Identifying the lapses in digital transformation process
In today's digital age, many organizations are grappling with the concept of digital transformation – a new approach to doing business that lacks a universally accepted definition. Despite this, it's clear that digital transformation is essential for staying competitive.
One area primed for digitization is meetings, an essential yet time-consuming element of organizations. On average, office workers spend around nine hours each week preparing for and attending meetings. Yet, digital transformation has yet to significantly impact meeting processes in many organizations, leaving a digital hole that could be addressed.
Meetings, particularly in areas like governance reporting, remain resistant to digital transformation due to various factors. These include entrenched team silos, lack of cross-functional alignment, employee resistance, gaps in digital skills, and inadequate change management strategies.
To bridge these digital holes and enable a more thorough, holistic use of digital tools, organizations should:
- Foster cross-departmental alignment with a clear, enterprise-wide digital vision and governance model.
- Implement structured change management practices that communicate the purpose and benefits of transformation early and often.
- Invest in upskilling employees to improve digital readiness and confidence in new tools.
- Include employees at all levels in the transformation planning and execution.
- Utilize a digital transformation maturity model to assess progress, identify gaps, and create a clear roadmap.
By addressing these challenges systematically – breaking down silos, managing change proactively, upgrading skills, and embedding digital transformation in organizational culture – businesses can close digital holes in functions like meetings and governance reporting and unlock the full potential of their digital investments.
While some organizations have made significant strides on their digital journey, there remain elements that resist digital transformation. However, the benefits are clear. Digitization could address the unnecessary drain of time in meetings, particularly for administrators and senior management, freeing up valuable resources for other tasks.
In the broader context, digital transformation has significantly changed communication, marketing, and day-to-day operations in many organizations over the past decade. Mobile and flexible working, as well as marketing and customer experience, have shown enormous advances in the use of digital technology. Given the way people live their lives in 2017, using digital tools for various activities like shopping, banking, and communication, digital transformation is considered crucial.
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[1] McKinsey & Company. (2018). Bridging digital holes in the enterprise. [online] Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/bridging-digital-holes-in-the-enterprise
[2] Deloitte. (2018). The digital transformation of the enterprise. [online] Available at: https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/digital-transformation-of-the-enterprise.html
[3] Accenture. (2018). The digital transformation of the enterprise. [online] Available at: https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insight-digital-transformation-enterprise
[4] PwC. (2018). Digital transformation: A roadmap for success. [online] Available at: https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/services/consulting/digital-transformation/digital-transformation-roadmap.html
- To boost efficiency in business operations, especially in areas like meetings, organizations might benefit from integrating digital technology, as seen in successful transformations in communication, marketing, and day-to-day operations.
- The increasing importance of technology in various aspects of life, such as shopping, banking, and communication, underscores the critical role of digital transformation in the finance sector, aiding businesses in staying competitive and maximizing their investments.
