Published in January 2024 by Lee Travers
In today's relentless, fast-paced business environment, it is crucial to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. Digital transformation has become an almost mythical buzzword in the business world, and companies are constantly striving to become more technologically advanced. However, digital transformation can be an overwhelming and expensive process. This is where a modular, bite-sized approach can be extremely beneficial.
A bite-sized approach to digital transformation transforms the process so effective progress can be achieved using smaller, more manageable steps. Instead of trying to implement wholesale migration to new systems at once, businesses should focus on individual areas that need improvement and implement changes gradually. In addition, by using the measured migration rationale, organisations can take advantage of useful learnings, that are often undiscovered or lost when too much activity is executed too quickly.
Simply put, there are several benefits to taking a bite-sized approach to digital transformation:
➢ Reduced Risk: Digital transformation is a significant investment, both financially and operationally. By taking a bite-sized approach, business can reduce the risk of failure and ensure that they are making the right investments in the right areas.
➢ Increased Agility: By implementing changes in smaller increments, businesses can respond more quickly to changing market conditions and customer need. In some organisations, digital transformation can last many months and/or years; it is essential that the process can adapt to ever changing conditions and requirements.
➢ Improved Customer Experience: Digital transformation is not just about technology – it is about improving customer experience. A bite-sized approach allows businesses to focus on areas which will have the greatest impact on the customer, such as improving website navigation, pre or post transaction support or streamlining the checkout process.
➢ Change Culture: Change is difficult at the best of times; poor or lack of engagement of employees and suppliers and the unclear distillation of the changes ahead can be detrimental to the overall culture. The bite-sized approach to digital transformation improves engagement with employees and the overall culture of an organisation. Making the process smoother, improves business retention and ultimately drives the attraction of new talent.
➢ Cost and ROI: Implementing digital transformation in smaller increments can be more cost-effective than a large-scale implementation and lead you to a quicker Return-On-Investment (ROI) to support further transformation needs. Businesses can prioritize the areas that need improvement the most and allocate their resources accordingly.
In conclusion, taking a bite-sized approach to digital transformation can be a smart and effective way for businesses to stay competitive in today's hyper connected, digital ecosystem. By breaking down the process into smaller, more manageable steps, businesses can reduce risk, increase agility, improve the customer experience, save costs, and engage employees. So, whether you're a small business just starting or a large corporation looking to innovate, it is strongly recommended to take the bite-sized approach to digital transformation.
