If your business plans to incorporate Digital Transformation (Dx) into its competitive and strategic initiatives, it is imperative that the team consider, not just the technology they will adopt, but the way in which they will use this technology, and these new approaches to workflow, tasks and activities to improve customer satisfaction, team productivity and efficiency, security and risk management, and other critical factors.

Begin with an assessment of the current infrastructure, the solutions your team uses to complete tasks, store data and track information, and the performance, security and accessibility of these solutions. Consider how tech savvy your team is, and ensure that your plan addresses the need for training or support as the team adopts new tools and work processes. Think about how your customers interact with your team, and how you can use technology to streamline, improve and enhance customer interaction.

Today’s Dx projects will likely incorporate Cloud integration, process automation, data analytics, cybersecurity, and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to perform tasks, answer inquiries, make recommendations, provide reporting, monitor and manage, etc. You may also be considering a mobile app for your customers, or a mobile application to satisfy the needs of your team while they are on the road.

Once you have completed your assessment (and don’t forget to include your business users, and customers in this process), establish a strategy and a budget, and carefully consider the sequence and staging of each phase, so that you can manage the financial obligation, staff the project, and roll out the new approach, while mitigating risk.

Because the Dx process typically involves an holistic view of the organization, and an overarching plan of engagement, it is wise to employ the services of an expert IT consulting team, to ensure that you don’t skip any steps, and that the outcome you intended is the outcome you will achieve.