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Digital Transformation Without Complication

By January 21, 2020 November 24th, 2023 No Comments
Digital Transformation Without Complication

In the early 1960s, the Beatles secured their place in pop culture history, decked in matching suits and long haircuts, recording hits like “She Loves You” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” By 1967, their image and sound had morphed into colorful Sgt. Pepper outfits and psychedelic anthems such as “Strawberry Fields Forever.” Two years later, the now-bearded lads from Liverpool reinvented rock music with their masterpiece Abbey Road album. 

These major transformations took place over a span of about seven years, but in the world of a digital enterprise, things move even more quickly. While the necessary evolutions vary from organization to organization, there are a few key consistent lessons that will befit any business and guide them to Fab Four-level staying power. 

Digital transformation is really about using these internet-era technologies and principles to think about new ways of doing stuff or new approaches,” says Kevin Grice, Director of Digital Transformation & Engineering at Trace Solutions. “That’s not just software, it’s also processes.” 

The Steps to Transformation 

  • Be open to change 

In an article published in The Guardian, Howard King mused, “Businesses don’t transform by choice because it is expensive and risky. Businesses go through transformation when they have failed to evolve.” King suggests that companies that consistently stay in tune with customer needs, market trends, and technological advances will progress so naturally that changes will be barely noticeable.  

“Often, business change comes when there’s a problem that forces change,” says Grice. “That’s a little bit too late because you’re in a situation where you now need to respond quickly. And obviously, the digital transformation approach allows you to respond quickly, but I think [it’s] actually a bit more forward-thinking in terms of, ‘Let’s anticipate problems and start strategizing for solutions before they become real problems.’” 

“If you want to remain current in the fast-changing world, you need to learn how to be lean and agile,” says Filip Háša, Director at Pixelfield. “Being innovative is a mindset, not a skillset. If you can achieve this, your organization is going to be ready for the next big thing, whatever it is going to be.” 

  • Enlist advocates and create a team 

Often, an organization as a whole is receptive towards, if not actively pushing for change…but if the executives are resistant, progress could be impossible. “Gauge the unengaged,” Grice says. Any digital transformation strategy will require what he calls a “bureacratic hacker”someone high up in the organization who will champion the team and “know[s] how to get around red tape to make things happen.” This person should also ensure that day-to-day operations do not distract from moving forward. 

Grice also recommends companies create a designated digital transformation team in order to confidently experiment with strategies. “The existing IT department will work in the way they work [already],” he says. “Take the best skills from the IT department, the people that understand how that stuff works, and mix that in with your new recruits that have got those special, newfangled digital transformation skills… if you have a team where everyone can do something different, then it’s probably a really good team.” The more that team can directly work together, and the fewer hierarchical divisions, the easier it will be to make and implement decisions. 

  • Determine wants vs. needs 

One of the mantras that companies should always keep in mind when it comes to data is that just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. Again, what is essential for one company can be entirely superfluous for another. Gathering input from diverse voices within the company will ensure a smoother and further-reaching process. 

“Make everyone involved, from young [millennials] to senior members of your team,” says Háša. “Gather your team and discuss what the key thing your company does is, how you can do it better, and how to be more competitive in the digital world.” 

Go backwards and take small steps to create giant leaps for customers. “People forget the end user,” Grice says. “At the end of the day, it’s the user that needs to use the system, and they’re the ones that are going to, in some ways, judge its success or its failure.” 

Katalyst Can Help 

If the idea of digital transformation seems like a long and winding road that has you exclaiming, “Help! I need somebody,” Katalyst can be your ticket to ride. Our experts will come together to help you get back to where you belong. All you need is Katalyst! 

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