A study into the identification of human factors in digital transformation in a South African rail logistics company

Abstract

As world industries rapidly move towards digital transformation (DT), organisations are making concerted efforts to become more sustainable in the face of technological revolution. DT has become a compelling necessity for organisations looking for a competitive edge. However, understanding how human elements affect DT’s adoption in South Africa's freight logistics industry remains largely unexplored. The investigation aimed to close this gap by inquiring into the human elements of DT, emphasising digital leadership, digital culture, digital talent, and DT relationships. Over 180 senior management employees of Company X were surveyed. The responses were analysed, and the validity of the hypotheses was assessed utilising Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Amos version 28 structural equation modelling (SEM). The results confirmed that digital leadership significantly impacted digital culture and talent. As such, digital leadership plays a central part in ensuring favourable outcomes for DT. While digital culture positively influenced DT, the same was not established for the impact of digital talent on DT. The result contradicted previous research findings and justified further study. Overall, the outcomes emphasise the value of human elements in successful DT. Consequently, organisations commencing with DT should prioritise digital leadership, culture, and talent as strategic levers for DT's success