5 Reasons Your Organization Needs to Be Discussing Digital Transformation

Digital transformation is a buzz term that has been in the IT spotlight for a couple of years now. And while everyone may be tired of hearing about the “disruption” that’s coming for them, there really are some amazing things happening beneath the hype. Real business cases are developing and companies should be looking closely to see what they can gain from digital transformation. With that in mind, here are my top five reasons I share with my customers in making the case for digital transformation.

1. The UX Rules

The user experience (UX) drives new and relevant companies. This is a no-brainer for companies that utilize e-commerce (Amazon, Overstock, Walmart, etc.) and mobile (Uber, Netflix, Match.com, etc.) for their primary revenues, but is becoming relevant for companies that deal in B2B as well. Look no further than Salesforce.com (SFDC) to see what happens when a “software company” embraces digital transformation to provide a B2B UX that truly fosters a community, not just a product or service. Between their partner community, platform services and API integrations, they offer a way to digitally transform through learning, connecting, building and integrating to existing IT skill sets. What does your company do around its B2B user experience to differentiate from your competition?

2. Consumerization of IT Has Prevailed

People will use what they know, whether the IT team sanctions it or not. This is a huge double-edged sword, but let’s focus on the positive side of the blade: Less user training! Digital transformation should start with devices and services that coworkers already use. Leveraging the consumerization of IT is imperative. This can be done several different ways, but could include: creating BYOD initiatives, implementing cloud-based messaging platforms, utilizing centralized Enterprise File Sync and Share (EFSS), employing user-friendly identity solutions and more. The idea is to take away the months-long (or years-long) “think tank” exercise and address the simple question: What problem are we solving for, and what will our users actually use?

3. Data-Driven Revenue Is Now Imperative

For many years, data analytics was only available to companies with coffers of cash available to ensure they stayed ahead of the competition. Now, with new software and the ability to access resources on-demand, the playing field has been leveled. Cloud is a pivotal piece to many aspects of digital transformation for just this reason. I no longer need “big iron” on the back end to crunch and run data just so I can find sales trends, spot production inefficiencies or use my ongoing data for predictive analytics. Using these digital records is critical to maintaining relevancy and to encouraging growth. A question to ask yourself: How is my organization using data to drive revenues this year?

4. Access to Resources Is No Longer a Barrier

Digital transformation is the train car we’re talking about hitching a ride on, and cloud computing is the tracks for the express train. Simply put, there has never been a time in computing history where access to scalable and elastic resources have been so abundant and on demand. Period. This takes what was for years an insurmountable steel wall and crushes it like an aluminum can. Cloud is not the answer to a drive toward digital transformation, but the backbone of getting there. Is hardware one of the reasons holding you back from new digital opportunities?

5. Connected Products Lead to Better Outcomes

While we have more existing data than we ever have in history, not all of it is good data. Connected products and the Internet of Things are the bridge that connects the old world to the new world. Connected products force a digital transformation of existing processes and offer a slew of benefits, whether they’re used to decrease production failures in manufacturing, to track patients in a maternity ward, to streamline a national trucking logistics network or even just to keep your home at the most cost-effective and comfortable temperature. Connected products offer a gateway to a radical shift in how real-time data can be used. How could connected products help you to drive revenues, lower costs or create efficiencies?

Learn more about CDW’s digital transformation solutions and services.