How IT Leaders can Successfully Lead Digital Transformation
Digital transformation is the process of integrating technology across the entire business and requires changes in technology, culture, and operations. These changes ultimately enable businesses to cut costs, improve customer service, and drive new revenue streams. Despite the well-known advantages of digital transformation, 70% of all digital transformation initiatives fail. So, how can IT leaders successfully lead digital transformation across the entire organization?
Ensure the Entire Team Understands and Advocates for Digital Transformation
Before beginning any digital transformation process, it’s crucial that IT leaders first educate their entire organization about what it means. It’s possible that some key stakeholders within the company only have a partial understanding of the value that digital change brings to the business. Once everyone within the organization has a clear understanding, then IT leaders need to make a plan tailored to fulfilling the company’s short and long-term objectives. For instance, if a business objective is to minimize costs, then IT leaders should look at technologies, such as consumption-based IT models, to achieve this goal. Also, when companies implement new technologies, it is important that they also keep in mind how they plan to train employees to use the new systems. New role requirements or transitions may be needed. By getting others within the organization to understand, support, and prepare for a change initiative, IT leaders can help create a culture of change and make others feel a part of and dedicated to the process. Organizational change is much easier when the entire team understands and advocates for it.
Replace Legacy Systems with New Technologies that Can Improve the Customer Experience
Another critical aspect of digital transformation involves replacing legacy technology. Not only are outdated systems expensive to maintain, but they also can not keep up with the demands of today’s businesses. Nowadays, customers expect a personalized experience, and by providing such an experience, organizations can increase their revenue and customer retention. One way that companies are improving the customer experience is with artificial intelligence (AI). However, to take advantage of AI, companies need the right technology platform in place, and legacy systems were not designed with AI in mind.
Successful Companies Make Change a Priority
Technology is changing at record speed, and if organizations don’t keep up with these changes, then it is more than likely they will cease to exist. IT leaders must make sure that everyone within the organization understands the importance of digital transformation. Every business today depends on technology in some way or another. This process will take significant time and effort. However, the most successful companies realize how important it is to make changes when the market signals it is time to do so.