It’s easy to see that digital transformation is no longer an option for today’s businesses, it’s a necessity. This buzzword has become more mainstream as companies adapt and try to stay ahead.
What is digital transformation? It’s the process of determining how to best apply technology to traditional, physical, and ultimately, non-digital processes and services. It’s about rethinking the way your people work, how your business processes run, how you serve your customers, and how you can become more efficient as a company.
So what’s the biggest mistake companies are making when it comes to digital transformation?
They rush into things without a strategy or plan.
Digital transformation is a big undertaking and thus requires a strong strategy. Without one, you’ll likely lose your way (and maybe even some employees along the way). This is a marathon, not a sprint. Many companies understand the end goal and know they need a transformation, but they don’t know how they’re going to get there. You need a clear picture of what you want to achieve along with how you’re going to achieve it.
How to avoid rushing into things and ensuring a successful digital transformation:
- Don’t do too much at once. This might be the most important. Think about this: when you were a child, did you learn to swim, ride a bike, and throw a baseball all in the same month? Likely not, and the same goes for your business. You can’t do everything at one time. It’s not fair to your customers and it’s not fair to your employees. Give your all to really learning one thing at a time.
- Set little goals to complete along the way. Whether these goals are converting one department at a time, working with top employees first, or something else that makes sense for your culture and organization, set them and stick to them. The smaller goals will help you climb the ladder to your ultimate goal.
- Once the plan is created, share with everyone in the company. You can’t do this alone, and buy-in from employees is imperative. They are the ones learning the tools and making things happen. Make sure they understand the ultimate goal and how you plan to get there.
- Track your progress. You don’t just set a goal and forget it, you remind yourself of that goal often and track how close you are to achieving that goal. Do the same with your digital transformation. This can keep morale up in the company and show employees just how far they’ve come.
- Consider hiring professionals to help. If the vendors you are using do not provide training beyond just their platform, consider hiring a consultant to come in and help your company with this large undertaking. This provides not only an outsider’s point of view, but experience in successful digital transformations.
- Don’t do too much at once. This might be the most important. Think about this: when you were a child, did you learn to swim, ride a bike, and throw a baseball all in the same month? Likely not, and the same goes for your business. You can’t do everything at one time. It’s not fair to your customers and it’s not fair to your employees. Give your all to really learning one thing at a time.
This is not a simple technology change; the word “transformation” is there for a reason. It’s a full change in your business that’s ultimately going to bring value to you, your employees, and your customers. It isn’t easy, which is why many businesses fail. But if you stick with it and focus on the little goals along the way, you can see a true digital transformation.
Digital transformations happen in increments and with a solid plan. We partner with our clients to create a plan that works for them. We would love to chat about our solutions and what makes the most sense for your organization. Reach out to us here.
