Open Access

The Rise of The Tech-Business Translator in The Age Of AI

4 Solutions Delivery Analyst at Holt Group

Abstract

Contemporary digital transformation initiatives have intensified the demand for professionals capable of effectively connecting technological capabilities with strategic business objectives, individuals commonly recognized as tech-business translators. While their organizational significance continues to expand, the specific competencies necessary for success in these interdisciplinary positions remain inadequately conceptualized and lack systematic examination. This research addresses that gap by introducing the first integrated skills taxonomy that bridges existing disconnects across academic research, employment market intelligence, and industry practice. Drawing on an analysis of over 50 job advertisements, recent scholarly literature, and leading industry reports, we identify six primary competency areas, ranging from strategic reasoning and interpersonal communication to artificial intelligence proficiency and quantitative analysis. The proposed framework offers clear parameters to guide recruitment, learning and development (L&D) programs, and curriculum design. By articulating the essential competencies for these multidisciplinary professionals, this study lays foundational groundwork for future empirical research and supports talent development in digitally transformed organizational environments.

Keywords

References

📄 Berman, S. J., Korsten, P., & Marshall, A. (2020). Digital reinvention in action: What to do and how to make it happen. IBM Institute for Business Value. https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/report/digital-reinvention
📄 Bharadwaj, A., El Sawy, O. A., Pavlou, P. A., & Venkatraman, N. (2013). Digital Business Strategy: Toward a Next Generation of Insights. MIS Quarterly, 37(2), 471–482. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43825919
📄 Demirkan, H., Bess, C., Spohrer, J., Rayes, A., Allen, D., & Moghaddam, Y. (2015). Innovations with Smart Service Systems: Analytics, Big Data, Cognitive Assistance, and the Internet of Everything. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 37, pp-pp. https://doi.org/10.17705/1CAIS.03735
📄 Sun, X., Huang, R., Jiang, Z., Lu, J., & Yang, S. (2024). On tacit knowledge management in product design: status, challenges, and trends. Journal of Engineering Design, 1–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/09544828.2023.2301232
📄 Huang, M.-H., & Rust, R. T. (2021). Artificial intelligence in service. Journal of Service Research, 24(1), 3–20. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1094670517752459
📄 Kraus, S., Durst, S., Ferreira, J. J., Veiga, P., Kailer, N., & Weinmann, A. (2022). Digital transformation in business and management research: An overview of the current status quo. International Journal of Information Management, 63, 102466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2021.102466
📄 Kane, G. C., Palmer, D., Phillips, A. N., & Kiron, D. (2023). The technology fallacy: How people are the real key to digital transformation. MIT Sloan Management Review. https://leonardo.info/review/2019/11/the-technology-fallacy-how-people-are-the-real-key-to-digit al-transformation?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1404835343&gbraid=0AAAAADuJw8qINs9 wsLZGOWJ-DOSLH1U2V&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxo_CBhDbARIsADWpDH6c-d6zSyEIIKTEwLF MHVocfMm2XTq39CrDldDJsTu5CmNiRT4OOwcaAo4zEALw_wcB
📄 Mikalef, Patrick & Boura, Maria & Lekakos, George & Krogstie, John. (2019). Big data analytics and firm performance: Findings from a mixed-method approach. Journal of Business Research. 98. 261-276. 10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.01.044.
📄 Schwab, K., & Samans, R. (2021). The Future of Jobs Report 2021. World Economic Forum. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs.pdf
📄 Susskind, R., & Susskind, D. (2015). The Future of the Professions. Oxford University https://www.amphilsoc.org/sites/default/files/2018-11/attachments/Susskind%20and%20Susskind .pdf
📄 Van der Aalst, W. M., Adriansyah, A., & van Dongen, B. F. (2020). Process mining manifesto. In Business Process Management Workshops (pp. 169–194). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28108-2_19
📄 Senyo, P. K., Liu, K., & Effah, J. (2024). Digital transformation: A multidisciplinary perspective and future research agenda. International Journal of Consumer Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.13015
📄 Roth, C. (2020). The digital transformation of work is here: How scientists and practitioners can work together to manage needed workplace changes. InPractice, (12), 107–113 https://doi.org/10.21825/EWOPINPRACTICE.87125
📄 Cao, G., Duan, Y., & Edwards, J. S. (2025). Organizational culture, digital transformation, and product innovation. Information and Management, 62(4), Article 104135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2025.104135
📄 Kraus, S., Durst, S., Ferreira, J. J., Veiga, P., Kailer, N., & Weinmann, A. (2022). Digital transformation in business and management research: An overview of the current status quo. International Journal of Information Management, 63, 102466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2021.102466
📄 Columbia Business School. (2023). MBA Curriculum: Digital & Data Analytics. Retrieved June 12, 2025, from https://academics.business.columbia.edu/mba/academics/core-curriculum

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.