It’s been about a decade since the business world started focusing on digital transformation. CEOs know it’s important, and often digital transformation is a catch phrase in strategy meetings.

But what does that mean, digital transformation? How does a company know they are hitting the mark? After all, any change is painful. Especially systemic and process changes. And, how does a company know the pain was worth it?

These are difficult questions to answer. Especially if an enterprise is not strategic about their digital transformation to begin with.

What does digital transformation look like?

So, is transitioning all your data to a cloud-based system considered transformation? What about scanning and electronic filing rather than paper copies littering your office? Since you have an app, are you transformed?

These are all valid questions, and the answers are just as varied.

For small companies, digital transformation might entail full growth into web portals, apps, and social media presence for marketing. Unfortunately, for larger enterprises the answer is more complicated. Often processes are hardwired into the company and growing into new processes is painful and difficult. Not only is there confusion about what digital transformation means, there is often fear from employees that streamlined efficiencies mean layoffs and job decreases.

In a recent PwC survey, 44% of respondents believe their companies incorporate digital transformation into corporate strategy. That’s a huge drop from the 73% who say their CEOs champion digital companies.

Unfortunately, 23% of executives believe digital transformation merely means transforming the IT function, rather than integrating full business models into tech savvy strategies. That’s a bit more than the 21% who reflect innovation and “flat decision decision-making,” which is the ultimate result end goal of a digital transformation.

How to attack the growth

Any enterprise growth or change starts at the top. Which requires leadership to be clear on expectations, goals, strategy, and support the attempt at every level. After leadership is on board, there are other individuals who can strengthen the acceptance of change.

Namely, project managers and consultants who can support line of business staff. After all, if front-line and customer facing employees are concerned, confused, or unclear about the digital transformation, it will likely fail.

To assist with clarity, designating a centralized hub of information and decision making to guide efforts is essential. Of course, one of the main decision makers within the group is IT. But in order to create effective buy-in, the group should have representation from other departments, as well. Including a few front-line employees, depending on the enterprise.

Allowing customer facing and front-line employees a voice in development and automation will decrease confusion and potential panic through the painful periods of growth. Employee embracing of digital transformation will make any strategy run much smoother.

Is it worth it?

At the end of the day, any CEO or enterprise has to ask if a digital transformation is worth the pain. Ultimately, yes. Technology is moving at a rate beyond expectations, and email on traditional networks will no longer suffice.

Especially when it comes to customer experience. Customers have increased expectations as smart phones and IoT expose them to the ever-increasing potential of technology.

The question becomes less about should we transform and becomes more a question of which technology benefits us the most. While 30% of executives say IoT is the biggest disruptor, 19% stand beyond AI, 12% state robotics, and another 7% say blockchain.

The truth is all these technologies are disruptors. The extent the disrupt your business is entirely dependent upon your business model and strategy. Though it’s too late to get ahead of digital transformation, dragging your feet because of the pain is a poor business decision.

MobileWare utilizes the best of cloud services for data storage and management for our clients, as well as streamlining all processes involved with security and mobility. Read here to see how we can help transform your business with the least amount of pain possible.