Home > Insights > Digital Transformation FAQs

Digital Transformation FAQs

Digital Transformation FAQs

By: Ciopages Staff Writer

Updated on: Feb 25, 2023

Digital Transformation

What is Digital Transformation?

CIOPages.com digital experts define Digital Transformation as a foundational shift in business models, a customer-centric culture, a mobile-first approach, technology enablement as a strategic lever, and data-driven decision making.  A real digital transformation permeates strategy, people, process, data, technology, and culture.

Is Digital Transformation a Business paradigm or a Technology Paradigm?

The way we think about digital transformation is that it is a business led, and technology enabled transformation. It is a whole enterprise transformation.   If you think digital transformation is implementing yet another technology widget, it does not even remotely qualify.  On the other hand, if you think digital transformation is rearranging the organizational structure or process re-engineering, while both are important and worthy goals, are not what digital transformation is all about.  To be successful in digital transformation companies need to obtain synergies from a lot of capabilities, competencies, skills, culture, and mindset.

What is the difference between doing digital and being digital?

Doing digital is learning to swim or ride a bike. You can become good, but it requires right skills, technique, practice, and perseverance.  Being digital is innate, like breathing. It comes naturally.  That is the difference between digital natives (like say Amazon.com) and digital wannabes (pick any of the struggling Fortune 500 companies). However, large traditional Global 2000 firms with complex business and technology landscapes need to reinvent and transform their capabilities, processes, technologies and operating model to

However,  to cut some slack, it is not easy to turn the Titanic on a dime. Large traditional Global 2000 firms with complex business and technology landscapes need to do a lot more starting from ignorance, complacency, hubris, and inbuilt inertia, not to speak of the fundamental reinvention of strategy, structure, skills, staff, systems, process, and data.

What areas of Digital should we focus on?

It entirely depends on your situation and is based on a variety of factors such as the industry sectors, the geography, the customer segments, the competitive dynamics, and customer expectations.  However, broadly the following areas are considered the cornerstones of digital transformation:

  • Cloud
  • Social
  • Mobile
  • Analytics
  • Internet of Things
  • Intelligent Automation

What outcomes should we target from a digital transformation?

The results depend on what areas were the focus of the transformation effort. However, some of the typical results of a successful digital transformation endeavor are:

  • Improved Customer Experience
  • Seamless Omnichannel
  • Frictionless Fulfillment
  • Optimized Extended Supply Chain
  • Innovative Business Models
  • Digitalization of products and services including digital only offerings
  • Intelligent enterprise supported by data-driven decision making

What are the high-level steps in digital transformation?

Like in any other mission critical transformation endeavor, the following are the high-level steps in digital transformation.  Remember, each of these steps will have many tasks, activities, and milestones, not to speak of the months of effort by large teams.

  • Know the need
  • Build a preliminary business case
  • Secure buy in from the top
  • Assess the current state
  • Envision the desired future state
  • Conduct a gap analysis of capabilities, processes, competencies, skills, and technologies
  • Craft a transformation roadmap
  • Finalize the business case, propose a funding request, and secure budget
  • Form, Prioritize and Sequence Initiatives
  • Carve out into programs and projects
  • Staff the projects
  • Gather Detailed Requirements
  • Make Buy/Build/Outsource Decision
  • Conduct vendor evaluation and due diligence
  • Develop conceptual architecture
  • Re-engineer processes
  • Enable Systems
  • Roll out Features/Functions/Products/Services
  • Adoption, Training, and Change Management
  • Feedback and Lessons learned

Do we need a chief digital officer?

In our opinion, the chief executive officer is the de facto chief digital officer, given how important the digital transformation efforts are to the very viability of a company.  And the head of each functional area or business unit should lead their respective domains. For example, a robotic process automation endeavor is ideally led by the head of the supply chain, in conjunction with the IT folks. We do acknowledge that in rather big businesses, having one individual focus on digital may be a good idea. However, this person needs to have the necessary empowerment, scope of operation, right team, and an adequate budget to take on the task.

We do acknowledge that in rather large companies, having one individual focus on digital may be a good idea. However, this person needs to have the necessary empowerment, scope of operation, right team, and an adequate budget to take on the task.

Do need a partner in the digital transformation dance?

Digital transformation is a life and death issue for many companies. So if an external partner can provide intellect, expertise, experience, skills, and staff for particular areas, it may be well worth the expense and effort. Despite the talents that the partners (supplier, consultants, IT services firms, software vendors, systems integrators and the like) bring to the table, it is incumbent upon the company leadership to set direction, elaborate on strategy, instill a culture that fosters and promotes the digital transformation.

We have a ton of other questions. Sure, please touch base with CIOPages.com advisory services with your questions and request.

 

 

 

Licensing Options:

We keep the licensing options – clean and straightforward.

Individual License: Where we offer an individual license, you can use the deliverable for personal use. You pay only once for using the deliverable forever. You are entitled any new updates within 12 months.

Enterprise License: If you are representing a company, irrespective of size, and intend to use the deliverables as a part of your enterprise transformation, the enterprise license is applicable in your situation. You pay only once for using the deliverable forever. You are entitled any new updates within 12 months.

Consultancy License: A consulting or professional services or IT services company that intends to use the deliverables for their client work need to pay the consultancy license fee. You pay only once for using the deliverable forever. You are entitled any new updates within 12 months.

Product FAQs:

Can I see a Sample Deliverable?

We are sorry, but we cannot send or show sample deliverables. There are two reasons: A) The deliverables are our intellectual property, and we cannot share the same. B) While you may be a genuine buyer, our experience in the past has not been great with too many browsers and not many buyers. We believe the depth of the information in the product description and the snippets we provide are sufficient to understand the scope and quality of our products.

When can I access my deliverables?

We process each transaction manually and hence, processing a deliverable may take anywhere from a few minutes to up to a day. The reason is to ensure appropriate licensing and also validating the deliverables.

Where can I access my deliverables?

Your best bet is to log in to the portal and download the products from the included links. The links do not expire.

Are there any restrictions on Downloads?

Yes. You can only download the products three times. We believe that is sufficient for any genuine usage situation. Of course, once you download, you can save electronic copies to your computer or a cloud drive.

Can I share or sell the deliverables with anyone?

You can share the deliverables within a company for proper use. You cannot share the deliverables outside your company. Selling or giving away free is prohibited, as well.

Can we talk to you on the phone?

Not generally. Compared to our professional services fee, the price of our products is a fraction of what we charge for custom work. Hence, our business model does not support pre-sales support.

Do you offer orientation or support to understand and use your deliverables?

Yes, for a separate fee. You can hire our consultants for remote help and in some cases for onsite assistance. Please Contact Us.

error: Content is protected !!