Starting a digital transformation journey is one of the most important steps a mid-market business can take to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and unlock long-term growth.
Ambitious business owners are always looking for better ways to operate, and digital transformation provides a practical route to meaningful change, when it is driven by clear strategy and strong IT leadership.
This is our final piece in the DT series and is the Board action plan that will help you get started on your own journey. It covers ideas around automation and artificial intelligence, risk analysis, data visualisation and much more which are all achievable if you’ve got a vision and the right people to get you there.
So what exactly is Digital Transformation?
For our clients, Digital Transformation simply means using IT to deliver dramatic improvement. That’s different to just an upgrade or fixing some niggling problems. It means: using IT to make a significant change for the better.
For many organisations, the digital transformation journey begins with small operational improvements and evolves into wider business change driven by data, automation, and customer experience.
That may just mean simple IT done well – that’s surprisingly rare! Or it may mean genuine technology innovation, something that is breaking new (or new’ish) ground.
800 million jobs lost to automation by 2030.
Every digital transformation journey looks different, but successful organisations share one thing in common: leadership teams that take action early, experiment often, and align technology with business goals.
1. Look outwards
Draw inspiration and new ideas from outside. Look at other companies, other sectors, other countries. Think like an outsider. Rebel against what has become normal in your company.
2. Mobilise your entire company
You cannot make radical change alone. You will need to engage your entire Board and your entire workforce. Digital transformation is a cultural change.
3. Think like your Gen Z and Millennial customers
Understand what your customers value and identify how much of your company’s effort is really focused on meeting this.
4. Don’t let risk rule your business
If you could quantify and manage risk accurately, could you radically improve pricing and service? Do risks in your business activities prevent growth?
85% of UK citizens use smartphones.
5. Radical internal redesign
Integrate more closely up and down your value chain to reduce cost and time, add value, build barriers for the competition, and improve customer lock-in.
6. Use artificial intelligence and automation technology
What are the root causes of errors, waste, or delays? Can machine learning, language processing, robotic software, blockchain, or bots allow you to automate your business or simply declutter it so your people can focus on what matters?
7. Data visualisation can bring about revolution
Up-to-date, accurate information can be revolutionary. Identify what real-time dashboards would allow you to delegate more authority to managers. Use this as the starting point for your systems strategy.
8. Automate fulfilment and focus your people on real service
Identify functions that should be self-service for your customers and free up your people to focus on outstanding personal service when it really matters. Every one of your customers, suppliers, partners, and staff has a smartphone in their pocket. Are you there?
9. Monetise your intellectual property
Can you create software to capture the knowledge and expertise in your team to lock in your customers, create new licence revenues, or build business value beyond the individuals you rely on today?
10. Remove barriers to your business being the leader
Understand your strengths and what prevents your company from becoming the industry leader. Whether it’s lack of finance, lack of vision, or legacy beliefs, there is always a way through these barriers.
Your digital transformation journey does not have to be complex or overwhelming. With a clear vision, the right leadership, and practical next steps, transformation becomes achievable, measurable, and commercially meaningful.
Imagine tomorrow morning you see that one of your competitors has made a radical change that leaves you behind.
Be the one who does this.