by Rogers Mudibo

As we rapidly move in this digital age as a result of a rapid rate in technological innovations, possession, and being knowledgeable and having the necessary Digital skills enhances one’s employability in different organizations and across many sectors.

The following list takes into account critical digital skills needed not only in tech sectors but also in other non-tech sectors.

Digital Marketing

Digital Marketing is the promotion of products and brands via electronic media such as display advertising, email, social media sites as opposed to the traditional way of marketing through newsletters, billboards, flyers and newspaper print ads.
Through the Internet of Things, more and more devices are interconnected which enables people to access information whenever and however they want it through E-mails, various social sites etc. Such avenues offer for targeted marketing that can be tailored to meet specific customer needs and preferences. Therefore  by owning, leveraging one’s  digital skills(marketing) and understanding of how to get the most value for money out of the broadest range of networks will be key here in both tech and non-tech companies.

Big Data Analytics

Big data is a term that describes the large volume of data – both structured and unstructured – that inundates a business or any organization on a day-to-day basis which can be analyzed for insights that leads to better decisions, value and strategic business moves. Big data practically affects many organizations in different sectors ranging from Health, in which effective management of big data can enable healthcare providers uncover hidden insights that improve patient care, to education where data from students, teachers and in general, the education system can enable better insights on school systems, students and curriculum

Through cost-effective and innovative forms of information processing an Analytics Expert can make use of the high-volume, high-velocity and/or high-variety information assets leading to enhanced insight and better decision making in the respective organizations.

Social Media

Today’s PR is carried out almost exclusively through social media; Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, Instagram and countless other platforms giving companies direct access to customers and therefore by having the ability to leverage one’s digital skills to such platforms to the benefit of one’s company, is vital in this day and age in terms of revenue generation and effective customer service.

Programming and Web Development

This entails a set of skills in building programs through a variety of languages otherwise known as ‘Programming Languages’, such as PHP/JavaScript and MySQL, Java, JQuery etc. Having such skills in building websites and software, is both rewarding and lucrative, and having a plethora of applications and projects done validates one’s knowledge and expertise.

App Development

According to eMarketer.com the number of smartphone users worldwide will surpass 2 billion in 2016 and by 2018, eMarketer estimates, over one-third of consumers worldwide, or more than 2.56 billion people, will use smartphones. With such a huge number of population using smartphones for their online engagements such as e-shopping, streaming sports and news, the space for application developers is set to increase as the need for applications that offer such services increases.

Be it for career development or personal enjoyment or whether it’s a public or a private organization, digital skills are imperative skills irrespective of one’s social cadre, and with the advent of more innovative and life changing technologies, it’s prudent and wise enough to be abreast and stay ahead in this digital age.