Identifying the main obstacles to digital transformation
Digital transformation is first and foremost a business challenge and significantly more than just investing in the latest information solutions. It is necessary to be aware of the intertwining and interdependence of technology, processes and business models, as well as that of employee behaviour.
It is a fact that there is no single recipe for digital transformation, as each company ultimately composes its own story according to its own plans and capabilities. However, it should be emphasized that digital transformation usually requires major changes at the business level, thus it is important to be aware of aspects of digitalization that are often overlooked.
To succeed, all the pieces of the puzzle need to be successfully pieced together
Digital transformation is a complex process that plays a part in all the key elements of a company's business: business model, strategy, business processes, organizational structure and culture. There are almost always various obstacles and challenges along the way that need to be identified and tackled.
- It is said that fortune favours the brave. It is certainly true that those companies that truly understand the potential of business digitalization are not afraid of the changes and challenges it brings. In fact, they act with agility and proactively, thus ultimately reaping all the benefits of digitalization, maintaining market competitiveness and staying in the game.
We want to digitize our business but we don't know how
It is a fact that digital transformation does not happen due to the introduction of new technologies, but rather it is primarily based on the ability to effectively upgrade our business model with the opportunities offered by these technologies. As we embark on the path of digital transformation, we must first ask ourselves what we actually want to achieve.
Our experience shows that those companies that clearly define their goals and set a digital strategy are more successful in implementing changes and achieving the positive effects of digitalization.
Since digitalization of business is a demanding project, as it not only affects business processes but often also interferes with our organizational culture, it is important that it has the necessary support of the company's management and that key participants devote the necessary time. It is therefore advisable to divide and carry out such an extensive project in several stages. Many companies get stuck at this point, because all of a sudden they do not know where to start.
The main challenges in the introduction of digitized business processes
Most barriers to digitization usually stem from a company's organisational nature. These barriers are most often related to employees and their lack of knowledge and skills needed to identify their own digital potential and the resulting digital transformation.
Therefore, it is very important that companies encourage and motivate all participants in the digitalization process for change, while emphasising good practice in terms of behaviour and conduct, and investing in increasing employee competencies. At Mikrocop, we are also aware that change is the only constant in life, hence we are constantly investing in the education of our employees and the development of their digital competencies.
The biggest obstacles to business digitisation
- Lack of support from management, which does not encourage the introduction of changes to a sufficient extent.
- Unwillingness to change, inflexibility woven into organizational culture.
- A slow response, lack of experimentation and hypothesis testing.
- Lack of relevant knowledge and employee digital skills.
- Unconnected processes within the company, fragmented information system.
- Too many conflicting priorities. Lack of a dedicated team being assigned to digitalization.
- Not having identified a person responsible for business digitization and digital transformation.
It is crucial that everyone in a company understands the benefits of the connection between information technology and business. This is the only way to become committed, motivated and, consequently, true digital ambassadors.
However, companies often do not have enough, or suitably qualified, employees to cope with such projects. According to research titled 'The state and trends of digital transformation in Slovenia', conducted in 2017 at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Ljubljana, many companies therefore turn to external experts who have more experience in the introduction of digital processes in business. Therefore, choosing the right partner, whose help will enable the desired goals of digitalization to be achieved, is really an essential part of the puzzle.
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