Understanding digital transformation: Be prepared in 2021

The words ‘Digital Transformation’ have been popular this year. Businesses found themselves having to rely on their technology and digital solutions to remain active during the pandemic.

As we carry on being urged to work from home, a growing number of businesses are looking into the digital solutions available and joining this rising transformation.

So, what do we mean by Digital Transformation?

Digital transformation is a combination of innovative tools and processes leveraged to solve difficulties and provide customer satisfaction. It requires all departments to work together in creating the changes required, introducing new business models and new revenue streams, whilst considering changes in customer expectations around products and services.

What drives digital transformation?

For the past several years, businesses have embarked in digital transformation to counter the potential for disruption from competition. Retailers, for example, have been answering Amazon’s digital march by refining their logistics and ensuring that products quickly make their way from local warehouses, before their store locations run out. There has also been a rise in e-commerce platforms for business, selling online either through a website or making use of social media.

However, the pandemic has forced businesses to reprioritise their strategic IT roadmaps, with many adopting cloud software for video collaboration and remote-access solutions.

The main driver today is mainly to survive. For organisations to keep ‘business-as-usual’ they’ve had to face the digital solutions and make use of them to match their requirements.

Experts in the field predicted in March that, by 2024, over 50% of all IT spending would be directly for digital transformation and innovation – this being up from 31% in 2018. We would probably be safe to predict that if they were to carry out the research now, the percentage would be even higher. 

A research business impact report conducted in July also highlighted that 59% of IT decision makers expressed pressure from the pandemic to accelerate their digital transformation efforts.

The people factor in digital transformation

A successful digital transformation demands not just innovative technologies, but changes in processes and the ability of organisations to get the most out of their employees.

It is known that employees who feel inspired and collaborate well perform better than the rest, and the right digital solutions made available across all department can create harmony across the business.

Inspiration, communication, and collaboration—along with better use of technology and data—can drive innovation and greater levels of productivity. However, it is also important to make sure employees do not rely solely on digital and can carry on with their work should anything happen. It can be very tricky to get the balance right, and that’s where our expert team comes in.

Our clients across Manchester and other parts of the North West are benefitting from our knowledge and experience in creating the right digital platform for their business, with continued support and effective disaster recovery plans in place.

Make sure to follow our blog as we close 2020 with our top tips for tacking digital transformation.

Our team remains available to explain all the latest digital solutions currently available to businesses in the North West.

Simply contact us on 0161 763 4529 or drop us an email at [email protected].