Digital Transformation

10 Best Practices

01. Identify a
c-suite champion.
Undertaking a digital transformation
effort amounts to a major cultural shift in
your organization. So ongoing and
active leadership from your
executive team is crucial.

02. Walk a mile in your

customers’ shoes.
Every business decision should be made
with your customer in mind. Map out how
your digital transformation effort will
affect your customers’ interactions with
your company. Consider the three steps
of the buyer’s journey: awareness,
consideration, and decision.
How specifically, will these changes
aid them in their journey?

03. Define success and

how it will be measured.
What do you hope to accomplish as a
result of your digital transformation
initiative? How will you know if you’ve
met your goal? Consider the anticipated
benefits for your customers. How will
you measure customer experience?
Or return on investment? Before you
begin, establish KPIs and capture
baseline data.

04. Establish accountability

and set expectations
for change.
Incorporating a new digital strategy will
create shockwaves within some parts of
your organization and ripple effects
throughout. Be up front about why you’re
undertaking this effort and outline the
anticipated benefits and challenges.
Communicate how you will define
success, and set clear expectations
regarding roles and responsibilities as
you work toward your goals.

05. Evaluate and align your

business processes.
Technology updates will be wasted unless
you adapt your workflows and outline
clear processes incorporating the new
tools. This is also a great opportunity to
evaluate any inefficient business
processes that might be streamlined
or upgraded.

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06. Dig into your data.
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Audit your sources of data. What’s available?
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What’s missing? What’s underutilized?
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What’s critical? Think about how your digital
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transformation efforts can help you make
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better use of data or gain a clearer picture
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of your business. And be sure to create
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backups of crucial business data before
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07. Move from
“Systems of Record”
to “Systems of Engagment”.
The 4th Industrial Revolution is being driven
by major shifts in customer expectations.
So all of your business processes need to
be reengineered with customers’ needs in
mind. Your ERP, CRM, marketing, and
customer service platforms should be
unified. This will help you gain insight
into your customers’ journeys, solve their
problems, and anticipate
their future needs.

08. Double down on talent.

Success in modern manufacturing is a race for
top talent. New roles such as “data scientist”
and “marketing automation specialist” are
being added to manufacturers’ rosters. And
technicians and factory workers must have
a higher level of technological and data
literacy than ever before. Hire smart and
invest in ongoing training.

09. Communicate frequently

and transparently.
Successful digital transformation efforts
are characterized by frequent and open
communication. Convey progress, next
steps, challenges and successes to your
team. Encourage everyone in the
organization to offer feedback and
provide them with a channel to do so.
Show your team how these changes
will ultimately make their jobs easier or
help them improve their outcomes.

10. Improve continuously.

Digital transformation is not a single event.
It’s an ongoing organizational, cultural,
and technological shift. Continually
monitor your KPIs and business goals
and engage your entire team in working
toward them. Adjust and refine your
methods as you learn.