3 Tips to Accelerate Digital Transformation

The pandemic forced most companies to adopt new technologies to improve remote and distributed collaboration, communication, and access to information while their workers were out of the office. However, the other challenges that arose during the pandemic – such as reduced customer trust, supply chain issues, and economic uncertainty (and now inflation) – accelerated digital transformation at an unprecedented rate. 

But not all companies implement digital transformation roadmaps equally well. Since we’ve seen some (contactual) issues arise where companies have implemented technologies that aren’t serving them as they expected, we’re sharing some tips for businesses looking to successfully accelerate digital transformation. 

3 Tips for Businesses Looking to Accelerate Digital Transformation

1. Link Digital Transformation to Business Goals. 

With the vast number of new and valuable technologies being developed, it can be difficult to focus on impactful implementation. 

Your company should develop a strategy that links digital transformation to key business goals. Engaging in this planning activity provides the focus you need to make changes that make a difference – and, importantly, ignore the products that won’t move the needle (or at least, not as far). 

2. Don’t Digitize Poor Processes. 

Unfortunately, technology isn’t a cure-all for poor processes or poor performance. It’s important that you routinely look at your organizational processes and consider what’s hindering them and which aspects might be improved. Then, you can implement those changes in processes alongside technologies that boost the impact of them.  

Data silos are a good example of this. Data silos refer to situations where certain people or departments store data that would be beneficial for others in the organization in places that are otherwise inaccessible. They’re particularly problematic where companies have multiple offices – or when team members work remotely or in a distributed environment. 

Introducing a centralized database (usually through a new software) is the antidote to this, but it’s  only effective to the extent that your team members keep it updated, accurate, and accessible. This may require a change in document naming conventions – so all team members use the same system to name documents which makes them easier to search. It may also require team members to change where and how they save documents and other information (to the cloud, instead of to the desktop directly). However, once these processes change and the technology is utilized for its purpose, your team will have easier access to more accurate data – which can offer huge boosts in productivity. 

3. Always Consider How New Technologies Impact Your Cybersecurity and Planning. 

Third-party data breaches pose significant risks to organizations (like the massive Accellion data breach). So, choosing reliable and secure third-party technologies is crucial to your organizations success and to your data compliance program. 

When choosing third-party providers, you should: 

• Implement data minimization and other strong privacy practices. 
• Require service provider  to adopt and maintain strong privacy practices (through your contracts). 
• Engage in periodic audits evaluations of your service providers.
• Prioritize providers which have achieved leading security certificates.

You should also ensure your digital transformation planning considers what happens if/when your technologies fail. As the adage goes, “if you fail to plan then you plan to fail”. Whenever you implement a new system, you should consider its weaknesses and what impact any interruption in service would cause to your business. Then, plan for those circumstances. 

If you need assistance evaluating third-party digital services providers, reach out. Our seasoned commercial attorneys would love to help.