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7 Best Practices for Successful Digital Transformation

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In today’s modern age of rapid change, the digital ecosystem is transforming at an incredible pace. Companies are looking for technology and software to stay competitive but face some challenges.  

Digital Transformation is a vague term that means different things to different organizations. For some, it means using technology to improve and transform their business. For others, it’s optimizing the same technology as they don’t feel updates are necessary.  

What is Digital Transformation? 

Digital transformation is the process of developing and implementing new strategies to stay ahead of the competition in today’s ever-changing business world. It encompasses a company’s technological development and enhances its capabilities to meet evolving customer needs and preferences. These enhancements can also be used to meet employee needs and preferences. To achieve digital transformation across an organization, planning stages, implementing processes, and employing the right technology and talent at the right time is important. 

Relevant Read- Questions to ask about Digital Transformation

Digital Transformation leverages digital technologies to create new or modify existing business processes, culture, and customer experiences to meet changing business and market requirements. Integrating digital technology into all business areas fundamentally changes how an enterprise operates and delivers value to customers. 

How Does Digital Transformation Impact Enterprise Executives?

Digital transformation integrates digital technology into every business area, fundamentally changing how companies conduct operations and deliver value to customers. It represents a strategic approach aimed at enhancing efficiency, customer experience, employee productivity, and innovation through the adoption of digital tools and practices. This change requires employees to adapt to new workflows and use software platforms to perform tasks more efficiently, potentially leading to higher productivity and job satisfaction.

Executives can see the value of digital transformation in specific, measurable outcomes. For instance, automating routine tasks with digital solutions can cut operational costs and allow employees to concentrate on higher-value activities, directly affecting the bottom line. Implementing data analytics tools gives executives insights into customer behavior and market trends, enabling more informed decision-making and strategic planning. Moreover, modernizing customer interactions through digital channels improves customer satisfaction and loyalty, leading to increased revenue. Digital transformation enables companies to stay competitive in a rapidly changing business environment by promoting agility, innovation, and a customer-centric approach to business.

How Does Digital Transformation Help Executives When Adopted Successfully?

Digital transformation, when adopted effectively, addresses several key challenges related to internal culture, productivity, and efficiency that employees and leadership face. For Chief Operating Officers (COOs), it can streamline operations and optimize supply chain management through predictive analytics and automation, leading to reduced waste and enhanced operational efficiency. Chief Finance Officers (CFOs) benefit from improved financial visibility and control, with digital tools enabling more accurate forecasting, budgeting, and risk management. Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) – or Chief Transformation Officers nowadays – and Chief Information Officers (CIOs) find value in digital transformation through the ability to rapidly deploy scalable solutions, ensuring that technology infrastructure supports business growth and adapts to changing market demands. Moreover, change management leaders play a crucial role in guiding the organization through the digital transition, focusing on upskilling employees and fostering a culture of continuous learning to address the digital skill gap.

A practical use case illustrating these benefits involves a company implementing a cloud-based ERP system. This move not only consolidates financial data for the CFO, making it easier to track performance and allocate resources effectively, but also automates inventory management for the COO, leading to significant cost savings. For the CTO and CIO, adopting cloud solutions enhances data security and system scalability, supporting the company’s expansion plans. Meanwhile, change management leaders focus on training programs and workshops to ensure all employees can leverage new digital tools, thereby smoothing the transition and maintaining productivity. Through these concerted efforts, digital transformation helps mitigate internal challenges, driving efficiency and productivity while preparing the organization for future growth.

What Happens if Leadership and Employees Do Not Fully Adopt the Digital Transformation?

If change management leaders rely on outdated software adoption solutions, such as in-person, one-time training, or traditional onboarding methods, for accelerated digital transformation initiatives, it can significantly hinder the effectiveness and speed of the transformation process. This approach may lead to several issues:

  1. Limited Scalability: In-person and one-time training sessions are hard to scale for large organizations or rapidly evolving technologies, potentially leaving employees behind as new updates and features are rolled out.
  2. Inconsistency in Training: Traditional training methods can lead to inconsistencies in knowledge and skills across different departments or teams, as the training experience might vary widely depending on the trainer, location, and resources available.
  3. Lack of Flexibility: With the fast pace of digital transformation, relying on scheduled, in-person training sessions offers little flexibility to quickly adapt to new tools or changes. This can delay the adoption process and reduce the overall agility of the organization.
  4. Poor Knowledge Retention: Studies have shown that without ongoing support and reinforcement, people tend to forget much of what they learn in training sessions. This leads to inefficiencies as employees may struggle to use new digital tools effectively, requiring repeated training or support.
  5. Increased Costs and Time: The logistical aspects of organizing in-person training for a large number of employees, including trainers, venues, and materials, can be costly and time-consuming.

How Executives Solve Digital Transformation Resistance in 2024

Digital Adoption Platforms (DAPs) offer a modern solution to these challenges by providing in-app guidance, contextual learning, and real-time support directly within the digital tools employees use. This approach allows for:

  • Continuous Learning: Employees can learn at their own pace and access support exactly when they need it, directly within the application they are using.
  • Consistency and Scalability: DAPs ensure a consistent learning experience across the entire organization, scalable to any number of users or applications.
  • Immediate Application: Learning in the flow of work allows for immediate application of new knowledge, improving retention and competency.
  • Data-Driven Insights: Change management leaders can track adoption rates, identify areas where employees struggle, and tailor support to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

For COOs, CFOs, CTOs, CIOs, and change management leaders facing the challenges of allocating budgets to digital transformations, addressing software implementations, and bridging the digital skill gap, adopting modern solutions like DAPs can be a strategic move. It not only accelerates the digital transformation process but also optimizes the return on investment in digital technologies by ensuring that all employees can leverage these tools to their full potential, driving productivity and innovation.

Employee training with supportive feedback loops through surveys and digital adoption platforms

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The 4 Common Areas of Digital Transformation

  1. Process Transformation helps automate manual tasks and improve internal operations, improving corporate efficiency and productivity. 
  2. Business Model Transformation leverages technological advances to create new business models and revenue sources.  
  3. Domain Transformation applies technology to specific areas, such as cloud computing and AI-based decision-making. 
  4. Cultural/Organizational Transformation utilizes technology solutions to enact organization-wide changes that foster innovation, collaboration, digital transformation, and modernize structures or processes.
4 Common Areas of Digital Transformation

Real-World Examples of Successful Digital Transformation Initiatives

Digital transformation is all around us. From enhancing customer experiences to optimizing operational efficiencies, businesses across various sectors are leveraging technology to drive significant change. Dive into our curated list of real-world examples showcasing successful digital transformation initiatives, highlighting how innovative strategies and cutting-edge technologies are reshaping industries and setting new benchmarks for success.

These initial bulleted examples reflect a broad understanding of how various industries harness digital transformation tools to revolutionize their operations, customer relationships, and market strategies. These initiatives demonstrate the critical role of digital transformation in achieving competitive advantage, operational excellence, and customer-centric growth.

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)

  • Walmart: Implemented a customized ERP system that integrates its entire supply chain, inventory management, and customer service processes, leading to improved efficiency and reduced operational costs.

CRM (Customer Relationship Management)

  • Salesforce and Coca-Cola: Coca-Cola implemented Salesforce CRM to improve customer engagement and streamline their sales process, resulting in enhanced customer satisfaction and increased sales efficiency.

SCM (Supply Chain Management)

  • Amazon: Utilized advanced SCM technology to optimize its logistics and distribution network, significantly improving delivery times and customer satisfaction while reducing costs.

ITSM (IT Service Management)

  • Microsoft and HP: HP’s adoption of Microsoft’s ITSM solutions streamlined their IT processes and service delivery, enhancing service quality and operational efficiency.

HRSM (Human Resource Service Management)

  • Airbnb: Leveraged HRSM solutions to enhance employee experiences and automate HR processes, resulting in improved talent management and operational efficiency.

BPM (Business Process Management)

  • Toyota: Integrated BPM tools to refine its manufacturing processes, enhancing flexibility and responsiveness to market changes while maintaining high-quality standards.

PM (Project Management)

  • NASA: Employed advanced PM software to manage the complex logistics and coordination of space missions, enhancing collaboration and ensuring project timelines were met.

LMS (Learning Management Systems)

  • Google and Coursera: Google’s partnership with Coursera to offer professional certificates showcases the effective use of LMS for scalable, global education and skill development in digital fields.

These examples illustrate how companies have effectively implemented solutions like ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), CRM (Customer Relationship Management), SCM (Supply Chain Management), ITSM (IT Service Management), HRSM (Human Resource Service Management), BPM (Business Process Management), PM (Project Management), and LMS (Learning Management Systems) to achieve remarkable outcomes.

But let’s dive deeper into other digital transformation use cases.

Digital Transformation Through Implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System:  

ERP Implementation Process
ERP Implementation Process by Acumatica.com

Therap Services LLC provides documentation and communication software for the disability and healthcare industries. The company experienced many challenges due to its lack of real-time performance insights. This made it difficult for them to make informed decisions and identify areas for improvement. Furthermore, their limited cross-departmental communication resulted in inefficient operations due to the creation of data silos. 

Before implementing Oracle ERP, Therap Services LLC faced several significant challenges that hindered their operational efficiency and decision-making capabilities:

  1. Lack of Real-Time Performance Insights: The company struggled with obtaining immediate access to performance data and analytics. This lack of real-time insights made it difficult for them to make informed decisions promptly and accurately, impacting their ability to respond to market changes or internal performance issues effectively.
  2. Inefficient Cross-Departmental Communication: Limited communication between different departments within the company led to operational inefficiencies. This was primarily due to the creation of data silos, where each department operated independently with its set of data, making it challenging to have a unified view of the company’s operations and performance.
  3. Data Silos: The presence of data silos not only affected communication but also resulted in redundant work and discrepancies in data across the organization. The lack of a centralized system meant that data was not easily shareable or accessible, leading to inconsistencies and errors in reporting and analysis.
  4. Inability to Identify Areas for Improvement: Without a comprehensive and integrated view of business operations and performance metrics, Therap Services LLC found it challenging to identify areas that required optimization or improvement. This affected their ability to enhance operational efficiency and adapt to the evolving needs of the disability and healthcare industries they serve.

To address the above challenges, they implemented Oracle (ERP). 

By implementing Oracle ERP, Therap Services LLC aimed to overcome these challenges by integrating their operations onto a single platform, enhancing real-time data access, improving cross-departmental collaboration, and enabling more informed decision-making and strategic planning.

As a result of the ERP system, a single platform was able to centralize managing finances, procurement, and supply chain operations. Many manual processes were automated, resulting in reliable and consistent data, improved decision-making, and increased productivity. 

Doing so allowed Therap Services to decrease manual errors, boost collaboration and communication between departments, and foster growth for their business. The new system gave the company real-time visibility into its performance, making it easier to identify areas for improvement. Communication and collaboration across departments also improved, leading to increased operational efficiency. 

Since then, Therap Services has partnered with Oracle to create HIPPA-compliant video library options for consumers: press release here.

Digital Transformation Through Implementing an IT Service Management (ITSM) System:  

5 IT Service Management (ITSM) Benefits
5 ITSM Benefits by Auxis.com
Cornerstone of ITSM benefits

 

To manage its IT infrastructure and services, Deutsche Bank needed help. The consequences of disjointed systems and manual processes were slow response times, high costs, and low customer satisfaction. Deutsche Bank implemented ServiceNow’s ITSM solution to address these challenges, which offers a central platform for managing its IT services, including incident management, change management, and asset management. The ITSM solution automates manual processes, resulting in fewer errors and greater efficiency. 

Implementing an ITSM solution helped Deutsche Bank improve its IT operations in many ways. Firstly, it has allowed the bank to streamline its IT operations, resulting in faster response times and improved customer satisfaction. Secondly, the ITSM solution has provided real-time visibility into the bank’s IT infrastructure, allowing for better decision-making and more informed responses to changes in the IT environment. 

Integrating Deutsche Bank’s existing systems with ITSM improved the overall customer experience, which led to increased competitiveness and growth for the bank. 

Another, well-documented real-world example of a successful ServiceNow ITSM implementation is that of Magellan Health, a Fortune 500 company specializing in managed healthcare and pharmacy benefits management.

ITSM Implementation at Magellan Health

Enterprise: Magellan Health

Industry: Healthcare

Challenge: Before implementing ServiceNow ITSM, Magellan Health faced challenges with their existing IT service management processes, which were manual, time-consuming, and not scalable. This inefficiency impacted their ability to deliver timely healthcare services and manage internal IT requests effectively, leading to increased operational costs and decreased employee satisfaction.

Solution: Magellan Health chose ServiceNow ITSM as their solution to modernize their IT service management.

Implementation Highlights:

  • Consolidation of IT Tools: Magellan Health was able to consolidate multiple IT service management tools into ServiceNow’s single platform, simplifying IT operations and providing a unified experience for managing IT services.
  • Automation of IT Processes: By automating various IT processes, including incident management, request fulfillment, and change management, ServiceNow helped reduce manual workloads and improve response times for IT issues.
  • Enhanced Visibility and Control: ServiceNow provided Magellan Health with comprehensive dashboards and reporting capabilities, offering real-time insights into IT operations and service performance, which enabled better decision-making and proactive management of IT services.

Outcomes:

  • Improved Efficiency and Productivity: The automation and streamlining of IT service management processes led to significant improvements in efficiency and productivity, enabling IT staff to focus on higher-value activities.
  • Enhanced Employee Experience: With quicker response times and a more user-friendly interface, employee satisfaction with IT services improved, contributing to a better overall working environment.
  • Cost Reduction: The consolidation of IT tools and the increased efficiency of IT processes resulted in cost savings for Magellan Health, allowing them to allocate resources more effectively and focus on their core mission of improving healthcare services.

This example of Magellan Health’s implementation of ServiceNow ITSM illustrates the transformative potential of modern IT service management solutions in addressing operational challenges, improving efficiency, and enhancing service delivery within large, complex organizations.

Resources Case Study

Browse Apty’s Software Adoption Case Studies

Digital Transformation Through Implementing a Human Capital Management (HCM) System: 

Relevant Read: 5 Steps for a Successful Huan Capital Management (HCM) System Implementation

Unilever, a leading global consumer goods company, faced challenges managing its global workforce from relying on disparate HR systems, leading to inefficiencies, delays, and low employee satisfaction. 

Statistic: Digitally-mature companies are 24% more profitable that their less mature peers.

It’s no secret that managing a global workforce is a complex and time-consuming endeavor. With employees in dozens of countries, each with its local laws and customs, it’s challenging to keep track of everything. That’s why Unilever decided to implement a Workday HCM solution. 

By implementing the Workday HCM solution, Unilever managed its workforce more effectively, resulting in happier and more productive employees. The solution also allowed Unilever to understand its workforce better, leading to more informed decisions about its workforce. 

Human capital management (HCM) solutions, such as Workday, eliminate many manual procedures, creating fewer mistakes and accelerating effectiveness. Additionally, it allows instantaneous insights into the organization’s global labor force, aiding in making better decisions and providing more informed answers to differences in the labor surroundings. 

The world is becoming increasingly interconnected, and the need for technology adoption has increased tenfold. We’re creating a new digital landscape in which businesses and consumers can seamlessly interact. Digitally mature companies are 26% more profitable than their less mature peers.  

A digital transformation can be a multi-year process involving changing how you do business. It is more than just data transformation and involves changing business processes, culture, and skills. It is a learning process for the people involved. Below, you’ll learn the 7 best practices for a successful digital transformation. 

7 Best Practices for Successful Digital Transformation 

Let’s delve into the essential strategies that organizations must adopt to not only survive but flourish in the digital era. From fostering a culture of innovation to leveraging data analytics and embracing agile methodologies, these best practices are the cornerstone of a successful digital overhaul.

Digital Transformation Process
Digital Transformation Process by ThinkSys Inc
7 Best Practices for Successful Digital Transformation

1. Understanding the Organization’s Problem 

6 Creative Problem Solving Methods by McKinsey & Company
6 Creative Problem-Solving Methods by McKinsey & Company
Solving Business Problems in 10 Steps – Understanding an Organization's Root Problem

The first step for a successful digital transformation is determining your organization’s business problem. Diagnosing and solving an organizational problem can be difficult. Too often, people try to solve the symptoms instead of the cause. 

One of the American national banks–a subsidiary of a large multinational group–wanted to upgrade and modernize its planning systems to comply with data integrity regulations. Maintaining up-to-date forecasts, planning, and portfolio projections is essential for banks. It requires reliable data and oversight to make fast, informed decisions.  

To ensure quality oversight, smooth enterprise decision-making, and real-time updates, they looked to the digital adoption platform, Apty, for assistance in driving their digital adoption process. With help from an enterprise DAP, the bank achieved its goal of training personnel and maintaining high data standards across its organization.  

Having a vision for digital transformation can help people understand what is possible and how they need to change to achieve it. A common mistake is to focus on technology but ignores other areas, such as culture or business processes. A holistic approach to solving an organization’s problem reduces bottlenecks, resistance, and further potential issues during the digital adoption phase of digital transformation. 
 

Business calculator office digital ROI

Financial Industry – Ensuring IT Service Management Software Data Compliance with Apty

2. Hiring Experienced Talent  

9 Future of Work Trends in 2023 by Gartner
9 Future of Work Trends in 2023 by Gartner

In a digital transformation, it is important to hire experienced talent. This is because there are many unknowns in the digital world, and the best way to solve them is by using their experience. 

A veteran employee has a vast history of experience which can help any organization detect issues during your transformation process beforehand. These employees have the capability to eliminate digital barriers. Creating a feedback loop for them to be a part of is key to keeping communication and checkpoints open for them to share their insight. They can also help train other employees, who can guide others and quell initial fears about the unknown. Ensure success by giving these veterans a way to contribute and hold a strong role in the company’s growth. Experienced employees are more self-aware, multi-skilled, and adaptable, deliver more for less, and bring stability and expertise to your organization. 

Suppose you don’t have experienced employees specialized in the transformation goal you want to achieve (software, personnel, learning & development, technology). In that case, it’s ok to get help outside your organization: consultants, vendors, partners, or former colleagues are all great resources. This 3rd-party assistance can help you implement a learning management system, especially for complicated software deployed across an entire enterprise.  

Utilizing Digital Skillsets for Digital Transformation

 Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, is a great example of how to successfully introduce new technology into a workplace whilst making use of experienced and talented employees. Under Nadella’s guidance, Microsoft has undergone an impressive digital transformation; cloud computing and AI are at the heart of this. He has enabled his staff to lead the charge with this transformation – allowing them to bring their expertise to build new technologies for the market. For example, their Azure cloud platform, which rivals Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud, has become a key contributor to the business’s success. This is down to the veteran Microsoft personnel who knew their way around the company’s technology and could propel its presence in the cloud computing sector. Ultimately, Nadella’s strategy has seen Microsoft stay at the cutting edge of tech and remain competitive in an ever-evolving digital landscape. 

Read more on how to successfully implement platforms like Workday, ServiceNow, Salesforce, MS Dynamics, and Oracle throughout your organization. 

3. Developing Skills for Transformation  

Digital maturity model - Skill Development for Digital Transformation by Technopolis-group.com
Digital maturity model – Skill Development for Digital Transformation by Technopolis-group.com

Every industry is disrupted by digital transformation, and companies need to adapt or risk being left behind. Enterprises are embracing digital technologies and transforming their businesses to survive and thrive in this new environment. 

The Digital Skill Gap

But this is not an easy task. It requires a different set of skills. Companies need innovative, creative, and agile employees who keep learning and focusing on developing their skills to succeed in the digital age. Sometimes grit and eagerness to learn are better qualities in an employee than already possessing the needed skills the position requires. It’s about their growth potential and, therefore, the company’s growth.  

The digital transformation of the workplace demands a set of skills to ensure its successful implementation. Employees should have technical proficiency, which simply refers to utilizing technology to support business objectives. Digital literacy extends this notion and involves proficiency with various digital tools, platforms, and mobile devices. Analytical thinking is also needed to use data effectively; employees must be able to turn insights into decisions. Collaboration is necessary given the cross-functional teaming aspects that accompany such transformations, while adaptability is imperative in high-velocity environments where technology can rapidly evolve. Finally, creativity helps new ideas flourish as solutions to existing challenges come forth. 

Employee Growth Through Digital Transformation

If your employees are eager to learn, then help them grow. Invest in training, learning, development, and employee efficiencies that can increase productivity, employee engagement, and positive experiences with the newly introduced technology. If their skills are nurtured to grow with the new digital transformation initiative, then they are more likely to have increased buy-in, motivation, and interest in adopting the change. 

Effective talent management is at the heart of any successful digital transformation—ensuring that your employees have the right skill set for the new environment that digital transformation brings. In fact, organizations with highly skilled employees are twice as likely to succeed in a digital economy than those who don’t invest in their people’s development. 

Tip 1: Utilize a mentoring program. Read more about it in this Forbes article

Tip 2: Implement an appropriate change management strategy.  

4. Handling New Opportunities and Risk 

Risk Oversight & Accountability Chart for Risk Management by Centamin.com
Risk Oversight & Accountability for Risk Management by Centamin.com

The first step to digital transformation is to understand the risks involved. When a new challenge arises, companies and employees must evaluate the opportunities and risks to make an informed decision.  

New technologies are mitigating and evaluating these opportunities and risks for you. For example, digital immunity systems reduce tech downtime by pooling cumulative data from analytics, operations, design, and development to identify, process, and resolve problems. Digital orchestration also allows data to be compiled, analyzed, and used to take action to reduce, mitigate, or prevent risks altogether. Predictive digital adoption platforms are also a wave of the future that can help with human errors during software onboarding, training, and change management processes.  

But these new platforms do not negate the manual evaluation process needed when confronting a new digital transformation initiative. For example, when implementing an ERP like Workday or Oracle across an entire enterprise as a part of a business transformation initiative, you must weigh the opportunities and risks of this software rollout. Risks could include a failed digital transformation process due to unsuccessful software adoption. By weighing and addressing potential reasons for failed software adoption beforehand, you could mitigate these risks making them null and void. Failed software adoption could result from employee resistance, negative culture, lack of communication, or insufficient training in how to use the new software.  

The opportunities of any implementation should outweigh the risks

A successful Workday implementation could result in:  

  • Connected communications 
  • Better leadership oversight 
  • Real-time analytics for informed decisions 
  • Better employee experiences 
  • Increased employee productivity.  
     
     

It’s also important not to get too fixated on “a deadline,” as this can cause companies to lose sight of their goals and forget why they’re working towards them in the first place. Mishandling new opportunities and risks can lead to financial loss, missed opportunities, and even employee turnover, so taking the time to assess the situation and make plans is crucial. 
 

5. Investing in the Right Technology  

Learn more from CFO Journal article in WSJ–content by Deloitte–on Rethinking Technology Investments and How to Maximize the Impact of Technology.

Apty Statistic: 91% of leaders expect to use technology to cut costs
Tech-Investments-Figure-3-1-CFO-Journal-content-by-Deloitte
Tech-Investments-Figure-2-1-CFO-Journal-content-by-Deloitte. Technology vanguards are prioritizing innovation and growth.
Tech-Investments-Figure-1-CFO-Journal-content-by-Deloitte

In a Thomson Reuters survey, 70 percent of surveyed organizations said a top priority for them to cut costs is “using tech to simplify workflows and manual processes.” Investing in the right technology is crucial to achieving successful digital transformation. Technology investments can make or break a company’s ability to compete effectively in today’s fast-changing environment.  

This means 

  • Ensuring compatibility with other systems before implementation. With API integrations come security risks.  
  • Calculating software return on investment (ROI).  

Digital transformation is not just a technology but also a change in business strategy.  In today’s digital world, companies need to be able to adapt quickly and effectively to changes in their industry. A successful digital transformation depends on how well you invest in technology. 

6. Nurturing Culture for Change 

Rapid Transformation defined by the Neverboss Model Pyramid
Rapid Change Model Pyramid by Neverboss.com

Digital transformation depends highly on an organization’s culture: the workforce’s ability to understand and adapt to your digital transformation and any collateral changes. 

Evaluating the current culture that your organization follows and redefining it to be open to change helps achieve digital transformation goals.  

  • Identify new opportunities to engage leadership and employee.  
  • Invest time and energy into understanding your employees’ needs. 
  • Understand the weaknesses in your company culture.  
  • Do you have appropriate communication channels for feedback?  
  • Do you have a culture that allows for open and honest communications
  • Do your employees feel they make a difference and will be incorporated into or a large part of the change?
    • This is crucial for developing buy-in and motivation to invest and achieve the company’s goals.  
  • Are your employees’ goals and pain points addressed in this change?
    • If so, make it known to them. If not, make sure you address these concerns. 

Open Security Culture ensures security awareness and knowledge sharing by making security practices and information accessible. It involves revealing policies, guidelines, best practices, and tools that foster collaboration and idea exchanges. Everyone benefits from Open Security Culture – individuals, organizations, and society as security posture results can improve through collective expertise and collaboration. 

The challenge with culture change is that it’s not something that happens overnight. Changing company culture requires rethinking and even reorganizing initiatives, goals, and processes to achieve greater agility and responsiveness. With a company culture that is open, agile, flexible, and inspired by change, you can transform business processes, increase digital transformation, improve employee productivity, and in turn, grow your revenue. 

Change Management Relevant Reads:

  1. Kotter’s 8-step Change Model
  2. Prosci ADKAR Model
  3. Types of Organizational Change

7. Communication is Key 

4 Types of Business Communication to accelerate change management and drive transparent digitial transformation

An organization’s digital transformation is only as good as its communication. The ability to communicate the vision and purpose of the transformation is key to success. Everyone in the organization should know where to focus and how to work together toward a common goal. As leaders, we must set these parameters and communicate them clearly and concisely to inspire and motivate. 

Clear and open communication helps build trust and relationships within an organization, which are essential to successful digital transformation. Talking about the digital transformation strategy and conducting employee training sessions helps them prepare for any such changes.  

Positive and Negative Examples of Enterprise Communication Tactics for Digital Transformation

One example of positive communication is Steve Jobs, renowned for his passionate and captivating talks, in which he conveyed Apple’s vision and values to the world. His distinct style of using uncomplicated language and personal stories left a lasting mark. Jobs also utilized technology, such as slideshows and live demonstrations, to emphasize his points and make them simpler to comprehend. With each of his talks, Jobs effectively articulated Apple’s brand image and laid out an encouraging base for the organization’s future success. 

An example of a failed communication is of Twitter, Tesla and SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk, who has been no stranger to controversy due to his tweets and public statements. In 2018, a tweet sparked speculation about taking Tesla private without consulting the board or legal advisors; this caused significant financial and legal repercussions. Corporate leaders need to ensure their communication practices are discussed and reviewed with relevant personnel before disseminating information to prevent uncoordinated communications from causing expensive consequences. 

Additional Resource: Diving Deep into Communication Skills — Elon Musk vs Steve Jobs 

Today’s business leaders are looking for ways to make their organizations agile and more responsive to emerging opportunities and disruptions. The rapid pace of technological change is making it imperative that they develop a strong, clear understanding of where they are today and where they want to be in the future. Read more about some digital transformation examples that can help you understand how digitally mature enterprises have prioritized and successfully achieved digital transformation. 

As technology continues to advance at a record pace, organizations are finding it difficult to keep up. Organizations must find ways to improve their services through digital transformation to stay competitive.  

Digital transformation relies on a successful change management & digital adoption strategy. 

organizations face the monumental task of not just adapting to new technologies but fully integrating them into their core operations to stay ahead. Digital transformation best practices serve as a beacon for companies navigating this complex terrain, guiding them towards successful adaptation and growth. At the heart of this transformative journey lies the strategic utilization of Digital Adoption Platforms (DAPs), which have emerged as crucial tools in accelerating change management, ensuring comprehensive digital adoption, and fostering an environment ripe for digital transformation. These platforms are not merely tools but catalysts that propel companies towards achieving their digital goals, driving significant value across all facets of the organization.

Harnessing Digital Adoption Platforms: A Modern Strategy for Transforming Your Business

DAPs streamline the process of integrating new technologies by making them more accessible and understandable to all employees, regardless of their technical expertise. This accessibility accelerates the pace of change management, enabling organizations to quickly adapt to and embrace new technologies. Furthermore, by ensuring true software adoption, DAPs help maximize the return on investment in digital tools, ensuring that these technologies are used to their full potential and are driving productivity and efficiency improvements.

In essence, a Digital Adoption Platform is not just an enabler but the backbone of a modern strategy for digital transformation success, ensuring that businesses can evolve with the digital age rather than being left behind.

How Digital Adoption Platforms Accelerate Digital Transformation Best Practices

Digital Adoption Platforms (DAPs) and the true software adoption by employees play a pivotal role in realizing the potential of digital transformation within an organization. By integrating these tools and strategies, businesses can effectively address the core components of digital transformation best practices:

  1. Understanding the Organization’s Problem
    • DAPs offer analytics and insights into how employees interact with software, identifying bottlenecks and areas for improvement, thus providing a clear understanding of organizational challenges.
    • True software adoption ensures that the digital solutions in place effectively address specific organizational problems, demonstrating how technology solves real-world issues.
  2. Hiring Experienced Talent
    • A robust DAP can reduce the need for highly specialized technical skills by making technology more accessible and intuitive, allowing for a broader talent pool.
    • Encouraging software adoption among existing employees cultivates a digitally savvy workforce, making it easier to attract experienced talent who seek innovative workplaces.
  3. Developing Skills for Transformation
    • DAPs facilitate on-the-job learning and support continuous education, enabling employees to develop the necessary skills for digital transformation seamlessly.
    • True software adoption empowers employees to master new technologies, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability.
  4. Handling New Opportunities and Risk
    • By improving software literacy and confidence among employees, DAPs enable organizations to swiftly capitalize on new opportunities with lower risk.
    • Comprehensive software adoption minimizes the risks associated with deploying new technologies, as employees are better prepared to use these tools effectively and securely.
  5. Investing in the Right Technology
    • DAPs themselves are a testament to investing in technology that directly enhances user adoption and maximizes ROI from other digital investments.
    • True software adoption ensures that investments in technology are fully leveraged, demonstrating the value of selecting tools that meet the organization’s needs.
  6. Nurturing Culture for Change
    • DAPs support a culture of innovation and adaptability by encouraging exploration and proficiency in new software, making change more acceptable.
    • Successful software adoption reinforces a positive attitude toward change, as employees experience firsthand the benefits of digital transformation.
  7. Communication is Key
    • DAPs enhance communication by providing platforms for real-time feedback and support, bridging the gap between IT departments and end-users.
    • Encouraging true software adoption fosters a communicative environment where employees feel supported in their digital journeys, promoting transparency and collaboration across the organization.

By focusing on these aspects, Digital Adoption Platforms and the genuine adoption of software by employees not only support but amplify the impact of digital transformation best practices within any organization.

The Digital Transformation Solution to Mitigate Resistance and Drive Success

As organizations chart their courses through the digital transformation landscape, the adoption of Digital Adoption Platforms stands out as a key strategy for success. By addressing critical best practices—ranging from understanding organizational challenges to nurturing a culture of change—DAPs play an indispensable role in facilitating a seamless transition into the digital era. They not only accelerate change management and software adoption processes but also enhance the overall value delivered by digital transformation initiatives. In the journey towards becoming a digitally mature company, leveraging the power of Digital Adoption Platforms is not just a strategic move—it’s a necessary evolution to thrive in the digital age.

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Torrey McLeod

Torrey McLeod

Torrey McLeod is Apty's Brand & Content Marketing Director. A few notes about this tech author: Worked in SaaS Since 2010, as well as Industries Spanning Healthcare, Real Estate, Entertainment, Retail, and Construction. Focus on C-level Engagement, B2B Content, and Creating Valuable Content for Fortune 500 Clients. Led Successful Sales and Marketing Teams Locally, Nationally, & Internationally.(ex., Increased sales revenue by approximately 50% for select months (34+% overall YoY increase) in healthcare industries). Versed in Tracking KPIs and Streamlining Operations and Communications Across Departments & Marketing Channels to Drive Businesses Forward.

Accelerate Change Management with a Digital Adoption Center of Excellence

According to BCG Research, only 30% of digital transformations are considered successful.
This change management guide shows you how to build the right CoE for your organization, optimize strategies, and measure the success of digital transformations.

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