Amid the chaos and uncertainty currently in the world, one undeniable fact is that survival, if not success, in such a difficult economic climate depends heavily on digital capability.
In recent years, we saw a strong focus to replace legacy software and systems with modern solutions with a “revolutionised workplace” as the perceived advantage of the promise that digital transformation presents. The recent change in the work environment and service delivery methods have brought to light the failure of digital transformation.
Despite the significant spending on technology stacks and infrastructure that would enable digital transformation, most organisations have been dead slow on moving away from 20th century, pre-digital, business models, processes and ways of working. The corporate practices, planning, structures and KPI management belongs to an Industrial Age, and is most probably, as a whole, inconsistent with the behaviours demanded in the digital age.
In this context, early stage digital transformation efforts were focussed on the easy and apparent business tools like websites, operational software, video calling and office technology systems. To a large degree they got away with it. With everyone in the office, cracks in the systems can be covered up by a quick manual fix. Come the era of remote work, and suddenly the problems become very real and costly.
Management Teams’ reluctance and lack in behavioural change of key personnel, has failed digital transformation.
“ For the leaves of a tree to fulfil its core purpose of sourcing energy from the sun, the tree’s entire supply chain needs to be in optimal shape, of which the most vital are the roots. “ – Carl Wallace
During research work I recently did for a client in Switzerland, I looked into the inner workings of trees. Surprisingly, the operational make-up of an organisation is almost mirrored to that of a tree. The roots of the business, [ systems, infrastructure, IP and so on ] enables the trunk of the business [ operations, people, service delivery ] to deliver to the leaves [ beneficiaries, customers, sale points ] the promised value of the organisations in order to return revenue that is invested back into the roots of the business in order to sustain its existence.
The leaves are dependant on the trunk and the trunk dependant on the roots. Improper functioning of any part will lead to inevitable failure.
Covid-19 has highlighted the improper functioning of the trunk and if organisations are to thrive in such a fast moving environment, this needs fixing.
Over the past decade, we have made strenuous efforts to build and deliver technology solutions to various clients across many industries and borders. As a technology group we have reached a pivotal point; to transform a technology delivery model into a combined technology-and-knowledge delivery model.
Digital What ???
The term DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION has lost its true meaning as a result of too much focus on the DIGITAL part and not enough focus on the TRANSFORMATION part.
A stronger focus on transforming businesses and specifically the people inside them will lead to a radical change in their mindsets and thinking, which, in turn, enables a business to thrive in an end-to-end digital environment.
It is not about skills or knowledge, it is all about willingness.
In comes the new breed of consulting
The world is in desperate demand for a new breed of consulting; advice that truly carries the concerns of clients. Firms that are more focussed on the sustainability and growth of their clients rather than filling their pockets. Success in the former will bear fruit in the latter.
As a technology group we have reached a pivot as we enter 2021. Coming out of the biggest year of change, we need to change fundamentally as a business to be in a better position to lead our clients from. With a strong focus on the people within the business, our approach is people-first, technology-second. We are no longer digital transformers, we are business transformers.
Comments are closed.