How to Manage Change in Enterprise Digital Strategy
The focus here needs to be on integrated solutions to replace the siloed approach that divides an organization into efficiency-killing collections of department-owned data.
How to Manage Change in Enterprise Digital Strategy
A digital transformation doesn't end with the implementation of innovative technology. A solid strategy is actually the prominent determinant of success in the new digital environment. The focus is moving away from digital solutions that only solve singular problems to technology that can enhance operations across the entire company.Organizations that can't adapt their business initiatives and fully incorporate digital solutions into their future plans are unlikely to survive, as both customers and employees seek more technologically progressive companies.Successful businesses prioritize the unification of emerging technologies with their current offerings, reshaping customer interactions and making more effective use of mobile capabilities, social media, data analytics, cloud technologies and other digital tools.Companies that focus on integrating these digital technologies to strengthen their overall framework will thrive in the modern business world.
Broaden the Scope
Fully leveraging the newest technology means expanding both the scale and objectives of your digital solutions. Implemented correctly, the innovations that technology provides can be felt throughout the organization. The focus here needs to be on integrated solutions to replace the siloed approach that divides an organization into efficiency-killing collections of department-owned data.Decision-making becomes a team effort as everyone has access to the same information at the same time. Departments from shipping to HR can work together seamlessly toward the company's goals. The idea is to avoid thinking that technology is the end itself rather than the means to a strategic outcome.
Adopt a Top-down Approach
As with most business endeavors, a successful digital strategy starts at the top. Executives and other key decision-makers must not only be in on the plan, but also active participants in its deployment. These leaders must work to inspire confidence in their employees, so digital fluency and organizational skills are a must. Higher-ups should be able to clearly convey the value of new digital technologies and promote enthusiasm for the evolution of the company's operations.An organization's ability to alter processes and procedures relies on a clear path forward, so some of the most important changes that need to be made are to the overall company culture. The fact is, sticking to old ways of doing things hinders even the best technology.
Engage Employees
Millennials may be driving the digital revolution, but employees of all ages prefer to work for companies that are considered digital leaders rather than digital dawdlers. Employees have decisive digital expectations from their employers, chief among them being uncomplicated systems for sharing information with a colleague across the desk or across the world. Unfortunately, too many employees are unsatisfied with the level of digital engagement their employers offer, and some are jumping ship in favor of digital leaders.To avoid this drain of valuable people resources, companies must ensure they understand their staffs' needs when it comes to technology and keep them engaged when introducing new solutions.
Build Employee Skills
Organizations that are poised to dominate the emerging digital field are already building the in-house skills they need to realize their enterprise digital strategy. In many cases, staff is accustomed to the cumbersome process of sending multiple emails and waiting days for responses to inquiries for data only to get incomplete or out-of-date information.Every employee must be provided with comprehensive training on not only the software they will be using, but the new way of thinking that will have to accompany it. Technology can also assist in this training, with mobile, video and other digital content available to coach employees at a lower cost and increased convenience.
Take Risks
Having a reliable-yet-flexible plan is imperative in the current, fast-changing market. The biggest challenge most companies face is moving out of their comfort zones with untested technology into uncharted waters. Taking risks must become a company norm, but these decisions don't have to be made on blind faith. Predictive analytics can reveal the most likely path to a positive outcome, increasing the likelihood of such risk-taking paying off.Organizations have to develop a systematic approach to assessing their current capabilities, as well as their vulnerabilities.
Be Agile
The ability to quickly adapt to market changes is another essential function of a digitally-evolving organization. Agility is key, even if actual technological experience is lacking. Companies must be able to trust their technology and use it to adjust and adapt to changes in customer expectations and market fluctuations.Digital transformation is about incorporating new technologies, processes and company principles that enhance operations and, ultimately, increase customer engagement. While information technology has been a staple for the business world for the better part of a century, its ability to influence both a company's operations and its customers' behavior has never been greater.Today, companies need a solid understanding of both how the digital options they are considering will affect their future planning and the organizational changes that must be made to get there. Businesses that adopt the mindset that technology is a tool to facilitate change rather than the primary driver will become leaders in the developing digital landscape.