Digital Transformation in 5 simple components

Everyone is talking Digital Transformation (DX) these days, especially with the extraordinary circumstances that we are in. Doesn’t matter if they use Digital Marketing synonymously, doesn’t matter if their knowledge is based on web magazine articles (Forbes, CIO etc.), doesn’t matter if they neither understand, deeply, the specific domain or relevant technology areas. Then there are some to whom the world becomes a nail for the hammer of one knowledge area. Certainly, you have seen them in your place of work.

Throwing words is easy. Pulling a DX together isn’t.

Our experience says, there are five large constituents which need to come together to make Digital Transformation possible. Namely, Strategy, Engagement, Innovation, Technology and Data Analytics.

Without a Transformation Strategy created right at the start (and followed through), the entire effort will start directionless and continue to be so. This is one of the most common problems we have seen. British Airways is a famous example of having lost some $21m odd for trying to cobble together point solutions.

Engagement comes from alignment, to the strategy, of the people. Without which turf wars remain, and silos remain; implying politics gets stronger and abrasive thus causing internal resistance to the program. This possible situation makes causing strategic alignment to happen, and a parallel Change Management programming causing Engagement become crucial.

DX is about re-imagination, and about finding new ways of being closer to the customer, the employees, partners and vendors. To a large extent that needs an engine, which drives Innovation, running. This engine should keep plugging newer solutions into the DX roadmap thus almost making the program to be perpetual, though continually benefitting.

Technology is a given. This, unfortunately, is where most people start. Technology, of course, supports new areas, the re-imagined processes but certainly also be immersed in a parallel transformation of IT, and maybe even for legacy modernization. That would mean newer ways of looking at infrastructure, newer ways of delivering applications and certainly newer ways of connecting applications with the existing eco-system inside or outside the company.

The last of the lot, though not any less important, is Data Analytics. Not just for measuring the DX program, but also to really measure the company (much beyond the usual MIS reports), identify and fix business problems; sometimes before they occur. And equally also to find new opportunities.

As the slide above shows, it is easy to fall into traps and stagnate, move without direction, put in extraordinary effort for meagre results, not be able to implement ideas or just deal with inordinate friction. This is usual. Getting the DX working synchronously needs skill and expertise.

Have you already started your Digital Transformation journey? We would love to hear your experiences. Do visit our web site or write to us.