How to steer digital transformation in the right direction

Our digitally transformed world never stands still and neither can you. Regardless of the industry, every business should be on its way to becoming a digital business. This means capitalising on the new world of possibilities and meeting the challenges that come with the ability to implement rapid change. It might sound daunting but there is a way forward for every organisation.

Change with purpose

Compared with an older world of mechanical systems, change in a digital landscape can happen in a heartbeat. Systems can be reconfigured across an entire enterprise literally overnight with a single update. It gives businesses the power to move in new directions as quickly as corporate structures and company culture allows.

But change can’t simply happen for the sake of it. It must be steered in the right direction to avoid costly mistakes with gimmicky distractions. Businesses need to focus their investments in technology that’s appropriate, aligns with the company’s vision and brings it closer to achieving its goals. Just because something is shiny and new doesn’t make it worthwhile, no matter how exciting it might seem.

This applies across the board from internal tools to product offerings. It’s about identifying where problems and opportunities lie and taking a strategic approach to finding the right technology solution, to do old things better or to do new things that weren’t possible before.

Change from the heart

Digital transformation initiatives should come from the heart of the business, but that’s not to say that every change must be dramatic. Even adding a minor digital component to an existing product can bring tremendous value and increase its competitive advantage. The trick is to identify the “why”, “what” and “how”.

This requires a clear understanding of the alignment between what digital makes possible and what the business hopes to offer. Many businesses make the mistake of stuffing everything imaginable into a product or app and ending up with something too unwieldy to be practical. This can be avoided by adhering to a well-defined overarching strategic vision.

Test something new

An advantage created by the rapid pace set by the digital world is the ability to “fail fast” – a term that has become ubiquitous in the context of digital transformation. It refers to a philosophy of testing new initiatives on the market to see how customers respond, scaling it up if they do and moving on if they don’t.

But few businesses can afford to waste resources on too many failed experiments as they throw things at the wall to see what sticks. There needs to be a clear direction from the start and this requires a deeply ingrained digital mindset.

Digitally transforming as a business

In today’s world, digital transformation must be more than skin-deep. To stay ahead of nimble, born-digital, technology-centred competitors, businesses must be willing to make the fundamental changes that put technology at their core. And these changes should be made as a business, not as the pet project of one department. Silos severely impede agility and need to be challenged.

Consider the way data works – it needs to be gathered and then interpreted to acquire the insights that can ultimately inform decision-making. This requires the cooperation of several departments from product development to IT.

Digital-born companies are data-driven by design. It’s data that powers AI and automated processes, informs product development and UX, and lends a powerful level of strategic focus to marketing efforts. Data is the glue that holds it all together and every department should cooperate to get the maximum value from it.

An ideal digital transformation journey for your business

Every business is unique so one-size-fits-all solutions simply don’t cut it. At League Digital, we take the time to learn about your business to design digital solutions that are a perfect fit. Let us help you on your journey – find out more about what we can offer.