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 Not only are outdated systems expensive to maintain, but they also can not keep up with the demands of today’s businesses.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.

Additional digital transformation resources you may like: 

• Funding IT Transformation: How Companies Can Get Past Legacy Lock-in

Here are some core features of cloud computing that make it essential to digital transformation: 

• Virtually infinite capacity – essentially unlimited storage and compute resources
• Rapid elasticity – resources can be automatically, seamlessly, and rapidly provisioned and de-provisioned as a user’s demand increases or decreases¹
• Virtualized resources – no need to worry about purchasing or maintaining physical resources

Cloud Deployment & Service Models

With the cloud, businesses can transform computing into a more streamlined computing environment and avoid the high costs associated with maintaining and managing a self-contained, traditional data center. Organizations can choose the cloud deployment model that best fits their requirements. There are three different types of deployment models, which include public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud. Some organizations may prefer the near-real-time elasticity of the public cloud, whereas other organizations may prefer the enhanced security metrics of a private cloud. Alternatively, some organizations may choose to combine private and cloud infrastructure as a hybrid cloud.

When it comes to cloud implementation, organizations can also choose the type of service model that best fits their organizations’ needs. The different cloud service models that organizations can choose from include infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS), and software-as-a-service (SaaS).

Improve Agility and Reduce Costs with a Hybrid Cloud Service Model

HPE Greenlake Hybrid Cloud delivers hybrid cloud as-a-service to help organizations optimize cost, control, and business agility². By combining the agility and economics of a public cloud with the security and performance of on-premises IT, HPE Greenlake can help organizations to accelerate digital transformation efforts.

This way of consuming IT enables organizations to save significantly on IT-related expenditures. HPE Greenlake Flex Capacity ensures that companies only pay for the IT they use. Also, businesses can avoid expensive upfront fees and instead pay a fixed monthly cost— which includes full-service support.

Today, technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, and businesses should invest in solutions that can help accelerate digital transformation and innovation. A vital component of a successful digital transformation strategy involves cloud computing. Furthermore, the implementation of a cloud strategy requires a personalized approach that should align with long-term business goals.

References:
1. Chapter 4 The Elastic Cloud. Digital Transformation: Survive and Thrive in an Era of Mass Extinction, by Thomas M. Siebel and Condoleezza Rice, RosettaBooks, 2019, pp. 51–63.
2. IT Consumption Models as a Service: Pay As You Go. HPE, www.hpe.com/us/en/services/it-consumption.html.

Despite the significant advantages to digital transformation, many organizations have yet to implement digital transformation successfully. A recent survey showed that 70% of all digital transformation initiatives fail to reach their goals. So, why are so many businesses struggling with digital transformation?

As with anything new, digital business transformation requires change. Organizations must ensure their employees are also on board with these changes. One way to do that is by educating employees on how implementing and using these new technologies can benefit them. In addition to encouraging employee advocacy of business transformation, it’s also vital that companies take the time to develop a plan that is both sustainable and in alignment with business objectives.

Every company is unique in what challenges they face and what goals they are working to achieve. As a result, digital transformation efforts will most likely look somewhat different across organizations. Nonetheless, there are general guidelines that businesses should consider when developing their unique digital transformation strategy.

Here are three key components to successful digital transformation:

• Centralize digital data: Companies must invest in central repositories and applications for storing information. Data unification allows companies to access and use information in an efficient manner. For businesses to be able to compete in a global economy, a unified digital platform is essential.
• Develop a plan that involves the entire team: First, organizations should look at how their entire team is currently using technology and identify any gaps that could potentially hurt digital transformation efforts. Get all of your employees involved in the process and educate them on how implementing new technology and systems can benefit their work environment.
• Replace legacy systems: Legacy technology is not only expensive, but in most cases, it’s also incredibly inefficient. An organization’s resources are much better spent on technology that can provide the digital experience required by today’s market.

Accelerate Transformation with Experis Technology Group and HPE

Experis Technology Group can help organizations succeed with digital transformation. Our team has decades of experience in assisting organizations with integrating IT and business. Furthermore, as an HPE Partner, we can deliver the applications and system solutions to help you reach your business transformation goals. Modernize your infrastructure in a way that’s both cost-effective and in alignment with your business objectives.

Together, we can help empower your business for the future. Contact our team at info@experistg.com to learn more.