Not too long ago, I came across an interesting article on Digital Transformation and agreed with many of the points, pitfalls, and stereotypes we have managed to coin with this term. I cannot tell you how many times I hear the words Digital Transformation used to describe various “things” because Digital Transformation means one thing to someone but maybe something different to you. I thought through all the business transformation work I have been part of in my career and took a moment to reflect and ask myself if they were digital and how we draw that distinction. We often intermix these two terms; to be honest, sometimes they go hand in hand, but they couldn’t be further apart in other instances. What is the distinction, you may ask? In theory, a business transformation ends at some point, whether achieving a certain behavior or implementing new processes and procedures; in the end, there is a definitive close to what was considered the objective and, ultimately, the end state of the transformation.

Digital transformation, well, that is a little trickier. Let’s face it: technology is rapidly evolving. Just as you thought you were on the cutting edge of technology, you realize you are not even close; add Gen AI to the mix, and you find the opportunities limitless, and the road to the end state can never be ending.

In our current era of technological advancements, digital transformation has become the driving force behind the success of modern businesses in today's fast-paced and interconnected world. It is not just a technological shift but a fundamental change in how organizations operate, compete, and deliver value to their customers and business partners. It is not a sprint but a journey that can last decades; patience, and perseverance are at the heart of all digital transformations. To succeed, you need to look at the long-term goals, with every step bringing you closer and closer.

So, where do you even begin?

As a first step, you need to understand your focus, whether business or customer-value-driven. Once your strategy and end goals are identified and, most importantly, aligned with your leadership, it’s time to build your roadmap, which details the solutions, structure, and talent needed to deliver.  So now you have your roadmap, all the processes and functions you need to transform digitally, you spent time looking at the requirements, and you have determined what skills you need to begin your journey.

Now, you will need to focus on building the right organizational structure to succeed in this journey. Rushing into a digital transformation without the proper organizational structure will make things a lot harder and create frustration, and ultimately, your digital transformation will suffer.

Remember, building the right team takes time and talent needs to be in-house. Your talent will determine your success, so make sure they are digitally savvy and collaborate with your business partners at the forefront of your digital transformation.

So, are you now set up for success? The answer is no. Even though you have a clear vision and strategy complemented by a roadmap and sustained with the right resources, how can you not be successful? For all these elements to co-exist and work towards the end goal, an operating model that can scale must be in place. Digital transformations span cross-functionally, and even though many companies adhere to an operating model, a digital transformation requires a makeover. You must consider a digital factory, product and platform, and enterprise-wide agility model when you decide to take the digital transformation path.

Great, you have your vision, a roadmap, and a team to scale with the right skill set. Add a functioning operating model to support your scale and ability to pivot, keeping collaboration and business partnership at the helm of your journey. Great, let’s go! Not so fast… one last key component not to be overlooked is adoption and change management; it will be so important to have a dedicated team that works in the same iterative fashion, capturing and preparing users and reaping the total value and potential that is needed when you embark on a digital transformation. Minimizing the importance or relevance of a dedicated change management team could significantly impact your transformation.

A successful digital transformation spans an organization's functions, allowing them to work together in new and better ways. Change is no longer a choice but necessary for businesses to thrive in today's digital age. It is a journey that requires visionary leadership, a customer-centric approach, and a commitment to continuous learning and adaptation. By embracing digital transformation, big and small corporations can unlock new possibilities, drive growth, and create lasting value for their stakeholders. So, let the world and this paradigm shift unleash the power of digital transformation to shape a better future for our organizations and the world, and remember that change is the only constant in a digital transformation.