By now, we should be used to the idea that technology moves fast. Just look at your mobile device—even if it had the latest and greatest features a few months ago, it may seem outdated today. 

Even so, the pace of change can seem even more dramatic in our professional lives, especially in physical operations. Over my nearly 20-year career in safety and logistics at DHL, I've seen technology not only transform the equipment and devices we use, but also the way we work with our colleagues, both in the back office and in the field. 

And there's still lots of change on the horizon. That means there's even more we need to do to digitalize our operations to integrate new technologies. But, how can leaders be sure they're making the right bets on technology that's constantly changing? Here are five takeaways you can use to understand where we are—and where we’re going—on the path to digitalization.

1. EVs and AI—where digitalization is making an impact now

It's easy to get caught up in the hype of new technologies, but there are several that are the real deal. These solutions are already driving benefits, and are poised to deliver even greater impact in the near future. Take electric vehicles (EVs), for example—companies around the globe are committed to being more sustainable, and EVs have already helped to lower our carbon footprints. As fleets become more digitalized and have access to more emissions data, they will be able to use it to make even bigger gains.

AI is also proving to be a game-changer for physical operations, especially when it comes to safety. I've been involved in safety my entire career, and AI is absolutely revolutionizing safety in logistics. For example, AI-driven safety tools, such as in-cab alerts and driver coaching, are making people safer, and tools that can identify road hazards and make predictions about how drivers should react will be increasingly common. We’re just at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to AI, and more amazing developments are yet to come. 

2. Transparency is the key to getting buy-in for digitalization

Many people, especially frontline workers, can be wary of digitalization. It makes sense—if you see a new camera in your truck, you don't want to feel like you're being watched 24/7. This is why it's so important to be upfront and transparent with unions and other frontline workers. When you make it clear that digitalization efforts are about eliminating redundancies, not about spying, your teams are much more likely to accept new technologies. 

Be clear about what you're doing and why. Show your employees how digitalization helps them be more productive and lowers costs. Then, show them how you're reinvesting the savings back into the workforce, for example with new vehicles or improved training that can help make them safer. If you're upfront from the get-go, that's going to create huge buy-in at the start of your digitalization projects. 

3. Digitalization is not a magic wand to fix issues

It's not just frontline workers who may have misconceptions about digitalization. Sometimes, management can believe that digital technology is some sort of magic wand that they can wave to solve challenges. In fact, if you're doing it right, digitalization will uncover problems you didn't know you had in the first place.

Digitalization doesn't make management's job easier, but it does fundamentally change the way they manage their operations. Digital technology can make it easier to spot waste, redundancy, lack of focus, and other issues. It's what management does with this information—the strategies they develop to address it, the way they communicate it across their organizations—that makes real improvements possible.  

4. Ask questions early and often to save yourself headaches later on

When you digitalize your operations, it's easy to get caught up in a few common pitfalls. The biggest one I've seen is assuming technologies can do things that they can't. Since digitalization is moving so fast, people may not completely understand what a solution offers, and they may just assume the technology can do more than it actually can. 

This can create big problems later on when companies suddenly realize they didn't completely understand what they were buying. They end up with a new solution that can't do what everyone thought it could that's integrated into their operations, with no quick and painless way to rip it out. 

To avoid this, it's important to always ask questions. The more detailed the better, and the questions should come from a representative group of people who will be using the technology in their day-to-day work. Depending on what the technology is, that means both frontline workers and management, as well as employees from IT and any other departments that may touch the solution. 

5. Always prioritize investing in digitalization to differentiate your organization

Many physical operations companies have seen big gains from digitalization, which is why investing in new technologies—and doing it now—is so important. As technology improves, organizations that make it a point to invest in new solutions will pull ahead of those that don't. Digitalized companies will be able to identify the gaps and redundancies that can improve their operations and save money that can be reinvested back into the business. Customers are not going to stick with you and pay more for services they can get from a competitor that's higher quality at a lower cost.

Technology can be your organization’s game changer, or it can be its Achilles’ heel. Walk into it, don’t run. Ask the right questions, and a lot of them. Be relentless internally with transparency and expectations of what it will and won’t do for workers and management. Know the desired result of your organization well.