Don't let digital enablement and 'quick fixes' derail long-term transformation
Dec 07, 2020
Over the last six months, the role of the digital world has become even more visible and valuable. Almost overnight, organisations were forced to transform key operations, adopt technologies and change ways of working to achieve some form of business continuity in the face of coronavirus (COVID-19).
This digital enablement is here to stay - our recent CEO panel survey shows 86% of UK CEOs believe the shift towards digital collaboration will continue, and 77% believe the increasing shift towards automation will endure.
But, there is a risk businesses will miss out on a critical part of the digital transformation process: the enterprise-wide transformation element. Focusing on technology quick fixes in the wake of the pandemic risks digital solutions being imposed on an existing organisation (and configured accordingly). For many businesses this will result in less than optimal use of technology and missed opportunities to engage with customers, invigorate and mobilise staff, and any associated potential to realise time and cost savings.
It’s no longer enough to be digitally-enabled - businesses must be digitally transformed. As they continue to invest in technology to support the shift towards remote working and automation, they must give due consideration to how they can best shape their organisation. This includes thinking about back-office and front-office transformation to support these investments, rather than seeing technology as the end in itself.
Genuine transformation means reimaging everything about your organisation: from new ways of working to new processes, governance, behaviours and service delivery. You need to view your investments in technology as a much-needed opportunity to begin this process.
If your company has already invested in technology or reimagined one element of your core function in response to COVID-19, you may have missed an important opportunity. Now is the time to take a step back, consider your resources, including your people, your structure and your technology, and what you can do to make them work even more efficiently and effectively. Don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo and transcend any unnecessary boundaries that no longer help you achieve your strategy in this new environment.
Let the technology be the catalyst for transforming your organisation: to make it work for your business now and into the future.