To succeed in the digital world, businesses must now provide superior experiences for consumers, customers, employees and citizens, and deliver on their promises in faster, more nimble ways. Digital transformation is no longer just buzz but a reality that all companies need to adapt to, and one of the top strategic priorities of most organisations today. 

Embracing digital must be driven by much more than a desire to appear cutting edge. It should be about harnessing innovation and disruption to transform what a business is and how it remains relevant to customers. There is also strong evidence that focusing on digital transformation not only enhances customer experiences but improves top-line revenue and boosts employee productivity.

For a number of years now Nigel Fenwick, Principal Analyst at Forrester has been stating that by 2020 companies will either have become Digital Predators or Digital Prey. However, many leaders are left wondering what this actually means for their organisation. How do you tap into the endless opportunities of digitalisation and capitalise on the technology-driven transformation that is currently changing your industry?  

We believe the first step on the path to Digital Success is capturing your vision. To engage and align the organisation on a shared digital aspiration, it’s imperative to begin by formalising a vision and a strategy that provides the direction. The strategy should position the level of innovation the organisation seeks to implement as well as the specific areas of transformation such as products and services, customer experience, operations or a combination of them all. 

Yet, tackling digital transformation reactively, with a siloed view, or with a technology-first approach will not work. Companies must set forth a vision and strategy that takes into account wider industry issues, and the specific disruptors that could impact them. From this position, it becomes possible to create a fully connected enterprise that delivers value profitably – all with an unwavering eye on the customer. 

Approaching the uncertainties around digital transformation with confidence means understanding that it’s not a single change but a journey: a collection of decisive actions that jointly move an organization forward along the path to achieve its vision.

Once you have your vision established we believe Step 2 is all about leveraging The Power of Customer Journey Mapping.