of the day is dedicated to development
Short and focused micro-learning sessions
Flexible scheduling or downtime between major projects
Reimbursed costs for upskilling courses and trainings

These approaches can encourage participation and demonstrate your commitment to your employees’ growth and success.

Optimize Your Tech Talent with Insight Global

Tech upskilling is a critical investment in the future of your business and your employees—but we know it’s not always an easy effort to execute. If you’re experiencing some challenges with implementing an effective upskilling program, we can help!

Our managed services division can provide customized talent optimization and management services that can help you stay ahead of the technological curve. With over 20 years of IT expertise under our belt, our team can help you create programs through these hands-on services that align with your organization’s goals.

Connect with us today to discover how our solutions can help you build a dynamic culture brimming with talented, upskilled employees.