By Jihad Tayara, CEO, EVOTEQ
The pursuit of digital transformation is something that many organisations have embarked on in this era. This is not surprising in the ultra-connected digital society that we have today.
To remain relevant and gain a competitive edge in the digital space, public and private enterprises alike have joined the digital transformation bandwagon. We have seen increased deployment and integration of technological innovations with an impact on performance and customer experience.
The rapid evolution of technologies and their adoption have been game-changing, touching every aspect of our everyday lives. This is not just a trend that will fade away, but it is part and parcel of our reality today.
The digital transformation of an organisation is important. However, some can’t help but ask: must digital transformation be disruptive?
This is a valid concern among those reluctant to make the shift entirely, fearing that the “disruption” may prove to be counterproductive. Instead of creating a proactive and clear digital transformation strategy for the future, some organisations end up being reactive and mimicking what their market competitors are doing. The approach, however, is not only frustrating but unsustainable as well.
Contrary to common beliefs, a digital transformation need not be disruptive to be successful. Furthermore, the transition should be rolled out incrementally, depending on the needs, and not in one rapid motion with a detrimental impact on business operations.
Implementing dramatic changes from the ground up through digital transformation could be riskier. The entire transition should be a step-by-step journey — systematically making the transformation, starting from the internal processes to old systems to traditional infrastructure, and so on.
The main objective of digital integration is to elevate customer experience and happiness, as well as improve business efficiency and productivity with positive effects on the bottom line. Even though digital transformation can sometimes be a tool to alter your business model and the fundamentals, the main goal of this transformation effort is meant to enhance them. That’s why, it is imperative to have a smooth and phased approach that allows businesses to adjust while implementing and fine-tuning the course based on the results.
Understanding your needs as an enterprise and that of your customers’ behaviour and demands is the very foundation of your digital shift. For instance, developing apps as an extension of your customer offerings serves the purpose without causing considerable disruption to your processes. Digital transformation should empower enterprises, in which digital tools can be used to satisfy the present requirements of your customers while at the same time anticipating their future needs.
Any digital move should also be measurable and flexible according to your short- and long-term goals. By measuring the effectiveness of the entire process, an organisation can freely make the necessary adjustments or tweaks in response to new developments that have not been previously anticipated.
Overall, embarking on a digital transformation is a vital and important strategy. It is something that we couldn’t do without, especially with the direction the current era is taking. At first glance, the endeavour seems daunting, but with the right approach and strategy, the transition is worth the while of any public and private entity.
The value-added benefits of digital transformation are simply immense, and it is never too late to begin this journey.
