2021 Digital Transformation: Is Your Organization Prepared?

Transformation is an ominous word; it can be positive or negative. Depending on your experiences with change, the concept of digital transformation may spark all types of reactions. Innovation spurs transformation. Small changes often go unnoticed but can make all the difference in the world. Remember when ketchup was sold only in glass bottles rather than plastic squeeze bottles? Now, most condiments on the grocery shelves come in plastic bottles, which is a transformation through advancement in bottling technology. As another example, remember when tag-less clothing was introduced? Genius! Weren’t you wondering, “why didn’t anyone think of this before?” The same can be said of digital transformation. From telephones to televisions to telecommuting, technology has transformed everything we touch. Digital transformation is the integration of digital technology into all areas of a business, fundamentally changing how it operates internally and delivers products and services to its customers. The use of the word telecommuting has transformed to ‘home office’ or ‘work from home,' WFH, or simply put ‘my office’. The location of your office, relatively speaking, no longer matters to very large sectors of the workforce. Remote working is no longer the exception for millions across the globe, it is the norm. How quickly did telecommuting transform to normal? Nearly overnight, out of necessity. Your organization has probably been operating, in whole or part, remotely and/or been supporting remote and mobile devices for the better part of the last year. Top businesses, employees, and customers too have been going through digital transformations for the better part of two decades. What has your organization done to transform into the digital era? Are you setting the pace, or just barely keeping up? Last year, when the pandemic hit, did you seamlessly continue operations, or was it a struggle to make that happen? Are you now implementing best practices in planning for future operations? Here is a quick outline for action to keep your business’ digital operations optimal.

• Identify and establish a digital transformation team

• Identify the responsibilities and goals for the team

• Determine whether you need a technology partner

  • Does your team have the expertise?

  • Does your team have the time?

• Conduct audits of

  • Operational Processes/ IT infrastructure

  • Customer Requirements and Experiences

  • Business Model/Organizational/Culture

• Build a plan that includes

  • Objectives

  • Timeline

  • Measurable Outcomes

• Identify Barriers to Achievement

Keeping pace with technology is a challenge regardless of the size of your organization. However, if your company is small to mid-sized, there is an entirely different set of challenges. Resources dedicated to digital transformation and all IT projects, beyond keeping everyone functioning day-to-day, can be the biggest hurdle. Your business may already have a strategy in place for technology but struggles with the manpower to execute it. Are you looking for expertise to initiate, lead or advise on your digital transformation? Do you need assistance with migrations, legacy systems and alternatives, cloud services, emergency and risk mitigation, or modernizing IT architecture, aka a managed service provider? Consult the experts at LightWork® Software Managed Services. Reach out to learn more.