Digital transformation is closer than you think

There is no denying that technology has revolutionised the way we live our lives, from how we pay our bills and shop for groceries to overhauling business processes and even printing 3D objects. Technology is everywhere and for many of us has ushered in a new way of life.

Transformational technology

10 years ago if we needed some soap powder, we’d pop to the local shop to pick some up. These days it’s readily available at the click of a button via any of our devices (and delivered within a 2-hour time frame!) We can now watch TV wearing Google Glasses and be given information about the actor and TV programme in real time as we watch. We can print – wait for it – babies, prosthetic limbs, engine parts and action figures of ourselves! (Taken from our selfies of course!) Thanks to 3D printing.

Impact on the business world

Not only has technology made an enormous impact on our personal lives but it’s had a profound impact on the business world, where we are now operating and communicating in an advanced way. How organisations interact with customers and manage internal systems and processes has been, in some cases, completely revolutionised.

We’ve certainly moved on from the days when only large enterprise businesses had the ability to implement new technology that would add to the bottom line. We’ve entered an era where the mid-market and SMEs have the technology readily available to implement in order to reap the same rewards as their much larger counterparts.

An MIT Sloan Management review stated that the vast majority of Managers believe that “achieving digital transformation is critical” within their organisations.

However in addition to this, 63% stated that the pace of technological change in their workplaces is too slow, in the main this is because of a “lack of urgency” and lack of communication with regards to the business benefits of implementing new tools.

Transformational technology at your fingertips

Office 365 is a prime example of how technology can change the way we do business. Collaboration and teamworking have become more prevalent than ever and the tools that drive these initiatives are at our fingertips. From Yammer used to aid discussions, to Planner used (as you may guess) to plan and schedule, Office 365 is way more than a mailbox and implementing this kind of tool can have a big positive impact on your business.

Digital transformation doesn’t need to start with an enormous leap in business strategy or an overhaul in business process. It can start with a small change that will have a big impact. Talk to us to see how today.

Key things to consider when it comes to digital transformation strategy:

• Align digital transformation with your business strategy
• Take the view that business transformation, innovation and transformational technology are ongoing processes and not stand-alone, one-off projects
• Select the right partner. Make sure you work with the experts that will take the time to understand your business and how you plan to move it forward. A good partner will understand that business comes first, the technology should be the right fit for your business and not based on the product they are looking to sell.