In the simplest terms, digital transformation means executing a collection of digital choices. However, the complexity enters the equation when you realize the scope of the collection and the impact of those choices.
Put simply, digital transformation means executing a collection of digital decisions. But it is not simple to do. The complexity reveals itself as you understand the scope of driving digital decisions and the impact of these choices.
There is no one set definition of digital transformation - and it will slightly change for every industry, business case, and opportunity. The digital transformation trends for 2020 will not be the same as the trends five, or even two, years later.
According to Wikipedia: Digital transformation is the change associated with the application of digital technology in all aspects of human society. … The transformation stage means that digital usages inherently enable new types of innovation and creativity in a particular domain, rather than simply enhance and support the traditional methods.
According to the Gartner Glossary: Digital transformation is the process of exploiting digital technologies and supporting capabilities to create a robust new digital business model.
Gartner also provides this key statistic: with 125,000 large organizations launching digital business initiatives now and CEOs expecting their digital revenue to increase by more than 80% by 2020, the time for digital transformation is now! (For help getting started, contact us here.)
At Object Edge, we watch the trends - from customer experience and big data, to artificial intelligence (ai) and machine learning. As we watch our customers struggle, grow, and become digital leaders, our definition has evolved over time into:
Digital Transformation aims to create an agile organization that leverages technology trends to meet the corporate goals of customer growth, satisfaction, and retention; thereby increasing revenues and profitability through realignment or reorganization of system capabilities.
A multibillion dollar American data communications and telecommunications equipment provider was ready to move forward in digitally transforming their business. An engagement that started as an evaluation of their corporate structure to support digital transformation, soon quickly evolved. Digital transformation ends up touching parts of the team and business beyond the eCommerce practice.
Object Edge helped this client make the transformation by bringing a holistic approach to digital transformation including:
We created a digital transformation success. We achieved this by aligning the people and the processes. This changed the way they worked from the inside out - setting up a structure for digital transformation and long-term success.
Move beyond digital transformation as a thing and start talking about the business outcomes digital transformation brings, the opportunity it unlocks. — Martin Gill, VP Research Director, Digital Strategy at Forrester
At Object Edge, we help businesses meet their most complex digital challenges head-on. For over 25 years, we've been shepherding enterprise businesses through the radical, challenging, and hugely rewarding process of digital transformation.
