"We need to find a common language for digital technologies": podcast with Kristian Voss Sørensen, Chair of the Committee on Digital Enterprises
How can organizations bridge the gap between technical complexity and strategic value? In the episode "We need a common language for the technologies" which is part of Dansk IT's podcast series: In the shadows and shadows of digitalization, Kristian Voss Sørensen, Chair of the Committee on Digital Enterprises, talks about the need for a common language in companies and organisations and about the potential and importance of digital technologies for us.
Interview with Kristian Voss Sørensen on Digital Transformation and AI
About Kristian
Kristian Voss Sørensen runs a company called Ensensor Insight, which focuses on value creation and strategic guidance for organizations of all sizes. Ensensor Insight helps businesses—large and small—map out how they can create value using technology and data. They work together with senior management to identify the right direction for leveraging technology, including AI, to meet customer needs and solve business challenges.
Kristian also chairs the Danish IT Committee for Digital Business. The committee focuses on digital transformation, which is more than just digitization. Digitization refers to the implementation of digital tools, while digital transformation involves utilizing these tools to fundamentally alter business models—such as Spotify and Netflix transitioning from physical products to streaming services.
The commitee's goal is to help Danish SMEs use technology and data to create added value and strengthen their competitive position, both locally and globally.
Why Top Management Matters
Technology and AI discussions often involve technical experts, but business leaders are often part of the conversation. We believe it’s crucial to involve top management—and sometimes even boards—because they define the company’s strategic direction. Technology should support that strategy, not operate in isolation.
This isn’t just about it anymore. It’s about business transformation. Technology offers new possibilities to simplify processes, scale operations, and deliver services faster. That's leadership commitment from the start.
Bridging the Gap Between Business and Technology
Historically, IT and business have operated in silos, creating friction. Today, we need a common language. AI tools like ChatGPT can help bridge this gap by translating technical concepts into business terms—and vice versa. For example, a CEO can describe a business need in plain language, and AI can help convert that into technical requirements. IT teams can use AI to explain solutions in business-friendly terms.
The Role of AI
AI is everywhere—and it’s accelerating digital transformation. It’s like gasoline on the fire: Things are moving faster than ever. While we’re still in the early stages, the potential is enormous. Yes, there will be bumps along the way—just like during the dot-com era—but the long-term impact is undeniable.
Generative AI is particularly transformative because it empowers non-technical people to interact with technology in natural language. This democratization of technology will reshape roles and create new opportunities.
The Empower & ProtectTMMethod
Together with Danish IT, we developed the Empower & ProtectTM framework—a management tool that helps businesses focus on value creation first, then address governance and risk. The method starts with identifying customer needs, then determining how technology can best meet those needs. It reaches strategic direction, governance, and execution in a single approach, enabling different business disciplines to collaborate effectively.
We’ve tested this method in workshops with participants from various sectors—public, private, and academic—and it works. In just a few hours, teams achieved results that would normally take weeks.
The Empower & ProtectTM Framework core principles:
- Start with customer needs.
- Identify value creation opportunities.
- Select appropriate technologies.
- Address governance and risk.
- Sample effective in workshops across sectors—compressing weeks of work into hours.
What’s Next?
The committee is currently mapping the challenges Danish companies face in digitalization and transformation. We’re conducting interviews with business leaders and collaborating with universities to identify barriers and proposed solutions. Our ultimate goal is to influence policy and make it easier for companies to succeed in their digital journey.
Kristian’s Closing Message: If you think digital transformation or AI is too complex, reach out to us at the Danish IT Committee. We want to hear your challenges and help you overcome them.
