People are the key to successful digital transformation
Digital transformation – the adoption and integration of digital technologies across all areas of the business to fundamentally change and improve processes and value for customers. Whilst the concept appears a simple one. It is far from it.
It will look different across businesses, industries and countries. The conversation being raised due to varying issues or problems, improving customer experience or increasing productivity. All personal to the business. No one size fits all.
What is universal, however, is that the key to successful digital transformation is not simply about implementing new technology. It is about using the right technology and the insights and analytics it brings, to transform your business. And that covers not just business processes and models but organizational culture.
Digital transformation is a huge task. If we have learned our lessons from the past years, we are aware that adopting agility in business is critical and digital transformation can play a key role, not only for surviving but for thriving. It is about leveraging technology to fundamentally change, yet it’s not just about technology, it’s also a fundamental shift in culture where you need to continually challenge how things are done and be open to change.
In order to achieve success, it is just as much about people as it is about technology. Everything, from the vision and strategy to the execution, involves people. It makes good business sense, then, that the drive for transformation, comes from going back to basics, getting the infrastructure right, adopting the right technologies and taking your people with you every step of the way.
Digital transformation isn’t about using the latest cool tech, it’s about using the power of technology where it makes sense to get the right business outcomes. What is the goal? Improving customer experience? Increasing productivity? Or delivering the best business partnership?
Digital transformation touches all aspects of a business so a successful program engaging in this sort of work requires input from all areas of the business and leadership from the top. It requires a clear vision, strategy and road map. Where are you today? Where do you want to be tomorrow? And what you going to do to get there? And it requires checks and balances in place to monitor success and identify potential weaknesses and the ability to respond and adapt appropriately.
The main challenge in any digital transformation is taking people on the journey. You need to be clear on the outcomes of the transformation, how you will measure success but most importantly you need to double down on communication and training. I cannot stress enough that you can’t overcommunicate when you’re going through a process like this. There will be many people who feel uncomfortable and challenged by large-scale change but in order to succeed they must be engaged. You need to be clear about how they fit into the future and constantly communicate why you are changing things and support them through the journey.
