As a successful entrepreneur, there is no question that you realize the importance of having a solid digital transformation strategy. Of course, in this day and age of 12-to-14-hour days, it could be something that you have been putting off. Moreover, there is a possibility that you don’t really know how to go about doing it effectively. If so, here are some solid steps to consider:
Tell a compelling story
The first thing you want to do is get some type of buy-in, so that is why you need to tell a compelling digital transformation story. You should start by simply telling a story. Walk everyone through a typical day in the life of an employee who is feeling the benefits of a digital transformation environment. Reputable sources like Contentful have a wealth of knowledge on how to best tell your digital transformation strategy story.
Take time to run pilot tests
Yet another effective way to get good buy-in would be to run pilot tests. Indeed, you really would have no idea how well your digital transformation methods are going to work unless you do a dry run. This is especially true if you are unsure how deploying the new technology is going to work within your company environment.
Secure funding
Of course, once you’ve gotten everyone on board, the next step is every bit as crucial: how do you go about securing funding for this endeavour? How do you go about determining how much funds you should allocate to this project? Well, you start by realizing that digital transformation is not a one-time project. Since this is an ongoing project, it might be that you will have to change your funding strategies and your mindset going forward.
Identify Your Goals and Desired Outcomes.
Once you have a clear understanding of where you are, you need to fully communicate the objectives of this new digital transformation. Things such as being bold and ambitious in your digital vision, making a plan for where you want to be digitally in five to ten years, and clearly articulating what digital achievements you want to achieve are all important.
Conduct a solid gap analysis.
Your next step would be to conduct a solid gap analysis. You should have an idea of where you are at the present moment and where you want to be. Moreover, in order for your digital metamorphosis to take place, you need to know just what steps you will need to take in order to reach your digital goals.
Look at a digital transformation roadmap.
Now that your goals have all been outlined and you know what direction you want to take your digital transformation journey, you can create a strategic roadmap to help you achieve that vision. You would start by mapping out just how you get to point A from point B. This might include taking steps such as reframing infrastructure, re-skilling your employees, and transitioning to a development process that is indeed more agile.
How long will this journey take? It really depends on your ability to organize and to lead your crew effectively.