Digital transformation is the process of incorporating digital technology into an organization’s processes, products, and strategic planning. Companies embark on a program of digital transformation to improve engagement and interaction with their customers and employees. A digital transformation involves a review of all aspects of a company’s operations including workflows, supply chains, customer interactions, and employee capabilities.
Digitally transforming a business takes time and needs to be performed methodically to improve its chances of success. There is some room for variation based on the type of company and its objectives for the transformation, but in general, some essential steps need to be taken. Bypassing these measures risks wasting the organization’s time and effort while not gaining the benefits possible in a successful digital transformation.
Benefits of Digital Transformation
A successful digital transformation offers organizations multiple benefits that help them increase revenue and grow their business. The addition of new techniques and modern technology enables companies to compete in today’s challenging marketplace. Digital transformation also reduces the number of repetitive tasks required of employees through automation and the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
The measurable benefits of digital transformation include:
- Increased productivity and efficiency through the use of automation;
- Improved resource management through process consolidation, eliminating unnecessary technologies, and using on-demand cloud solutions;
- Greater resiliency and agility to address rapidly shifting business conditions and emerging trends;
- Enhanced customer engagement by using analytics to provide deeper insights into their requirements and desires;
- Shorter time to market that promotes increased competitiveness and innovation;
- Increased revenue as a consequence of the organization’s overall transformation.
Essential Steps for a Successful Digital Transformation
Digital transformation is not as simple as implementing the latest and greatest technological solutions across an organization. While technology is an essential component of digital transformation, its power must be wielded intelligently. It should be used to address specific pain points or promote distinct solutions to business objectives that have been identified as being important to the organization.
The following steps form the essential foundation of a successful digital transformation initiative.
Define the transformation’s objectives
Companies should begin the process of digital transformation to meet well-defined business objectives. You need to answer questions such as:
- What business challenges are you attempting to address?
- Where are there gaps in your existing business strategies and operations?
- How can technology be used to improve employee engagement?
- What type of experience do you want to create for your customers?
- How will technology help meet constantly changing customer demands?
Conduct an objective assessment of current capabilities
After identifying the objectives an organization hopes to achieve through digital transformation, a realistic assessment needs to be performed of the currently available capabilities. The assessment should include a review of all aspects of an organization. This includes evaluating the current computing environment’s ability to handle new technological solutions. It should also look at a company’s employees’ skill sets to determine if they need to be refreshed to get the most value from the transformation.
Get C-suite support for the transformation
Upper management buy-in and support are critical for an initiative as all-encompassing as digital transformation. A successful transformation will change the way a company operates and affect virtually everyone in the organization. It needs full support at the top that is promoted throughout the company. It’s also much easier to obtain the necessary funds for the transformation with support from high-level decision-makers.
Create a diverse transformation team
A successful digital transformation requires a wide variety of skills and knowledge that demand the talents of a diverse team. The members need to be committed to collaboration and work together to attain the transformation’s objectives. Third-party consultants may be required to fill the gaps if the necessary skills are not available in-house.
Choose the right technological solutions
Take the time to evaluate the multiple technological solutions available that address your objectives for the transformation. Selecting the wrong tools can impede progress and make it harder to gain traction among affected employees. Technology introduced through the transformation needs to be accepted and used effectively throughout the company.
Implement new technology selectively
Rolling out new technology too quickly can have detrimental effects on its acceptance. Introducing technology in a staged manner is beneficial for several reasons. It allows issues to be identified in limited circumstances where they can be more easily resolved. Additionally, as the benefits of a new solution become evident, it will be easier to gain acceptance for further transformational technology.
Focus on changing the corporate culture
Digital transformation is not only about the technology an organization employs. It’s about how the organization uses the tools and modifies its mindset to meet the challenges of the modern business world. It may require a substantial change in an organization’s culture to fully achieve the benefits of a transformation.
Measure success and adjust plans if necessary
The success of digital transformation can be tracked through various key performance indicators (KPIs) tied to your business goals. Objectively monitor progress and be prepared to adjust plans if the transformation is not demonstrating the expected results. Digital transformation is an ongoing process that should always be evolving with your organization to address the current business landscape.
Getting Help on the Road to Digital Transformation
VAST IT Services can serve as a valuable resource and offer assistance on the road to digital transformation. They have extensive experience and expertise in all aspects of digital transformation and can provide the necessary skills and knowledge to ensure your company is successful.
Specific areas of digital transformation that VAST can help with include:
- Identifying the right technology choices to further the transformation and increase ROI;
- Planning and executing the migration of legacy systems to more flexible cloud solutions;
- Managing and optimizing public cloud environments for performance gains and cost savings;
- Ensuring a strong cybersecurity posture for systems and data.
VAST’s knowledge and experience help your company perform a digital transformation that enables it to compete and thrive in today’s business world. Get in touch with VAST today and find out how to get started.
