Online small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) community groups and SME digital maturity analysis tools enable small companies to tap into and share knowledge to transform into digital enterprises, says local digital consultancy Xuviate COO Mathias Tölken.

The company runs these online communities – called mastermind groups – as platforms for information technology (IT) leaders to brainstorm and share information and support each company’s digital transformation projects.

Further, the Xuviate Gap Analyser tool enables SMEs to determine their digital context and maturity. The tool provides each participating organisation with a detailed digital maturity status, which improves their ability to help each other with technical or managerial challenges.

“Group participants are carefully matched, based on industry, company size, relative IT maturity and IT leadership focus, as well as other criteria, to ensure the greatest benefit for all participants,” says Tölken.

The groups, usually with six to ten active participants, meet online every two weeks for about two hours. The benefits of these groups include impartial advice and brainstorming, accountability, motivation and sharing ideas, support and energy.

Community members have to share their projects and objectives and query each other on progress and challenges. This helps to maintain the momentum of digital transformation projects.

The groups are managed according to Xuviate’s IT maturity framework designed for SMEs, with the methods and guidelines providing structure and guidance.

“The guidelines and progressive digital maturity steps enable leaders to remain focused on the competence-building activities, which are the truly important matters during a digital transformation journey,” says Tölken.

Interacting regularly with those members successfully executing projects is beneficial. “Sometimes one is just too close to the problem and could benefit greatly from the insights and expertise of others. Sharing ideas, even if you are not talking about your own situation, stimulates creative thinking and new ways of tackling problems.

“Sessions are formal and organised, with special attention on the two or three leaders who have been selected for the ‘hot seat’, which is rotated to ensure everyone is offered an opportunity to get input from their peers and to encourage participants to engage.

As group members gain trust in one another, it becomes easier to extend the relationships into your day-to-day work life and get fast decision-support or even support with specific tools and templates that you might need,” highlights Tölken.

The sessions are recorded and SME IT leaders can also get a recording of sessions dealing with specific challenges or issues.

Members also have access to a private online network, dedicated to the larger community of business technology leaders to exchange views, and to an expansive pool of knowledge, tools and templates, he concludes.