Digital Transformation is a paradigm shift of mindset that encompasses every facet of a business. It is not simply a move towards acquiring IT infrastructure but encompasses an entire strategy of fundamentally changing how business is done by using technology. In doing so, new value and efficiencies are generated unlocking greater potential.
Digital Transformation is a paradigm shift of mindset that encompasses every facet of a business. It is not simply a move towards acquiring IT infrastructure but encompasses an entire strategy of fundamentally changing how business is done by using technology. In doing so, new value and efficiencies are generated unlocking greater potential.
We live in the age of technology where it pervades every area of our life. From radically changing the way we interact, meet and engage with each other to rapidly changing the way we do work, the transformation has been enormous. It is no surprise that companies feel the pressure to digitise business models and products.
Covid-19 has further exacerbated this notion due to lockdowns imposed in various places across the world. Technology has enabled us to stay in touch in this difficult time and provides a means to facilitate economic and social activities such as buying goods online or even receiving schooling online. It is clear, companies must adapt to this new paradigm or risk being irrelevant in a largely digitised world.
But how can this rush to digital be best done?
Of course, digital transformations aren’t games of chance. But they do require big and bold commitments in the midst of uncertainty to reinvent the business rather than just improve it.
~ McKinsey, Digital Transformation: Improving the Odds of Success
Getting Ahead of The Curve
Here are some key points on how an enterprise can begin embracing this new revolution.
Embracing Agility
Companies must be quick to change and pivot. AGILE is the new norm. Technology is moving at such a breakneck pace that any new technology can become obsolete in a matter of months of years, no longer decades. Just look at our mobile phones as a good example.
Companies must promote a culture that is not set in stone but rather encourages innovation among its workforce. As new ways of working are invented, companies must be quick to change business strategy to foster these changes within the organisation.
Shifting Mindsets
However, when there is change there is always resistance. "But we have always done it this way and it has always worked" becomes the battle cry of the few. Change Management, championed by the top but led by the bottom, must take place to encourage acceptance. It is an uphill battle to win the hearts and minds of the few but a necessary one.
Digital Transformation is a fundamental shift towards using technology, data and AI to lead business rather than just assisting it.
Budgeting Resources
Digital Transformation is an investment. It involves, time, money and people. And like any investment, it will yield returns in the long run. Strategic planning of human capital and monetary capital is key to extracting the best value for money from your investments.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Spending too much too soon
The rush to digital can be foreshadowed by immense spending to acquire the latest and greatest technology. However, this means high capital expenditure with very little promise of returns. This goes against the ethos of AGILE which champions empirical experimentation. Eventually, this leads to a workforce that is inundated with new things to learn only to be frustrated.
Delegating the task to the young only
Companies with elderly senior management tend to avoid digital and would rather delegate the task to the younger ones in the organisation. Younger people are after all more well versed in technology so why not?
Well, this then creates a disconnect between the upper echelons and the younger managers who feel they have been given the battle to fight alone. Instead, what is important to find is synergy. Combining the vision of the experienced senior management with the tenacity of the young workforce.
Working Up the Value Chain
So how then can value best be maximised?
Start with Low Hanging Fruit
Instead of investing in the latest and greatest, have a good hard look within your organization to identify gaps in technology that perhaps could be well served by implementing a digital solution. Again, digital is not always the answer to every problem as Tesla's CEO Elon Musk has recently said.
Low hanging fruit implies easy use cases that can be quickly served by the introduction of technology. By attacking the low hanging fruit first, you create a base of adoption for the workforce to embrace digital changes in a low-risk environment.
Think Digital Now
The key to this revolution is data and having more is key to winning this battle. In the 21st century, paper is not only bad for traceability and data collection, it also hurts the environment. Thinking Digital means to implement methods away from using paper towards using computers, apps and the internet.
Your people are all you need
Often times, the real experts are those already working within your premises. Those who have worked the long hours and have encountered the various bottlenecks, pain points, and inefficiencies that they wish they could solve. Upskilling your workforce is key so they can look at their problems in a different light and provide solutions.
Is your organization ready for digital transformation?
BerjutaTech is on a mission to helping businesses succeed through digital transformation. We are not the real experts, you are. We act as the bridge towards unlocking your business's full potential. We start by analysing your business processes and chart a roadmap towards digital transformation. We introduce tools and solutions that meet your use case. We train your workforce to build your own solutions so that you can be agile and quick to react to changes in your marketplace.