One unanticipated side-effect of the pandemic crisis for many businesses has been the accelerated rush to digital transformation. COVID-19 forced many organizations to promptly rethink their business models and find ways to use advanced technologies to support new realities such as distributed workforces. Most companies found themselves lacking the tech infrastructure to support remote workers and cloud computing. While some companies plan to go back to an in-house work environment post-pandemic, many have already announced their intention to adopt at least a hybrid workplace. If you’re one of them and are looking for ways to digitally transform your business, we’ve got you covered.

Why Digital Transformation is Key to Post-Pandemic Success

Despite the pandemic, it’s estimated spending on digital transformation technologies and services grew 10% in 2020. That’s a good sign more companies are moving to become more agile and digital-centric in their operations. It’s also evidence that businesses are realizing that going through a digital transformation can generate enormous benefits.

• Digital transfrmation is helping employees be more effective. Digital solutions make managing a dispersed workforce much smoother and help employees become more successful in their jobs, in and out of the office.
• Automation is providing valuable opportunities for core business functions like HR, finance, and customer service to move away from manual processes so employees and leaders can focus more on broader business opportunities and initiatives.
• It’s strengthening business partnerships as firms become more reliant on each other to produce the diverse range of products and services customers expect.
• It’s helping to meet customer demand for a user experience that’s easy and satisfying no matter where they are, what time it is, or which device they’re using.
• Up-to-date security technologies are keeping remote workers on personal devices and networks secure and safe.

Lastly, when you digitally transform your business, you’re able to make better decisions faster. With data and analytics at the center of your digital transformation strategy, you gain valuable business insights you can use to make more informed, quicker decisions. By leveraging AI and cloud-based technologies, you’re able to use big data to make better, faster decisions that result in progress and growth.

How To Digitally Transform Your Business

In a recent Gartner survey, 60% of CEOs report they’re betting on digital transformation to spur innovation and growth. The respondents were employed at companies of varying size, industry, and revenue. Leaders say they expect to spend the next year working hard to understand what a post-pandemic world will look like so they can reimagine and redevelop their mid and long-range business strategies.

As you prepare to digitally transform your business, keep these essential steps in mind.

• Decide what “digital transformation” signifies to your organization. Just because a technology exists doesn’t mean it’s a must-have to achieve your goals.
• Evaluate your company’s existing capabilities and identify where technology can replace or assist operations already in place.
• From front-end transformations such as customer experience and new products to back-end changes like cloud and IT infrastructure, establish how you’ll go digital. For instance, is it a good strategy to redesign products to have digital components? How can you harness the benefits of big data and the cloud? Will digital solutions like chatbots and virtual assistants help you improve the customer experience?
• Get executive buy-in. Without support from the top, getting a digital transformation off the ground is unlikely. Getting buy-in can take time, so once you have a digital transformation plan formulated, this should be your next task.
• Create a digital technology roadmap that lays out what you plan to change first, what changes will have the biggest impact and drive the most value, and what possible blocks there are to transformation progression.
• Ensure you have the right skills in place. Successful digital transformations depend on cutting-edge and emerging technologies, and many SMBs don’t possess the expertise, skills, and technologies they need. Consider outsourcing to an IT managed service provider who can help you keep your transformation efforts on track.

Organizations with successful digital transformations set their sights on end results that feature prosperity and growth. If you’re looking to digitally transform your business, partnering with an IT managed service provider can ensure your digital transformation is designed to achieve your overall business objectives and secure your company’s future.