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What Is a Digital Transformation?

The phrase ‘digital transformation’ has, unfortunately, suffered from misunderstanding, misuse, and overuse. Let’s take a moment to clear it up.

A digital transformation is a radical rethinking of how an organisation utilises people, processes, and technology to change its performance. It’s different at each organisation, too. For one firm, the digital transformation might mean automating processes to make the company more efficient; at another business, it could be improving the way employees collaborate so they can work faster and more effectively.

Here's what a digital transformation is not:

• It’s not a single technological solution.
• It’s not a one-step process.
• Digital transformation doesn’t have a defined endpoint.
• It’s not only about technology; people and processes have to change, too.

How Do You Launch a Digital Transformation at Your Organisation?

With all that in mind, how do you launch a digital transformation?

here are several steps:

• Start from the top
• Map your capabilities
• Communicate, communicate, communicate
• Start with small wins
• Make it easy to collaborate

Start from the Top

Digital transformation comes from the top down. It has to have sponsors who are business leaders to have a chance at success.

Someone in the C-suite has to champion this project from its inception, even if the idea for digital transformation comes from someone on the front lines. Otherwise, no one will be empowered to take the steps that lead to digital transformation.

Map Your Capabilities

How digital are you currently? Which processes are digital and which are manual? Who in your organisation has the skills and knowledge to help you power your digital transformation?

Understanding where you are and what resources you have is critical. It creates a roadmap that will guide you as you go forward.

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

A vital part of digital transformation isn’t necessarily technological (although it can be). Communication is critical; otherwise, people won’t know what’s happening.  It’s about sharing information and listening to what’s going on within the front lines so that processes and workflows can be adapted to be more effective and efficient.

Start with Small Wins

Where’s the best place to start a digital transformation project? It’s not the biggest, most difficult initiative. Rather, you’re much better off starting small.

Pick projects which won’t take too much time and investment, yet have a high likelihood of success. If mapping your capabilities is your roadmap, these small wins are your mile markers. 

Make It Easier to Collaborate

To enable digital transformation, your own processes have to be agile and efficient. That includes collaboration; if people can’t work together easily and quickly, your project won’t go very far.

This is where digital business tools come into play. The right digital business tools make it simple, fast, and effective to share information and to work together.