Have you ever wondered why nearly everything in the business world seems to exist on a digital platform? We are hearing non-stop about big data, digital transformation and more. If your business is looking to secure a sustainable commercial future, investing ample time, money and energy into your digital transformation strategy is a wise move. Everyone wants to go digital but do they actually know how?

Digital transformation means different things to different organisations, but what such initiatives generally have in common is the integration of digital technology with the aims of making the business more efficient and agile. These are important factors in today’s cutthroat economy.

The most crucial step is to strategise. Digitally mature companies that have already transformed their business models and processes show an increase in talent engagement, and more than 80% have clear strategic goals.

What about getting the organisation on board?

In the workplace, employers are seeking new ways to enhance productivity, and digital technology is playing a pivotal role in helping employees become more effective in their primary roles. A key part of digital transformation involves ensuring that your employees are aware of the digital tools available to help them work smarter, and are trained to use them to their utmost potential. 

One of the biggest issues is that the introduction of a new system or way of working does not have employee buy-in. People generally like their own ways of doing things and are likely to resist change that they feel is out of their control. Sure, they will start to use a new platform, but if they have not been properly trained in how to use it and all the benefits is can offer, then they are very rapidly likely to fall back on to old, tried and tested solutions they know and trust. From the employees’ point of view, nothing has been gained and some credibility in management has been lost, so such actions could put a digital transformation project in jeopardy. 

Success or failure of a digital transformation project hinges principally on whether or not employees are on board with the process.

Statistics on why Digital Transformation is key to advancing businesses:

• More than 50% of the world’s population are under the age of 30 – there are more digital natives (or indeed, budding digital natives) than ever before. To continue appealing to this new generation of digitally-minded consumers, investing in digital transformation on a continual basis is nothing short of essential.
  
• By 2020, 47% of all revenue will be influenced by digital. Without a doubt, digital technologies will become all the more sophisticated. To remain relevant and continue to foster growth, embracing the power of digital is a now a necessity rather than a far-flung luxury.
  
• 56% of CEOs feel that digital advancements have already led to boosts in revenue. With this being the primary goal of business growth and acceleration, this is a clear-cut case for investing in digital transformation.
  
• 61% of smartphone users admit to regularly sleeping with their smartphone under their pillow or next to their bed. By investing in your mobile offerings, from applications to mobile-optimized landing pages and social media content, you stand to accelerate your business success in an increasingly digital age.