From Machine learning, AI, data analytics and much more. Companies are using the latest technology to beat out competition and emerge on top.
The last decade has seen a substantial increase in companies digitizing their operations from top to bottom. Industries & organizations have been chasing digital transformation success to tap into the limitless potential, automation capabilities, in-depth analytics, and a more measurable approach for increased employee efficiency and more personalized customer experience.
The clearly felt and observed benefits of digital transformation has opened even successful business to this idea of better operational success & far-reaching access. Small businesses are using mobile apps to supersede industry giants and create a permanent space in the market.
But how exactly does digital transformation impact organizations & industries? Is there any proof for this hype? Do the numbers add up? Let’s answer each of these questions & walk you through the most effective digital transformation strategy for your brand.
It is a constant digital upgrade to redefine customer experience and business functions.
It doesn’t solely constitute moving from physical to the digital platform. A complete digital business transformation is the process of moving to the latest digital technology that customers would benefit from & that can reshape operational capabilities.
Why would any organization spend money & introduce their employees to a completely new way of working, why do companies need digital transformation? The short and crisp answer is to be “more efficient”! A closer glance shows a detailed breakdown –
Automation– Yes, it works & yes, it is always ongoing. People & companies have been automating functions since the beginning of the industrial age. When machines take over monotonous & menial tasks, the human workforce is free for more creative and important tasks.
Customer centricity becomes real– Machine Learning & AI can know a customer better than businesses ever could. With increasing customer size, focusing on the experience of a single customer seems redundant and impossible but with today’s wave of digital intelligence, exclusive targeting, better product suggestions, chatbots have made it possible.
Data-driven decisions- One of the most prominent digital business transformation benefits is the access to limitless data about business goals, current progress, customer behavior and reading this information gives unparalleled insights in understanding what is working and what needs improvement.
Accessibility- Unlimited access anywhere across the globe. Companies gain remote access and flexibility that can keep operations running even through a pandemic.
If you are looking for the right digital transformation strategy examples, then take note of these brands that hit the right spot and set themselves apart.
Nike Fit App was an ingenious way to re-introduce themselves to customers. Nike claimed that more than 50% of people wear wrong sized shoes, with Nike fit app customers could scan their feet and know exactly what size fits them.
A unique feature that really hit it off with people. This was a great example of using mobile apps to re-market the brand in a way that hasn’t been done before.
There is stiff competition in the pizza space and everyone wants the biggest piece in the box. In 2008, Domino’s hit an all-time low & attempted a digital approach with their app. Customers could order directly from their domino’s app and track their pizza’s in real-time.
Domino’s used it to create a more customized approach for its customers & gave it a big lead over Pizza hut & Papa John’s. Their sales increased dramatically & their online business revenue contributed to more than 60% of its sales.
This Mexican fast-food chain turned a new page in their business when they decided to rescue their dying business by investing drastically in their digital transformation agenda.
They introduced an app-based delivery & digitally improved their behind the counter operations.
This transformation boomed their sales. In 2019, chipotle reported a 152% rise in its stock and literally doubled its digital sales – a 100.7% year over year increase!
This pharmacy company is over 100 years old but still keeps things fresh. Their digital success can be attributed to their mobile app which allows for an easy prescription refill, video chatting with a doctor & managing medications with convenience.
Thes companies took the help of digital transformation companies to achieve grand success. A business transformation aimed at reaching out to customers doesn’t just end at development, an effective marketing strategy for apps is also a crucial aspect.
This year has already been full of surprises and unpredictability. One common observation throughout the world has been about the importance of technology & robotics. App development companies are great at creating a unique user experience on mobile apps, using the latest technology that aligns with the comprehensive digital strategy.
These 5 digital transformation solutions for 2020 have exponential prospects for growth and not a lot of companies have adapted these completely.
Despite the lucrative potential that comes with digitization, one must tread carefully. Easy as it may sound, it is not as easy as creating a new process. Integrating a new way of thinking and doing things isn’t inherent to most companies and their culture. This is the reason that the majority attempts to digitize fail and result in losses.
According to Forbes, about 84% of all attempts fail largely due to the cumbersome digital transformation strategy or uneven execution.
Take note of the following 5 reasons that can lead to a failed effort and cause significant losses-
Yes, the number one reason is lack of the right people who can come up with the right digital transformation roadmap and know about the challenges & potential of the process.
More often than not, companies jump on a speeding wagon despite committing whole-heartedly. If the transformation is throughout the organization then there has to be sufficient training & operational planning to account for the change. Keeping the employees on the same page and communicating benefits and obstacles in advance is absolutely critical, they are the people that have to transition hence they should be heard and understood to fix and accommodate efficiently.
Some models are challenging and require more proactive action than others. This form of technological transcendence should be handled with preparation and care.
Many organizations start the process of a complete company-wide transformation without accounting for maintenance, training & installation costs. Running out of funds between the transition makes it very tough to go either way.
Change takes time and patience. There is scope of going wrong and going very right but there has to be preset accountability regardless of the direction. Ownership streamlines the transition and the entire practice.
The best strategy aims to absorb the most efficient technology without disrupting operational capabilities. Learning from both successes and failures, we have charted the best approach for a winning digitization strategy.
Keeping the eye on the prize keeps the focus in place and has a motivating effect in spearheading seemingly challenging situations or technologies.
The role of leadership is most felt in times of great change, be it positive or negative. There is a subconscious expectation to hear from the captain of the ship. Keeping everyone in loop with the company’s objective and expected growth due to the new technology makes a huge impact in embracing the change. As per McKinsey, an attractive story about the whole objective behind the change makes the transformation 3 times more successful.
In the book “Culture eats strategy for Lunch: The secrets of extraordinary results” by Kathie Sorensen & Curt Coffman, there is clear evidence and proof that culture is key for any organizational change to be successful.
One doesn’t need to look very far to find proof of the obvious. The human element is acknowledged when it comes to customers but is often ignored when it comes to employees. Systems and processes can come directly in contrast to human psychology if it is not factored in. Leadership must recognize the organizational culture before triggering a change of a digital magnitude.
When Subway decided to undertake an organization-wide digital transformation. It hired 150 new employees to fill the gap of tech-friendly talent.
A workforce that is more comfortable with technology, in general, will have a very high chance of adopting digital transformation tools successfully.
The insights that come from making sense of data create an exclusive handbook for success. The increase or decrease of a metric can serve as a preemptive indicator for the future.
This is essential during the process of change and in retrospect while measuring the various matrices. Machine learning & AI has further simplified readings and the authenticity of the findings.
These 5 steps create a blueprint for a smooth and successful digital transformation that is structured and agile to overcome obstacles & usher in a new era of more advanced technology. Total spending on digital transformation efforts is forecasted to cross more than a trillion dollars in the next 3 years. This tsunami of digital evolution has already struck across industries, the ones who build a sturdy, powerful & flexible technology base will sail to success.
Having a mobile app developed can be a time-consuming project. It can be reduced drastically by knowing the key time-consuming factors, having clarity during the pre-development phase, and prioritizing success over complex features.