Digital Transformation Is the Answer to Disruptive Innovation, Part 2
In the previous article, we provided the definition and outline of digital transformation and discussed the importance of disruptive innovation.
You are about to learn:
- What are the characteristics of the three corporate layers of digital transformation?
- How impotent are new solutions and technology tools, and how do they affect the digital transformation process?
Digital Transformation: Business Strategy
In the previous article on digital transformation, I discussed the pyramid of digital transformation and its three corporate layers. All of them are strongly interdependent. At the stage of creating business models, when developing strategic changes, it is important to factor in the importance of technology and technology infrastructure in the process. When embarking on a technology transformation project, consider the following elements:
- sales or co-op platform and marketplace, such as Allegro,
- software use model including a comparison of dedicated solutions, on-premise license purchases and dominant SaaS software leasing models,
- IT technology-based products,
- additional product elements, technology-based offerings,
Generating knowledge of new technologies is the core business of IT companies, so it is advisable to find a partner in this industry at the strategic planning stage. Choose a technology company that will not only provide the solutions and tools you need, but will also be able to actively engage in the process of change and the creation and implementation of your strategy.
Corporate Execution
Often companies face a range of obstacles. How to map a new strategy into the right systems architecture? What design methodologies to use for innovative changes? How to frame the upcoming changes to sure that employees want to be involved in them. At this stage, it is also essential to build on technological experience.
Even the best strategy will not be effective if its relation to products, customers and employees is not considered. Some companies announce the adoption of a new digital strategy developed by the management together with consultants. Such strategies say where the company is expected to be in 3 years’ time, but do not say how to move operationally from now to the target. It is these stages of the corporate execution layer that must not be forgotten when undertaking digital transformation.
Technology Design and Implementation
IT solutions are not the essence of digital transformation but only its enabler (enabling technology). Technological tools are used to achieve operational goals defined at the level of business strategy.
However, new technologies are the engine of change. This means it is best to have a partner who knows these technologies and can help adapt them to the company’s needs.
It is important to remember that every change (including digital transformation) affects, in the first place, people, so if people are not aware of the nature of changes and technologies, the changes are bound to be ineffective. That’s why it’s good to hold workshops involving employees and technology partners.
Unity Group as a Technology Partner
Unity Group has more than twenty years of experience in helping clients in the digitization and digital transformation process. Our core service is to help select, design, implement and maintain technologies that are the bedrock of digital change.
We have gained our IT project experience implementing solutions in the retail, distribution, manufacturing, logistics, automotive, construction and service industries. Typically, the solutions involve processes related to sales and customer contact. We are not only a partner helping to find a path of execution, but we also offer advice on strategy as technology consultants.
Implementing solutions in a fast-changing and unpredictable environment calls for changes in selected project methodologies. We help to choose and implement agile methodologies (agile, scrum, customer development) and we optimize processes by creating a “proof of concept” or by carrying out other feasibility studies. We also offer support to managers. Since 2012, our company has organized an annual meeting of practitioners, the E-Commerce Directors Congress, dedicated to the latest trends of change implemented in companies using e-commerce and omnichannel solutions.\
If you found the part 2 of this article interesting, you may also like to revisit the part 1 or check our offer focused on transforming key areas of your business.
