However, nowadays, it’s not a question of when to get started, but how.
As Dell Technologies Gold Partners, we proudly deploy their products in solutions for our customers to update and modernise IT networks for success and resilience. Dell have identified 5 key steps that any business should take for successful digital transformation, and we couldn't agree more!
1. Get strong commitment from the C-suite
Digital transformation is not single-department change. It has wide implications for everything organisations do, how they do it and their ability to do it.
This sort of change requires true, genuine and full support from the C-suite and the top dogs in the business. “Without C-suite buy-in, digital transformation projects tend to fail,” says John DuBois, managing director of global business consulting for Dell’s Digital Business Services unit. “It’s just too difficult to get the necessary companywide support for all the business process, organisational and technology changes you need to make.”
Digital transformation drives increased productivity and efficiency—important to many C-suite executives. It also enhances business continuity, replacing legacy data storage or recovery methods with cloud-based and highly available solutions.
Partner with an MSP for digital transformation who is attuned to the wide range of boardroom priorities and is able to demonstrate how digital transformation investments achieve business goals across every department.
2. Appoint a Chief Digital Officer
A chief digital officer (CDO) can be a mediator between the C-suite and other departments, with the sole focus of using IT investments to accelerate transformation across the entire business.
“You need somebody who can help all the organisations and leaders in the company understand what’s possible, centralise decision-making and get everyone working together to achieve what digital can enable,” DuBois says.
Despite a reliance on platforms and technology to accomplish the transformation, a CDO understands how customer experience and other business functions are just as important to the future success of the organisation.
3. Shift your core focus to driving business growth
It’s important to remember that digital transformation is not just an IT priority. A digital-first strategy will cover marketing, sales, operations and finance too. With a core focus on business growth, investments into digital transformation will be based on tangible ROI and genuine improved efficiency.
This approach will help you avoid spending on new technology for technology’s sake, instead focusing on new projects and upgrades that have the best chance of improving profit and growth.
4. Manage change with care
It’s important to remember that digital transformation affects your team members and company culture—it’s not as simple as overhauling your IT platform in one fell swoop. Work across departments to be sure that employees understand why changes are coming and what tangible improvements they’ll see as a result. Getting their buy-in could be the difference between a successful transformation or a stunted and unproductive project.
During consultation or planning phases, prioritise investments that will improve accessibility, data storage and cyber security. Any transformation that makes your business more stable and protected from cyber-crime will pay dividends and prepare you for the next ‘unprecedented’ event which is surely around the corner.
5. Find a trusted digital transformation partner
49% of businesses say that outsourcing some of their IT functions frees up their resources to focus on core business operations.
If your in-house IT team are stretched thin, enlisting the help of a MSP could be just what your team needs to thrive. When you find a trusted partner for digital transformation with a proven track record, they can help make the journey smoother, helping you to assess your digital maturity, explore your options for growth and build upon the foundation you’ve already built. The right partner will bring complementary skills and expertise that your team may be lacking, such as IT security or comprehensive understanding of compliance regulations, providing advice on which platforms will be the best fit for your organisation.
Digital transformation must span your entire enterprise and integrate into all departments. It requires a positive approach to change alongside carefully applied wisdom as to which investments will have the biggest positive impact on your business. It’s not for the faint of heart, but the degree to which you transform will dictate your success in the new distributed world of IT.
If you’re looking for this trusted partner to advise and design a digital transformation road map, SysGroup are here to help. Our team of experienced infrastructure architects and IT consultants have helped businesses of all sizes in just about every sector improve their business continuity and stability through cloud hosting, managed IT services and IT security tools.