Within IP, most of the patent departments today are struggling with a decrease of resources and high top-down efficiency targets. With digitalization such as process automation and diverse task management, the aimed efficiency gains can be reached. But what are exactly today’s challenges in the IP Departments? Our experience shows the most common challenges and the needed strategic approach.
Most of the patent departments today are struggling with limited resources and high, top-down efficiency targets. With digitalization, such as process automation and diverse task management, the efficiency gain targets can be reached. But what exactly are today’s challenges in the IP Departments? Our experience shows the four most common challenges:
Our strategic approach shows how these challenges can be individually analyzed and filtered. The output are five strategic enablers for accomplishing a digital transformation. These five enablers can be described as key success factors and components that are needed to ensure a smooth transformational change:
How can companies implement the five enablers?
Overall, the transformational change from manual ways of working to more technology-based working processes requires a lot of gradual changes. While thinking about the implementation of these five enablers, our expertise shows that support should be provided in four different areas:
Fig. 1: The five enablers as key success factors for a digital transformation in IP Functions
Overview key lessons learnt:
What can companies do to prepare for the change?
Companies need to ensure that people are able to understand the benefits and improvements of the new working style, which needs the appropriate time for preparation and implementation, training models and education change in order to address AI and automation. It is known that our generation grew up with “emotional intelligence”. The next generation is required to have an “AQ” – an adaptability quotient; an ability to learn fast and change as new technologies develop. The role of HR becomes more strategic and the business models, roles and workflow processes are changing with technology. It is time to rethink which skills and competencies are needed for the future, and how to embark on large-scale training programs. Only when reaching a positive mindset change for all parties and stakeholders involved, a successful new digital way of working can be achieved.
© 2019 KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, ein Mitglied des KPMG-Netzwerks unabhängiger Mitgliedsfirmen, die KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), einer juristischen Person schweizerischen Rechts, angeschlossen sind. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.