Paving the Road towards Successful Digital Transformation

By Apac CIO Outlook | Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Digital Transformation laggards need not fret as there are simple solutions to help ace the adoption. By following an organized approach, the digital transformation can be successfully implemented, and ROI can also be increased

Fremont, CA: Change can be overwhelming most of the time, especially when it covers the entire business or processes. Recent researches are pointing that the majority of the enterprises believes in the miraculous power of digital transformation, and even the laggards in the area can catch up with the existing trends with the proper utilization of time and efforts. Some of the ways to better manage the resources for efficient digital transformation are:

• Result Oriented Approach:

One-size-fits-all strategy cannot be applied in digital transformation, as each business will need specific goal-oriented and strategic business-wise applications. For the same reason, attention to the expected application of a technology should be prioritized rather than the technology itself while opting for the type of transformation.

• Identify the Goal and Plan Backward:

Planning digital transformation according to the outcomes is necessary for any organization. For example, if the end goal is to free up the employees from menial tasks, then the robotic process automation is the way to go. But, if learning from the collected data is the goal, then predictive or prescriptive analytics is the technology to choose. There are technological solutions to all problems, but to know which one to integrate, the question needs to be understood first.

• Prioritize Adoption:

Strong outcomes from digital transformation can never be recognized unless adoption is a crucial part of the business strategy. Digital transformation can only make a difference if it is appropriately used, and the operators are fully aware of its capacities, which is why it is critical to have a secure communication link throughout the digital transformation process. It will help the employees understand the technology in a wholesome manner.

• Treat Culture-Security-Technology as equals:

The trifecta of digital transformation is technology, culture, and security equally prioritized in all operations. Without the seamless working of these three aspects as one entity, success cannot be achieved. Company culture, if not given equal importance, is proven to be one of the main roadblocks for successful transformation according to the Digital Transformation Index.

• Plan for Global adoption, but Focus More on Local implementation:

The most effective technology is the one that can be scaled all through the enterprise. In terms of testing, the most efficient method is by releasing pilots in smaller segments of the company's operations. A strong foundation should be set before slowly and steadily upgrading departments based on performance results.

• Broaden the Tech Horizons:

Digital transformation is a cyclic process; consider each goal achieved as a guidepost of forward-movement rather than being an endpoint of accomplishment. On the same note, a U-turn should always be expected and equipped for in case of necessities. It is essential to be open to face any challenge and modify the way to do things and also change direction when needed if true digital transformation should be applied.

As much as miracles of digital transformation are wished upon, it won't occur in majority of the cases. It is crucial to understand that successful digital transformation and true digital transformation are two different phenomena. The majority of the enterprises take more than a year to experience the ROI from the digital transformation moves as less as 14 percent of the companies will see benefits within the first six months of adoption. In the case of a digital transformation laggard, it is essential to have patience and also work out various ‘as-a-service’ options to select from. This includes empowering the small to mid-sized businesses. The sole blockade between the way to success and implementation is the willingness to make the transformation work. Digital transformation can be more lucrative with attentive implementation.