If you can see that future business trends are pointing toward the adoption of digital transformation for the improvement of work processes, increased productivity and efficiency, you may be interested in learning about how to become a certified digital transformation professional.
Let’s explore.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Digital Transformation Certification?
- Do You Need a Digital Transformation Certification?
- What Do You Learn in a Digital Transformation Certification Program?
- Digital Transformation Certification Programs: Where Are They?
What Is a Digital Transformation Certification?
A digital transformation certification verifies that you know how to develop and identify strategies that align with new initiatives and ways of working.
A certificate is proof that you are aware of the fundamental ideas and potentials of digital transformation, and have been educated on and are familiar with digitization, automation, artificial intelligence, robotic processes, and – increasingly – virtual reality.
Being a certified digital transformation professional means you are trained in processes related to innovation, and that you can:
- identify who would be able to achieve digital transformation
- describe what digital transformation is
- understand current technologies and when new transformation may be on the horizon
- communicate the reasons why digitization may be a favorable plan of action
- create a roadmap and timeline that demonstrates where successful benchmarks lie
Do You Need a Digital Transformation Certification?
While it is true you can learn on the job or learn digital transformation on your own, the value of a digital transformation certification cannot be overstated.
To grow your career in a constantly-changing industry, especially where innovation is prized, investing time and resources into achieving certification is truly worthwhile.
Transformation is changing multiple industries globally, and the value of tech and data will clearly increase. If you wish to accelerate your career and develop key attributes and skills in the field, certification is certainly the way to go.
At all levels of an organization, workers are needed who can transform their environment by first learning the full-cycle of digital transformation – this leads to being a highly sought-after professional across multiple industries.
A digital transformation certificate will be helpful across many roles within business leadership. These include:
- Human Resources Managers, who are tasked with workforce development and skill building that may become automatic
- Digital Transformation Specialists, who position new systems within organizations for adoption
- Chief Transformation Directors, who are responsible for the transformation implementation throughout the entire organization
- Project Managers, who help with digital transformation strategies and coordinate the initiation and development of specific projects within the digitization effort
Training to achieve your certification makes a lot of sense if you are in an organization that is embarking on an effort to undergo digital transformation.
And, having the certificate will certainly position you to be able to climb the career ladder.
It helps to show that you are ready to embrace a profession based in transformation initiatives and that you have taken steps to amp up your skill toolbox.
TIP: Consider how certification will benefit your company. Is it possible to point out these benefits and ask if they will pay for it and/or give you the time necessary to study?
Even for those who are already established professionals within the digital transformation space, certification is valuable and can translate into better pay because of the ability to show the completion of professional-level coursework.
Finally, for those who are striving to start their own transformation business or work as a digitization expert consultant, the certification adds a professional designation to their resume or business plan.
Certification establishes the credibility that is necessary when going solo in business.
The Point: Yes, you should consider pursuing a digital transformation certification if you are trying to grow your career. You’ll be learning the information necessary to be a skilled professional, your opportunities for growth widen, and the odds of a better salary and benefits package are increased.
What Do You Learn in a Digital Transformation Certification Program?
Through a digital transformation certification program, you can expect to learn the most up-to-date information about the industry and how to develop and implement transformation successfully. You will also learn:
- How to accurately describe and define digitization
- How to foster a culture that embraces big and important changes
- How to determine realistic goals and then create a doable plan for the development and implementation of digital transformations at different kinds of businesses and industries
- How to prepare an organization for transformation caused by artificial intelligence, blockchain, the Internet of Things, robotics, and more
- How to communicate the ways the digitization helps with organizational change that affects both people (customers and employees) and operations
A digital transformation certification training program provides the learner the foundational information to grasp the relevance of digitization in business within different kinds of industries. The student will become knowledgeable about strategizing ways to implement digitization’s possibilities related to tech and innovation.
Takeaway: Becoming a certified digital transformation professional is one of the primary keys to success in a career focused on automation and digitization.
Digital Transformation Certification Programs: Where Are They?
When it comes to options for places and programs to get a digital transformation certification, the good news is – there are a lot of fantastic options.
Each school has its individual strengths, and there are multiple factors to consider (such as online vs in-person, duration of the program, cost, etc.)
Let’s explore some of the available choices to see what path to certification may be right for you.
Some programs offering certification have big-name recognition which sometimes lends the program with prestige. These are easy to find with a simple web search, but let’s take a look at two big names.
MIT Digital Transformation Programs
First up is Massachusetts Institute of Technology, more commonly known as MIT. Famed for its tech programs and contributions to the study of electronics, it’s no surprise that MIT offers a robust and innovative digital transformation program.
MIT’s certification program dives into blockchain technology, chat applications, cloud tech, and private data analysis. It will take 8 weeks of online work (about 8 hours a week) to get certification through this program, and it costs nearly $3000.
MIT’s program is great for all those who are interested in future technologies, and there aren’t any prerequisites necessary to qualify.
eCornell Digital Transformation Certificate Program
Next, consider Cornell’s Certificate Program, via Cornell.
Cornell, like MIT, has a stellar tech reputation. eCornell’s program centers on disruptive ideas that can make positive business impacts. It’s an interactive program that allows enrollees to pitch their ideas and plans, and gives feedback on them.
Their program asks students to refine their concepts to make them deliverable quickly (this is known as “rapid ideation” – it means swiftly moving from ideas to development of tools). eCornell’s program takes a commitment of about 4 hours a week for 4 months. Classes are broken down into modules focusing on particular areas of digitization.
UC Berkeley Digital Transformation Bootcamp
Another great option is to enroll in a digitization certification “bootcamp.”
A bootcamp accelerates learning and can be a more intensive experience than other online options, but the timeline is compressed and students get through more quickly.
For example, UC Berkeley Executive Education Digital Transformation offers an intensive curriculum. Berkeley’s bootcamp is a 2-month online program and the commitment is about six hours a week.
The program emphasizes practical, real-world tech development, automation, and robotics. The cost for Berkeley’s bootcamp is about $2,500.
MicroMasters Graduate Level Technology an Business Courses
For the budget-minded, or if you’re not ready to commit to a full certificate program or series of courses at a larger institution, edX offers MicroMasters Programs. One being its Digital Transformation in Business program.
There are multiple sections of the curriculum and each goes into digitization in various kinds of work, like digital transformation for HR, digital transformation for leadership, and digital transformation as a business and innovation strategy.
The course is seven weeks, with up to 10 hours of time per week.
Best part: It’s free.
You will need to pay $399 for a verified certificate, but there is no denying this path to certification is a bargain.
The Knowledge Academy Digital Transformation Certificate Program
Most digital transformation certification courses are online. Some are in-person, but many people pursuing certification have busy lives and careers and need the flexibility of an online program.
But the Knowledge Academy goes a step beyond and ramps up flexibility by offering an online, self-paced option.
This approach may ultimately take longer, as there won’t be the driving factor of a deadline, but it is a great option for those who just can’t commit to more traditional coursework schedules.
Students learn all the building blocks of transformation at a pace that works for them. Costs will vary depending on current offers.
FINAL WORD: Yes, a digital transformation certification is well worth it.
You will professionally gain the skills necessary to compete in the tech job market, or to branch out on your own. And you will be able to demonstrate your commitment to both learning and growing by the fact that you’ve pursued your certification.
Finally, there are obviously a lot of different schools and programs to choose from that are going to fit the bill and get you what you are looking for: a digital transformation certification.
Consider the various pros and cons of each, think about what kinds of flexibility you have (or don’t have) in your life, and analyze the financial and time investments you are willing to make. All of these considerations will be factors in your final choice of program.
