Digital technologies are starting to see use in nearly every business sector and for everything from communications through to collaboration and improving productivity.

With technology playing such a significant role in the modern business and consumer world, it should really come as no surprise that digital technologies are set to contribute substantially to global economies in the near future.

However, with mounting technology investment and reliance, it's going to be necessary for businesses to focus on effective utilisation – and this where the ITIL framework comes into play.

Adding to economic output

According to a new study from research organisation Accenture, digital technologies will play a major role in the economic output of world's current top 10 economies in 2020.

In fact, the increased usage of technologies to "execute key business functions" will add a total of US$1.36 trillion to global economic output. This is certainly a significant total – and it's one that cannot be ignored.

The statistics came from an Accenture report called the Digital Density Index, which investigated countries including China, Australia, France, Italy, Sweden, the US and India. The research explored how far digital technologies have penetrated economies and businesses, with a number of factors creating a digital density score.

"As companies become more digitally enabled, so digital density should rank alongside access to natural resources, a good transportation system, and skilled people in their list of location criteria," said Bruno Berthon, the managing director of digital strategy at Accenture Strategy.

"Being digitally competitive means applying new technologies to a range of performance areas, from sourcing labour and automating processes to creating new goods and services."

What companies need to do

It's important that businesses take advantage of new digital technologies, as the benefits can offer significant operational improvements. In many cases, companies can find workers far more productive, and communication easier across multiple office sites.

Of course, new technologies can be difficult to implement, as there is really no "one size fits all solution for companies". As such, IT service management frameworks provide the best possible solution.

These are proven frameworks and methodologies designed to ensure that any new IT system or process is implemented with the aim of benefiting and transforming the business. It's definitely a preferable approach to going in blind with a new IT investment.

If you'd like to find out more about both the ITIL framework and other highly capable methodologies, get in touch with ALC Training today.