The world is very different today from what it was a few weeks ago. What the world is going through right now is a definite before and after moment. This global disruption, in the true sense of the word, is going to have a transformative impact on individuals and businesses, evolving the way our world functions far more than we could have imagined. While there is an understandable need to minimize the disruption being faced every day, there is also the need to embrace and prepare for it.

While this disruption has come at tremendous cost, those looking ahead cannot help but imagine the increased role technology will have to and continue to play in our lives. While digital transformation was considered ‘optional’ for the most part, this global event has shown that it is now a necessity, crucial and adaptable for a changing world.

The question, however, is how. How can companies leverage their existing platforms to increase their digital presence? How can businesses plan digital transformation in a way that doesn’t overwhelm their teams? How can this digital future proofing be executed while still being customer-centric?

Though a continuous process, below are a few steps based on Blake Morgan’s Digital Transformation Framework, designed to make digital transformation a structured, strategic and feasible process within businesses.

Logistics and Supply Chain

Slick platforms and interfaces may future proof a business, but logistics need to match customer expectations, particularly when it comes to speed and reliability. Digital solutions cannot be limited to the front of an organization, it needs to incorporate itself into every facet of a business.

Customer Focus

Understanding the customer, their dynamic behavior and preferences, is the foundation of any digital transformation. Interaction with the customer is crucial to interpret their wants and needs into a digitization strategy. Click here to read my article on customer loyalty and learn how the human factor impacts innovation.

Internal Customer Experience

Keeping employees at the forefront of a digital transformation enables streamlined execution and implementation of digital initiatives. Employees need to provide quality experiences to customers and should be provided with the technology required to do so. Let me know what you think of my article on corporate culture and its impact on innovation.

Organizational Structure

Internal compartmentalization is a barrier to change. Breaking down organizational structures that encourage silos and independent functioning is crucial to achieve widespread adoption and implementation of a digital strategy. Click here to see where an innovative mindset emerges from.

Change Management & Cultural Transformation

Organizational cultural transformation is as important as digital transformation. Breaking free from traditional molds and biases while empowering employees through change helps prepare businesses and their work force for an increasingly dynamic work environment. Read more about how biases can impact strategic initiatives here.

Leadership

Leaders need to drive the vision for transformation through the organization, assessing the needs of both customer and employee. Communication is key to bringing people on-board with path breaking ideas and strong leaders play a strong role in uniting a workforce to embrace change. See my article on how the definition of innovation within an organization can have long lasting effects.

Technology Decisions

IT should not be the sole decision maker. Technology decisions need to be taken by teams across the business as they are the end-user. Open forums will bring teams on the same page while also ensuring that each team is being equipped with the tools needed to add value to the business. My article on Super Apps highlight the impact of bringing different teams on the same platform on a business.

Integrating Digitization

As my Building Digital Strategies article indicates, digital initiatives can serve multiple purposes. However, it is crucial to ensure they do not disconnect from the core of the business and link back to every aspect of a company. Seamless integration accelerates digital transformation, whatever the scale.

Product, Service & Process Delivery

A digital push will make businesses and teams reevaluate not only products and services but also how they are delivered to the customer. Efficiency is key and adopting innovative solutions will ensure that every facet of the customer experience incorporates the new digital norm within an organization.

Personalization & Customization

The digital revolution has resulted in customers expecting personalized experiences and recommendations from brands. Digital transformation strategies of any sort need to leverage emerging technologies to provide customized communication solutions for your customers.