Recognize and Overcome Digital Transformation Challenges

Successful digital transformation doesn’t come easy. Digital transformation challenges abound. But by knowing what to expect, the biggest challenges can be overcome. When implementing digital technology platforms, any company, large or small, will experience setbacks. What’s key is knowing how to recognize and handle these challenges.

But first, what exactly is digital transformation? It is a comprehensive business process that implements new technologies to achieve business goals and increase a company’s capabilities and efficiency. That may sound easy enough, but for companies who attempt digital transformation efforts, it’s best to be prepared.

The biggest challenges to digital transformation efforts can be overcome with planning and changes to digital culture.

Successful digital transformation doesn’t come easy. Digital transformation challenges abound. But by knowing what to expect, the biggest challenges can be overcome. When implementing digital technology platforms, any company, large or small, will experience setbacks. What’s key is knowing how to recognize and handle these challenges.

But first, what exactly is digital transformation? It is a comprehensive business process that implements new technologies to achieve business goals and increase a company’s capabilities and efficiency. That may sound easy enough, but for companies who attempt digital transformation efforts, it’s best to be prepared.

Why start a digital transformation journey?

The advantages of digitization initiatives can vary based on a company’s needs. But, for example, looking at cloud computing and storage, data management, video conferencing, and other technology platforms, it’s easy to see the benefits that these technologies provide.

By remaining stagnant, businesses fail to harness the capabilities that digital technologies provide. As time goes on, lack of digital transformation strategy can leave companies farther and farther behind. Some may be too intimidated by the digital transformation journey, but by recognizing challenges and being prepared, digital transformation success is possible.

Business Transformation versus Digital Transformation — What’s the Difference?

Business transformation and digital transformation are separate but related processes:

• Business transformation involves making fundamental changes to business operations. Such changes can involve digital technologies, customer service, business models, management teams, and other features.
• All changes aim to improve how business is conducted and advance a company’s capabilities.

Digital transformation is a subset of business transformation. It’s often a component within broader business transformation but also can stand alone as its own transformation effort.

If you’d like an assessment of your own digital practices, the experts at Standley Systems have helped customers to evaluate their digital culture and digital transformation initiatives. We’d be glad to learn more about your company too.

Conquering Digital Transformation Challenges

Changing organizational structures and achieving successful digital transformation can’t happen without work and overcoming obstacles. Digital transformation success is a long-term commitment, but it can be made easier by anticipating and overcoming common challenges.

Failing to Strategize

Being aware of challenges is necessary, but being strategic is even better. Business transformation strategy should dictate most every move you make throughout the digital transformation process.

Being digital strategies mean different things for different companies, but it often boils down to having a plan in place and setting strategic goals that can be achieved, measured, and built upon. Strategies might not fail as often as companies fail to strategize or rush through the digital transformation efforts without due planning — so, take time!

Neglecting the Customer Experience

Even though digitization initiatives focus on technologies, customer experience is always at the forefront. Digital tools such as CRM platforms and online communications tools can closely relate to customer service needs and affect customers directly. But almost all digital tools touch on the customer experience.

Therefore, it’s wise to not neglect customers or their service expectations. With the implementation of digital transformation efforts, keep customers in mind by:

• Personalizing experiences
• Making sales and communication seamless
• Offering quick, easy means of service and problem resolution
• Providing means of feedback

Unless your customers are robots, your new tools may be digital, but your customers aren’t. Keep their needs and great customer service in mind throughout the transformation process.

Lacking Accessible Data

Most digital transformation efforts end up producing data. That is, digital technologies generate data and all kinds of information on customers, sales, services used, and other features. Lacking the digital tools to leverage and understand this data can mean missed opportunity.

Such data can be nuanced, but, in many cases, data is tied to successful digital transformation. Data can reveal if KPIs are met and if a new sales or marketing strategy has an effect. New technologies may underlie the digital transformation journey, but data can show what’s actually working.

To leverage data, know which data will be meaningful from the start and have the knowledge, processes, and digital technologies in place to capture and interpret this data.

No Buy-In from Employees and Leadership

It’s often the case that employees don’t like change. Leaders can be averse to change, as well. Some see digitization initiatives as threats to job security, fearing automation. Others don’t like to take the time that’s needed to learn and understand new digital platforms. However, a digital transformation effort relies on everyone’s inclusion and participation. Skills gaps can be overcome, and employees can be well informed as to why business transformation matters.

Even if not everyone loves change, employees and leaders can learn about why changing digital culture matters and how to overcome digital transformation challenges by:

• Providing training on new digital tools
• Educate employees about your digital transformation effort and its importance
• Get everyone’s input
• Communicate the biggest challenges and how each will be overcome

Not Having the Infrastructure to Support Digital Transformation

The digital transformation process typically involves adding in or modifying technology platforms. New technologies, in turn, often rely on legacy systems, to an extent. So, if your hardware or operating systems are out of date, for example, implementing new technology will be one of your main digital transformation challenges.

Make sure you know where your company stands in terms of its digital culture before beginning the digital transformation journey.

Standley Can Answer Your Digital Transformation Questions

So, just where does your company stand in terms of its existing technology platforms and its digital transformation process? As you know, there’s a lot to consider. That’s why asking for guidance can pay off. Standley Systems has helped Oklahoma companies large and small overcome digital transformation challenges.

We’ve skillfully advised companies on which technologies to adapt in order to transform their services and enhance business processes. We’d be glad to learn more about your company and its business transformation plans. Contact us to learn more about how we might help.