With the endless barrage of hype coming from business technology enthusiasts why is it that 84% of companies fail at digital transformation? While such statistics are delightful ammunition for Neo-Luddites, there’s undoubtedly a serious disconnect between enterprise technology and business goals.
On one hand, no organization can expect to remain competitive in today’s connected world without modern technology. On the other, even the most persistent technology evangelists cannot deny that technology can also be extremely disruptive. Take the wrong approach with the wrong (or even the right) technology, and you could easily end up in a worse situation than before.
So, why does digital transformation so often end in failure? Let’s explore some of the most common reasons and what you can do to combat them:
There’s a Lack of Proper Training and Communication
Oftentimes, the disconnect between technology and business operations is down to a lack of good communication. Too often are business leaders seduced by pushy salespeople peddling the latest ‘solution’ to all their woes. Some vendors are happy to sell you a new product but, once you’ve parted with your money, they’ll leave the rest to you. Without proper onboarding, however, employees will be left wasting their time trying to resolve trivial IT problems, while the business will be left to suffer the consequences of significantly reduced motivation and productivity.
The solution? You need a dependable technology partner, not just a vendor, who will onboard your team with the necessary training and ongoing support.
A Lack of Systems Integration Is Leading to Inconsistent Data
Data is behind virtually every business decision, or at least it should be. However, if your current systems aren’t adept at communicating with one another, you’re going to end up with inconsistent and low-quality data that doesn’t translate into useful insights. A lack of integration also leads to poor collaboration between departments and unnecessary delays resulting in reduced productivity and customer satisfaction. Furthermore, given the increasing variety of IT devices and systems that businesses use for their everyday operation, the importance of integration is only increasing.
Digital transformation isn’t necessarily about doing away with all your old systems. It’s about continuously improving what you’ve got with better integrations.
Technology Isn’t Aligned with Your Corporate Goals
Contrary to popular belief, digital transformation doesn’t start with technology. In fact, it doesn’t even start with your IT department. Instead, it starts with corporate strategy and a thorough understanding of how to align technology with your goals. Just as the industrial revolution transformed the world two centuries ago, digital technology is now having a profound impact on businesses of all scopes and sizes. To that end, there’s still a tendency to adopt a one-size-fits-all approach by simply doing what everyone else is doing while failing to align technology with corporate strategy.
There’s no such thing as a digital transformation strategy that suits everyone. Your company and industry face a unique set of goals and challenges, which is why you need industry-specific expertise on your side.
You’ve Neglected the Need for Cultural Change
As digital transformation sweeps through the corporate landscape, business leaders are expression their excitement while employees are often left rolling their eyes and wondering how much harder their jobs are going to get. It isn’t just about training and onboarding either – it’s a cultural thing and, without a digital culture, there’s no chance of succeeding with digital transformation. All too often do business leaders implement new systems without any involvement from their employees – who, after all, are the people who need to use them every day.
A motivated employee is one who feels a sense of purpose, someone who’s deeply engaged with their jobs and understands the decisions governing the way they work. That’s why you need to get everyone onboard with your digital strategy, rather than just leaving it up to the IT department and the main decision makers.
Success in digital transformation depends a corporate culture of continuous change and improvement and the correct alignment between technology and your corporate goals. Armed with a long-term strategy that constantly adapts to the evolving needs of your business, you’ll have everything it takes to keep ahead of the competition. If that’s the difference you’re looking for, contact us today for a free consultation.