As a business operating in 2021, there is no way you can steer clear of digital transformation. Although digital transformation has different meanings for different organizations, the basic premise remains the same: digitization of organizational processes to drive the business toward success using technology as a catalyst for improved results.
Embracing digital transformation can present many benefits and offer you an edge over those still using outdated systems and relying on manual processes to carry out day-to-day operations. However, don’t let the many myths surrounding digital transformation overwhelm you or deter you from embarking on the journey towards sustained innovation. Take a closer look as we debunk these 3 common digital transformation myths.
The Truth About Digital Transformation
In a COVID era where businesses constantly must evolve to adjust to the new normal, charting a digital roadmap and taking advantage of technological advances and digital intelligence is inevitable to drive the business forward. With great pressure on profitability and growth, digital transformation opens doors to several benefits including reduced overall cost structure, improved efficiency, increased productivity, and reduced errors.
However, despite digital transformation’s ability is to enhance an organization’s performance, agility, and responsiveness, many organizations refrain from enabling transformation. This is mainly because of the different digital transformation myths floating around. To continuously advance and secure an environment with digital transformation at the forefront and to better determine your best path to digital success, we’ve dispelled three common myths to separate fact from fiction.
Myth #1: You should digitally transform every aspect of your business at once and as quickly as possible to stay ahead of the curve.
Reality: The ideal approach to digital transformation depends on your current IT maturity level and requires a clearly defined plan. Taking grandiose leaps from using few digital tools to becoming a fully digital enterprise with no real direction can leave you worse off than when you started. Investing in and implementing technology that might not even meet your core business needs is not only a waste of time, resources, and money; it also impacts employee (and customer) experiences as well as business reputation. Although digital progression is key to transformation, it is important to take baby steps to ensure you and others working in your company are comfortable and successful at each stage before moving to the next.
Myth #2: Relying on your in-house IT team for digital transformation can help achieve the required level of quality and cost-effectiveness.
Reality: Digital transformation is an IT and business concept that requires specialized skills and expertise to drive adoption across the length and breadth of your organization. Relying on your in-house IT team’s skills can be risky as they rarely have the bandwidth for transformational tasks. Known as a team that’s always tasked with putting off fires, how will they find the time to innovate? Do they have the required cloud and cybersecurity skills? Are they abreast with the latest analytical technologies? Do they understand enterprise automation? Since IT has a lot of moving parts, you need to have a qualified and expert Managed Services team in place who can not only build your transformation vision but also help you implement it in a time- and cost-effective manner.
Myth #3: Digital transformation is purely about adding more technology into your business.
Reality: Although the latest technology tools and trends are critical components of any transformation strategy, the key to successful digital transformation is to put your strategy ahead of technology. After all, without a holistic perspective, your transformative efforts will likely fall short. Successful transformation requires you to think beyond IT investments: you need to challenge and encourage different organizational or cultural norms. Since such changes rarely happen at the grassroots level, the transformation must be visualized and conceived by the senior-most stakeholders in the organization. Not only must your leaders plan for readjusting your company culture and employee mindsets, but they should also have the willingness to identify operational inefficiencies ripe for disruption: including people, processes, and technology.
Moving Beyond These Digital Transformation Myths
The path to transformation can be extremely complex, but given the pressure C-suite executives are under to drive value, they cannot afford to delay adoption. If you’re unsure about how to get started with your digital transformation efforts or are struggling with what steps to take next, you need to rope in a qualified partner.
Since a lot must be taken into consideration, the journey becomes easier with a guide who knows the terrain. A managed IT services provider can offer you insights and guidance tailored to your needs, assisting you down the transformational path. By consulting with an expert before diving in, you can develop a strategic plan with clear direction and goals. A partner can also provide the required ongoing support while helping you reach greater IT maturity over time.
Contact us today to learn more about how you can begin your digital transformation journey with Synoptek.