The
challenge. Digital
Transformation is not a linear process. Many enterprises have already
kickstarted a number of digital initiatives. Business compulsions and
competition from outside might have been the factors for such initiatives but a
coordinated and concerted effort to transform the enterprise from the
traditional to a customer-centric organization requires much more than such disparate
initiatives. Such a transformation would touch the vital organs of the business
– Executives and employees, business processes and operations and even products
and services.
Many
business decision makers as well as technical influencers do not see the
urgency to transform yet. The top management has settled down in the
traditional style for too long and many decision makers are quite seniors in
their field who had seen success in the traditional way that the mandate to
transform gets little attention. It is an elephant in the room that nobody
dares to deal with. They keep reacting to threats many of the times instead of
shaping the future for their enterprise themselves.
The
reality. Enterprises
that aspire to transform use technology better than their competitors. They
build not only digital capabilities but also leadership capabilities to stay in
the right path during this journey so that the desired destination is reached
with minimal obstructions. They may need to build skills in different areas and
redirect their efforts from time to time. A joint research program between
Capgemini Consulting and the MIT center for Digital Business recommends a comprehensive
strategy for this transformation in enterprises.
Enterprises
must first realize that the business scenario that they have been thriving on
for so long is fast transforming into a digital oriented one. They must sense
the real threat from outside in the form of startups and fast movers who are
already enlightened on the role of digital to transform the way businesses are
forced to go. The disruption created by digital technology is real and here to
stay so that there is no choice but to jump into the bandwagon of digital
transformation. They must do a deep dive into their existing capabilities and
skills that would need course correction, development or rebuilding.
Enterprises
must also focus on investment in the right areas for the digital transformation
to be put on the right path so that it takes off and stays at the right pace.
The whole organization needs to be mobilized towards the achieving of the
pre-determined goals with the digital initiative from the top and percolating
to the lower levels. Taking the organization together in the digital journey is
essential and leadership skills are mandatory for this journey to be
successful. While there might be various milestones in the way, enterprises
should have a clearly defined destination in this journey. Some of the
milestones might be reached sooner than the others but sustaining the
transformation throughout and well beyond the perceived destination is
essential as the business environment is set to see more disruptions than ever.