Why Digital transformation is going to be big in 2018

2018 will force decisive action for firms looking to digitally transform, revitalise customer experiences, and take control of their destiny. I recently read a report by Forrester hailing 2018 as The Year of Reckoning for Digital Transformation. At the end of last year, Compu-Stor launched its digital transformation division, Digital Transformation Solution, DTS.

So, is 2018 going to be a big year for digital transformation?

We think so. 

Last month, Tech Republic release a list of eight digital transformation resolutions for CIOs in 2018. Most interestingly in the report is that not one of the resolutions was in the physical implementation of digital transformation. They are around building a strategic plan, getting management buy-in, ensuring lines of communication are open and how to overcome internal resistance. This says to me that companies know they will benefit from digital transformation, but there are a lot of hurdles internally, that need to be overcome first. 

The business case for transformation is clear for all to see, however for most companies across Australia, they are still struggling to deliver on their digital agenda.

Digital transformation brings with it a series of considerable challenges. From culture to limited skills sets, outdated business processes to legacy systems, these challenges are large and there is no quick fix to success.

In 2017, some large corporations and government departments announced large digital transformation projects - Australian Immigration department, Sydney Water and ANZ to name a few. These are behemoths of Australian industry with internal IT departments that would be larger than some Australian medium sized businesses.

The learnings from these larger corporations are invaluable, and will help to develop solutions for medium sized businesses, who would greatly benefit internally and through increased customer positive experience with their brand.

As a country Australia is, in some ways, at the fore of digital transformation. However, for 2018 to truly be the year for digital transformation, businesses of all sizes need to adapt the change and embrace the benefits.

For the record, the Top 8 Digital Transformation resolutions for CIOs in 2018 were

1. Define what digital transformation means for your organization
2. Develop a strategic plan
3. Orchestrate your digital transformation projects to your strategic plan
4. Obtain buy-in from leadership
5. Overcome employee resistance and provide training
6. Keep lines of communication between IT and other departments open
7. Vet your vendors for digital commitment
8. Accommodate the needs of your external customers and business partners

 Digital Transformation isn’t just about knowing where you want to be, it’s about understanding and overcoming the huge challenges in getting there. 

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