There are many definitions of the concept of digital transformation, which are complementary rather than contradictory. This term is usually used to describe the process of digitising traditional business processes and services to create added value for the company and its customers. Massive proliferation of mobile devices, social networks, the Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud computing have fuelled digital transformation.
- What Are the Benefits of Digital Transformation?
- What is digital transformation strategy like?
- Digital Transformation & Cloud
According to McKinsey, Digital transformation makes it possible to revolutionise an organisation’s operations to gain a competitive advantage by introducing new technologies, optimising costs and providing better customer service. The transformation must continue as digital transformation is a means, not an end goal. Deloitte considers that this concept describes a process when a company is transformed into a digital organisation that uses data and technology to drive comprehensive development. They, in turn, influence how it operates, what it offers to customers and how it interacts with them. And one RedHat expert is convinced, “Better living through software — that’s what digital transformation is.”
What Are the Benefits of Digital Transformation?
Why is digital transformation important for business? It makes it possible to:
- maximise the benefits of the large amount of data accumulated over time;
- test and implement new business models (introduce an online delivery or open an online shop);
- improve the performance of dispersed teams, all the while saving costs spent on maintaining it;
- optimise business processes (expand functionality or learn how to better manage supply chains);
- improve customer service (make personalised recommendations for customers when choosing products or services);
- develop and launch new products (a mobile application to complement the main website) within the shortest possible timeframe;
- quickly adapt to changing demand, effectively cope with market changes, better meet customer expectations, outperform competitors and solve many other essential tasks.
What is digital transformation strategy like?
To successfully implement a digital transformation strategy, it is necessary to dive deeply into the particularities of a given business. Moreover, it is also necessary to understand its goals, objectives and the means it is willing to use. Although there is no universal roadmap for implementing these points, we still tried to highlight crucial aspects that will help draw up a business digitalisation plan:
- assess how technologically mature the company is;
- define the objectives of the digital transformation;
- prioritise and highlight initiatives to be implemented first;
- estimate the investments required;
- develop a step-by-step plan and the deadlines for implementing each stage;
- think about activities to foster a digital culture in the team;
- build a team is committed to digitalising business processes;
- elaborate criteria to evaluate the success of the strategy implementation.
Digital transformation may differ depending on the sector involved. In healthcare, for example, it may include making appointments online and telemedicine; in tourism, it might involve online booking; in retail, it may include launching an e-shop and a mobile app; and in HR, it may result in introducing online training and onboarding.
Digital Transformation & Cloud
How does cloud enable digital transformation? With an outdated and cumbersome IT infrastructure, pursuing business digitalisation plans is difficult. On the contrary, companies that have succeeded in this use all kinds of cloud products ranging from SaaS services and rented virtual infrastructures to private and hybrid clouds.
Colobridge’s Expert:
“Businesses take an interest in digital cloud transformation for many reasons. Unlike on-premises infrastructure, the cloud is more flexible and easily scalable, and it can be customised for a particular area and a certain business. This is exactly what Colobridge clients are looking for. They are not looking for a preconfigured, one-size-fits-all solution; they are rather seeking a customised solution tailored to their company’s actual needs. Meanwhile, the client can fully or partially delegate to us the tasks related to cloud infrastructure design, data migration and administration, and all other issues that may burden a business not specialising in IT. In this context, our involvement, on the one hand, will help to follow the digital transformation plan outlined, and on the other hand, will free up resources for higher-priority areas.”
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