2022 can be the year of digital transformation for your organization. Here are three steps to help develop your digital transformation roadmap.
Digital transformation is a hot topic for 2022. The concept encompasses many favorite buzzwords of the year while allowing businesses to explore essential strategies and results-oriented projects for the coming year.
The idea of digital transformation is exciting. As you adopt digital technology in every aspect of your organization, your company is renewed, reimagined, and more resilient. Digital transformation involves significant change in a positive direction, with a focus on improving customer experience, operational efficiency, innovation, and overall value.
As a small-business leader, your organization might have started as a caterpillar, but a digital transformation strategy can help it emerge as a more structured and transformed butterfly in 2022.
3 steps to help you achieve digital transformation
Digital transformation isn't just about one change, though. It’s about a complete transformation in your processes, people, and even your physical space. And you're not alone in this journey; 70% of organizations have a digital transformation strategy or are working on it.
Does everything make sense? Are your perceptions of your current customer experience and employee sentiment accurate? If the systems are working, you don’t have to throw them all out; just focus on the ones that don’t make sense to your team.
Consider how the ways you do things reflect the current trends and technological innovation. Revisit everything from your skill sets, technology, and structure to your facilities and equipment.
Let's take a look at three steps you can take to develop your digital transformation roadmap and identify any gaps.
1. Get a clear understanding of where you are now
An estimated 56% of companies prioritize digital transformation, but how do they make it happen? The first step in building any digital roadmap is to ensure you have a clear understanding of current processes and procedures. Analyze your current digital strategy, and answer questions such as how productive is your team? What are the areas where change is needed?
Operate on the philosophy that nothing is “good enough” anymore. What operations areas have needed support, reworking, and some special attention for some time? As you get a better understanding of the current state of your team’s productivity, you can take the next step.
2. Create a work culture that's ready for transformation
Already, 27% of senior executives believe that digital transformation is essential for their survival as a company. With buy-in from your senior management, you’re more likely to succeed with your digital transformation roadmap, but you still need to get everyone else on board.
As part of developing your digital transformation roadmap, give your employees the opportunity to express their opinions and concerns as honest feedback.
As you continue to gather input and feedback, remember that the digital transformation process doesn’t happen overnight. This is the perfect time to get your team inspired by the prospect of innovation and digital transformation, with all that it will mean for streamlining their processes and making their working lives easier and more productive.
3. Set goals and objectives
As you build your digital transformation roadmap, rely on your team. Give yourself and your team enough time to fully understand the goals and objectives that will best serve your company’s growth and success via digital transformation.
As you lay out what you need to achieve, use your roadmap to break your goals down into chunks. With each goal you reach, you should reassess your roadmap to determine whether your final objectives are still realistic. Are you still on track, or do you need to make adjustments?
2022 may be the perfect time to move forward with understanding, planning, and implementing your digital transformation roadmap, but that doesn’t mean this process will be easy.
You will face challenges along the way, but your employees and your business will emerge from this digital transformation stronger, more resilient, and prepared to succeed in the digital era.
Want more resources?
As a small-business leader embracing digital transformation, you need a better understanding of the technological challenges you face every day. Capterra has you covered with a wealth of resources, tips, and recommendations: