A bed time story about digital enablement

Many research and articles on business on digital enablement say that its only requirement is to make use of the latest technological advancements. Adopting new technologies, however, is only one aspect of the complex process of digital transformation. To fully utilize the potential of digital tools and capabilities, digital enablement necessitates rethinking business procedures, improving client experiences, and even completely reworking business models. In the brave new world of digital enablement, businesses are being told to rethink everything—from procedures to client experiences—all while holding onto the illusion that they know what they're doing. Gone are the days of simple efficiency; now, it’s all about leveraging cutting-edge buzzwords and trendy technologies, even if no one quite understands them. First, let's talk about rethinking business procedures. It's not about making them better; it's about making them incomprehensible. Who needs clear steps when you can have convoluted workflows powered by AI that require a PhD in Data Science just to understand? It's a surefire way to keep employees on their toes and clients eternally confused. Improving client experiences is next on the list. Forget about actual human interaction; that’s so last century. Instead, let’s bombard clients with chatbots that can barely comprehend basic queries and automated systems that redirect them to oblivion. Because nothing says "we value your business" like making customers navigate a labyrinth of digital dead ends. And then there's the pièce de résistance: reworking business models. Why stick to tried-and-true methods when you can pivot to something completely untested and impractical? Let’s ditch reliable revenue streams in favor of experimental blockchain ventures or virtual reality storefronts. After all, what could possibly go wrong?

?The real joy of digital enablement lies in its ability to mask sheer incompetence with a veneer of innovation. CEOs can now pontificate about "digital transformation" while watching their companies spiral into chaos. It’s not about actual improvement; it’s about looking busy and tech-savvy. Meanwhile, consultants are having a field day, charging exorbitant fees to tell businesses what they already know: that they’re hopelessly out of their depth. But hey, as long as there’s a fancy PowerPoint presentation involved, who’s complaining?

?In this digital utopia, the goal isn’t to thrive but to survive the onslaught of ever-changing technologies and jargon-filled strategies. So here's to rethinking, improving, and reworking—one misguided digital initiative at a time. Cheers to progress!

The Digital Enablement Journey: Where It All Begins

the common narrative on this is that "Your digital enablement journey begins with assessment and planning, where your organization evaluates its current state, defines its digital vision, sets clear objectives, and devises a roadmap for implementation. This phase involves identifying opportunities for innovation, understanding customer needs, and aligning digital initiatives with overarching business goals."

In my jargon this means :

Your digital enablement journey begins with a grandiose phase of assessment and planning. Here, your organization pretends to evaluate its current state, only to realize it has no clue what that state actually is. The digital vision is defined through a series of buzzwords and vague promises, usually culminating in something that sounds impressive but means absolutely nothing.?

Next, you set clear objectives—like "increase synergy" and "leverage big data"—without any real plan on how to achieve them. This step is crucial for creating a facade of progress while ensuring that no one is accountable for actual results.

The roadmap for implementation is then devised, resembling more of a labyrinth than a clear path. This roadmap is filled with colorful charts and timelines that will be obsolete within a month, but they look fantastic in meetings.

Identifying opportunities for innovation involves a lot of nodding and agreeing in brainstorming sessions, where everyone proposes ideas that are either impossible to implement or have been tried and failed a dozen times. But hey, it's the thought that counts, right? Understanding customer needs is the next step, which often means hiring consultants to tell you what your customers have been screaming at you for years. These insights are then ignored in favor of whatever trendy tech solution the CTO read about in a tech blog last week.

Finally, aligning digital initiatives with overarching business goals involves a lot of hand-waving and PowerPoint slides. Business goals, of course, are as nebulous as possible to ensure that any digital initiative can be retroactively declared a success.

In the end, your digital enablement journey is less of a well-planned expedition and more of a haphazard stumble through the latest tech fads. But don’t worry, as long as you keep using phrases like "digital transformation" and "innovation pipeline," no one will notice that you’re just winging it. Welcome to the future!

The next stage is implementation and integration. During this stage, the strategies outlined in the planning phase are put into action. This involves deploying new technologies, redesigning processes, and integrating systems to enable seamless operations across the organization. Collaboration between cross-functional teams, effective change management, and continuous monitoring of progress are essential during this phase to ensure successful execution.

Ready for the final stage? Once the initial implementation is complete, the focus shifts to optimization and scaling. This stage involves refining processes, optimizing systems, and scaling digital initiatives to drive sustainable growth and competitive advantage. At this point, ongoing evaluation, iteration, and adaptation to evolving market dynamics and customer needs are crucial for success.

Thats another bed time story.