Agile in Digital Transformation

What is Digital Transformation?

Digital transformation is the process of upgrading legacy systems and manual processes to digital ones, to meet evolving customer expectations, automate tasks, and drive productivity. Consumers seek innovation. They want shopping experiences that are fast and convenient. Research shows brands with strong omnichannel customer engagement strategies retain around 89% of their customers, in contrast to 33% of companies with weak strategies. It’s all about being digitized which means adopting digital innovations like virtual assistants, robots, drones, AI, or augmented shopping experiences (and so forth) as consumers seek the comfort, excitement and instant gratification that comes with digital service. Tools include customer relationship management (CRM) software for retaining and attracting customers. If you’re a financial institution or large healthcare company you’ll want machine learning systems that help you collate, secure, analyze, distribute and automate your Big Data in real-time to compete. For retailers, it’s plugging into an e-commerce platform that helps your company stay relevant as you scale across both physical and digital landscapes. Most businesses have a robust social media presence. On top of that, you need cybersecurity solutions to protect you and your client from being infiltrated by malicious actors. It’s a race. Those that implement new technology as well as optimize their legacy systems win.

Unfortunately, it’s not easy. You need the right digital transformation strategy to guide you. That’s where agile comes in.

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Agile Methodology

Agile methodology is a method of project management that emphasizes flexibility and collaboration. It is distinguished by iterative and incremental development, in which requirements and solutions emerge from the collaborative effort of self-organizing and cross-functional teams. Agile methodologies are most used in software development but can also be used in other fields. Individuals and interactions, working software, customer collaboration, and responding to change are the four values outlined in the Agile manifesto. Agile methodologies are commonly used in software development but can also be used in product development, construction, and marketing. Furthermore, Agile is the foundation of several specific methodologies, including Scrum, Kanban, and Lean.

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Biggest challenges of digital transformation include coming to grips with complex software and technology, learning new tools and processes, negotiating security concerns, dealing with budget restraints, navigating resistance to change, and adapting technology to customers’ changing needs. Most of all, there’s the need for a simple but effective change management strategy.

?Agile provides the perfect solution with its iterative time-boxed approach which helps teams practice their new skills. Agile is open to failure, encouraging legacy companies to improve their skills. It’s customer-centric, including clients in its deliberations therefore more likely to please them. The team moves on only after all security concerns have been resolved.

Most of all, the agile approach provides the perfect risk-free solution in that it splinters digital transformation into short manageable phases, where the team learns from their results before moving on. Less money is invested since mistakes are fewer and projects usually end up delivering value to users.

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The agile approach to digital transformation

• Adaptive in contrast to following a plan.
• Self-managed in that it’s controlled by the team at all levels in contrast to manifesting top-down executive control.
• Periodically assessed and reviewed by the team in contrast to undergoing metric evaluation.
• ?Identify the purpose of your business upgrade. Know your value proposition.
• Include Security Champions in your team, so security remains one of your topmost concerns.
• Stimulate proactive cross-department collaboration, seeking input not just from IT but from inter-and intra-department experts and from external stakeholders too.
• Encourage stakeholders to share their anxieties and concerns.

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Benefits of Using Agile in Digital Transformation

Agile is a project management methodology that prioritizes flexibility, collaboration, and customer feedback. When implementing digital transformation initiatives, using Agile can bring several benefits.

Faster time to market: Agile methodology prioritizes the delivery of working software, which means that organizations can get new products and services to market faster. This is particularly important in today’s fast-paced business environment, where being first to market can give organizations a competitive advantage.

Increased flexibility: Agile methodology is designed to be flexible and adaptable, which means that organizations can respond quickly to changes in requirements or market conditions. This is crucial in digital transformation, as new technologies and business models are constantly emerging.

Improved collaboration: Agile methodology strongly emphasizes collaboration and cross-functional teams, which can help organizations break down silos and work more effectively together. This is particularly important in digital transformation, as it often requires teams from different departments to work together to deliver new products and services.

Agile methodology encourages close collaboration between the development team and the customer, which can help ensure that the final product meets the customer’s needs. This is crucial in digital transformation, as it often involves the development of new digital products and services that are intended to meet the needs of a specific customer or market segment.

Better risk management: Agile methodology allows teams to work in short sprints, which means they can quickly identify and address any issues that arise. This helps organizations manage risk, as they can adjust their plans or pivot to a new approach more quickly.

Improved efficiency: Agile methodology promotes continuous improvement, which can help organizations identify and eliminate inefficiencies in their processes. This is particularly important in digital transformation, as new technologies can often help organizations automate and streamline their operations.

?Using Agile methodology in digital transformation can help organizations deliver new products and services faster, respond to changes in requirements more quickly, work more effectively as a team, and improve the customer experience. Additionally, Agile can help organizations manage risk, improve efficiency, and continuously improve the process.