A successful digital transformation can be tricky without careful planning and deployment. Without a strategy, you risk falling into the pitfalls of a failed transformation, wasting resources, and damaging your company’s reputation.
Globally, investments in digital transformations (DTs) are expected to reach $2.8 trillion by 2025—a significant number for an even more significant event. Many companies are already seeing the value in digital transformations, but with the number of issues that can occur, it is understandable to see why some businesses may be apprehensive about their own digital transformation strategies.
There are 5 things organizations can do to avoid meeting DT challenges, but first, it is crucial to clarify what some of these problems are.
What is a digital transformation?
A digital transformation initiative refers to a shift in the way a company uses technology to improve its business processes. It is a period of time when business owners and managers reassess their company’s IT and business culture before implementing new technology into internal processes to enhance the organization’s overall efficiency and productivity.
What are some common digital transformation challenges?
With organizational structures changing and more digital tools being introduced, it should not be surprising that various problems can arise to throw a wrench into your business’s transformation program and efforts.
Digital transformation challenges include:
- A lack of detailed strategies and planning.
- A conflict of interest between the business and its stakeholders or employees.
- Keeping cybersecurity solutions optimized.
- Unclear objectives and business goals.
- A lack of expertise in relation to digital technology and business.
- Budgeting problems.
How to overcome digital transformation challenges
A digital transformation can help your company become more agile, innovative, and efficient by embracing new technologies and adapting business processes. This can improve the customer experience, streamline internal procedures, and offer greater success overall.
If you are considering undertaking your own digital transformation journey, it is best to keep the below points in mind to make the process as stress-free and productive as possible:
1. Establish a realistic set of goals
Ambition is a key trait in business. But if a company aims too high, it will have a more difficult time achieving its objectives. Before you begin your digital transformation process, it is important to establish a realistic, measurable set of goals that will allow you to reach your desired level of success in the short term, while also laying a foundation for future growth.
The goals for your DT should cover:
- Your products and services.
- The customer experience.
- Organizational procedures.
- Staff productivity and wellbeing.
- The present and future state of your business.
Every piece of technology that you implement during a DT should serve as a tool that helps your objectives come to fruition. Brainstorming and understanding your goals will allow you to make relevant decisions that put the interests of your business front and center. It also makes it easier to determine the success of your initiatives throughout the DT.
2. Consider what digital transformation challenges could impact your organization
Every business is unique, regardless of how many companies operate within a particular industry. While most DT issues can apply across the board, it is still important for organizations to consider what challenges could impact them specifically.
For example, a company that operates in the healthcare industry stores personal health information (PHI). Therefore, it has to factor HIPAA compliance into its digital transformation strategy. By considering what challenges may appear during your company’s transformation, you can research them ahead of time, make plans to overcome or avoid them, and communicate any plans to all of your stakeholders and employees.
3. Cultivate open communication
70% of digital transformations are not successful in attaining their objectives. While the list above demonstrates that there are plenty of reasons why this is the case, a lack of communication is a major challenge of digital adoption. When you are communicating with your stakeholders and employees, you need to be as transparent as possible, and you need to be open to feedback.
Management and employees need to be on board with digital transformation to ensure its success. Communication is key to keeping everyone informed of: plans, who to speak to for updates, and why the DT is beneficial.
4. Start small, be strategic
Shifting company culture and upgrading legacy systems to new technologies will take time and a strategic approach. Identify the first areas to address and implement your new solutions there. For example, using artificial intelligence software to automate repetitive tasks.
Despite the changes being small, they add up and can culminate into a seamless digital transformation once your organization has made its shift.
5. Invest in IT strategy consulting
IT strategy consulting is a service that helps companies develop a clear strategy that details how technologies will satisfy their business and IT needs. It also covers the technologies’ deployment, costs, etc. Consultants that specialize in IT strategy consulting can help you identify the areas of your IT infrastructure that should be improved, and which tools and technologies should be your next business-enhancing investment.
IT strategy consulting designed to avoid digital transformation challenges
Adopting new digital solutions and incorporating them into an organization is as rewarding as it can be complex. A high-quality implementation plan will push your business in a direction that promises long-term resiliency and profitability. The wrong decisions can bring your operations to a halt.
IT strategy consulting from IT Gurus provides your company with a digital transformation specialist who can work closely with your staff to understand the current state of your business. They then make cost-effective recommendations on how to reinvigorate your company’s IT solutions and scale up.
With IT Gurus’ IT strategy consulting supporting you throughout your digital transformation, your business can have peace of mind knowing your technology is optimized for your goals and your business will achieve longevity.
