Starting a Digital Evolution: Where to begin?

What is meant by digital transformation? The term 'transformation' implies a process of moving towards something entirely different. However, in the context of 'digital transformation,' businesses aren't necessarily aiming to alter their core identity; instead, they seek to enhance their existing capabilities and expand their potential.

So, the phrase doesn’t actually match up to the process itself. In fact, a more suitable expression for this process is 'digital evolution’.

As humans, we naturally have a forward-thinking mindset. The world we inhabit is marked by increasing unpredictability and instability — especially during the economically challenging times we currently live in. Just like all living entities, businesses also undergo an evolutionary journey. They start as small ideas and gradually grow into something more significant.

The question is, where do you begin with a digital evolution?

Step One: Determine the decision makers

Who will be making the decisions when it comes to your digital evolution strategy? Or even, who is best placed to make these decisions? You need to bring together C-level decision makers and Department Leads to understand the vision and the reality of the task ahead.

The people around the table have to be those involved in the operational reality of the business. Who that is depends on how hands-on the stakeholders are and who is best equipped to guide the remit of digital evolution.

Step two: Adopt a mindset of change and ask the right questions

This is a vital step. You have to begin the process by adopting a mindset of constant change. In this case, digital change. The first step here is to identify where you’ll get the most value for the least effort required. This makes it easier to activate change.

Start by getting the main stakeholders together and collectively ask: will it impact your revenue generation? What will make you most efficient from a financial POV? What will impact your business-critical global KPIs? If you need to, bring in external people to ask the right questions.

Enterprises usually think that digital transformation takes a long time and they then get value at the end of it. But a digital evolution is getting ever-increasing value. How do you enhance what you have to

deliver additional value? Well, an example could be integrating systems to replace spreadsheets, giving you a single source of truth. Technology is always on the move, so mindsets have to follow suit. There is always more value you can deliver.

Step three: Align your stakeholders

There is no point in some stakeholders adopting a mindset of change but others not jumping on board. You have to align your stakeholders between themselves and bring them onto the same journey. Set expectations, and manage them.

An initiative for one stakeholder might be more or less important when compared to another stakeholder. For example, the first question from the CFO will inevitably be how much this will cost. As the scope of digital evolution can be pretty broad, it is a hard question to answer. As a result, it is about taking it step by step.

Stakeholders need to understand that digital evolution is far from quick and easy. And not all of it will be within your budget. On the flipside, many think it is so difficult that it isn’t achievable. You need to find ways to help them meet in the middle, taking on what is affordable and setting out feasible steps.

Step four: Make the first step

This is a simple one. But often the hardest. What’s your first value-added step? Do it!

Step five: Repeat step four

Once you’ve done it the first time, do it again. Make this mentality and process a part of your culture, and ensure that it is done not for the sake of change, but for getting value. Once this becomes a habit, it becomes harder to fall out of doing it. If you’re getting value, why would you stop?

By continually getting value and digitally evolving, you will be getting a competitive edge. And by having an agile and forward-thinking approach, you can adjust to ever-changing economic environments.

A constant process of digital evolution requires constant evaluation. Ask yourself, is it still adding the same or better value? This analysis allows you to change and adapt processes as needed, make sure you are getting as much value as you should be, and amend anything that isn’t working.

The bottom line

Digital evolution is a term and process that matches the world we live in. Beginning it can be the hardest step. Above all, it requires a willingness to adapt and evolve. While daunting, businesses need to see it as an opportunity to go on an exciting journey.

This is the most challenging part: changing the business culture into a culture of change. Companies can get stuck in doing things as they have always done. But if you can bring decision makers and employees together on the same path, you can begin to form processes that can generate ever-increasing value.