Digital First - The six realizations to Transform Your Business

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I could finish this book flat 4-5 sittings. Very engaging and it’s written as a story. Authors have showcased a fitness company undergoing digital transformation combined with real world use cases. You can visualise typical corporate style politics, concerns, bureaucracy, resistance for change, ROI, quarterly results, firing people, external intervention etc., and how they have been addressed by using various frameworks to succeed in Digital First journey.

It’s definitely a handbook / ready reckoner for businesses wish to pursue digital first journey. ?I am just sharing few take aways / extract from this book:

Purpose – Every Organization has a soul and purpose for why it exists. An organization that defines their purpose with absolute clarity inspires employees to do something greater, the kind of mindset that makes them believe a cultural shift is possible. These organisations can harness the power of purpose to drive performance and profitability and enjoy a distinct competitive advantage. Purpose driven organisations are more likely to win – they attract best talent, unify efforts, inspire richer innovation, make faster decisions, are more trusted, have greater loyalty and attract larger investments.

What is Digital? Digital enables company to achieve its purpose by creating new business models, reimagining customer experience, and increasing employee productivity.

What is Digital Mindset? They are curious about digital and keep track of new emerging tech innovations. They marry business with digital elegantly, promote experimentation and they leverage data to refine the digital solution.

First Digital-First Realisation

Purpose – Organisations must create Transformative Customer Centric Purpose that goes beyond profits.

Second Digital-First Realisation

Dichotomy of Digital - Organisations must focus on digitising the core business while also exploring new digital business models across the value chain they serve. Both are necessary for the transformation to succeed.

Third Digital-First Realisation ?

?The real measures – Measurement and metrics must focus on what you are transforming with digital – core business vs new business – and how quickly are you transforming with digital, not just ROI.

Fourth Digital-First Realisation

Innovation Pods – Deploy small autonomous teams composed of customer obsessed intrapreneurs to deliver digital initiatives.

Fifth Digital-First Realisation

Digital Innovation Approach – Solve customer problems rapidly with the five step Digital Innovation Approach – a. Frame the Challenge b. Know the Customer c. Idea to Solve the right problem d. Envision a Cover Story e. Create a service blueprint.

Sixth Digital-First Realisation

Digital Governance Model – Accelerate the digital first journey through a clear set of Guiding Principles and a multi-faceted Digital Governance model that guides the Innovation Pods and removes blockers.

A tech-first approach is a perfect recipe for disaster. In this approach, tech is force fit to bring digital into the fold. A customer-first approach will increase the probability of success and adoption of digital interventions. When you are obsessed with the customer, whether internal or external, you will lead with the empathy and identify relevant digital interventions to address the unmet and unarticulated needs of the customer.

Digital Transformation is a long and complex journey. Often one might feel dejected and want to give up midway. It is critical to stay put and stay the course. Carve out 30/60/90 day plan and clearly define outcomes. Small wins, as you move along, will act as a boost to push things forward.

Some jargon from book -

Neophiles – Someone who is attracted to novelty and newness. Someone who ready to explore newness with a growth mindset and who brings tech interventions to business.

Digital Alchemist – someone who transforms things for the better with digital.

We bought few books for our team and all started reading this book.?This book can help in realising ?The Art of Possibility. ?We had a pleasure of interacting with Vamsi Guntha, Autor of Digital First who shared with us Digital Product Innovation Principles. It was very interactive and enriching.

With the advent of Industry 4.0 and acceleration of Digital Transformation by manifold in the post covid era every business needs to reinvent and to become Digital. Am sure this book gives road map ??for many businesses.

Congratulations and best wishes to Vamshi and Shahrul on bringing out this fantastic book. We look forward ?for more such books.?