Column: Digital Transformation Forum

Digital Transformation Basics

Author: Alan Rotenberg Managing Director - Technology Practice

What Does Digital Transformation Mean?

Digital transformation is a catch-all term in the business (and especially consulting) world for a fundamental, sizable shift in how a firm or industry conducts business, typically driven by innovation and rapidly changing customer expectations. In non-consulting parlance, just think "Big Change," and you’ve pretty much got it.

Corporate digital transformation is a huge subcategory of the consulting industry for the simple reason that large organizational changes are hard, and businesses need help putting them into motion. Any business that hasn’t already been pressured to change its way of doing things prior to the advent of Artificial Intelligence (in particular Generative AI) certainly, is faced with a hard choice: change or risk getting left behind.

Just about every study or survey out there agrees that most digital business transformation projects fail. Business leaders know this and will go to great lengths to mitigate risk. And yet, success rates remain depressingly low. I won't bore you with the dozens of "why projects fail" diagnoses, because every project, every team, every business is different. But, spoiler alert: it's what you'd expect -- lack of clear vision, insufficient C-Suite buy-in, poor technology, bad communication, misalignment with business strategy, and so on.

In future articles, we will delve into more detail on the various aspects, processes and digital transformation technologies that lay the groundwork for successful digital transformation strategy and projects. For now, I will provide an overview of the key elements business and technical leaders should keep in mind when selecting digital transformation partners:

#1 Choose a Trusted Partner, not a Vendor

Vendor relationships are typically based on cost and quantifiable benefit. For example, is it worth the money to upgrade ERP systems? Should you nearshore or offshore a department? Is it worth augmenting your software team with remote resources to get a project done sooner or more cheaply?

In contrast, IT digital transformation projects are, by definition, big and risky. You want a partner who is aligned with your success or failure, and (ideally) willing to share in the risks and rewards. At BD Emerson, we are thrilled to have clients who have built amazing businesses and often are excited to invest in them ourselves!

‍#2 Trust takes time and is often earned and lost at key moments

As with all worthwhile relationships, trust is earned by being there for each other when it really matters, not just during the daily grind. Whether it's a major outage or preparing for a contentious board meeting, the right partner will step up and go above and beyond when it counts. Look for partners who are flexible early on and are willing to entertain lower stakes "first date" engagements prior to signing larger, longer-term contracts.

At BD Emerson, earning our client's trust is THE foundational element of our success. Competence and know-how are obviously important and part of what sets us apart -- but trust is the sine qua non. This is true across all of our practices (we also do Cybersecurity, Compliance, Audit/Assurance and Data Privacy!).

‍#3 Enthusiasm, Curiosity, Conscientiousness and Intellectual Firepower

The digital transformation space is saturated with firms boasting pedigree, process, experience, and track record. Don't get me wrong -- those are important signals. But they are no substitutes for bringing in a team with a palpable culture of collaborative problem-solving. Look for signs that they obviously enjoy working together and view their work as a lens to learn about the world. If you spot a natural dragon slayer, be sure to pounce on the opportunity! Joking aside, if you find yourself thinking, "I would never bet against this person or team,” that's a strong sign that they know their stuff.

I hope this article provided a better picture of the basics concerning digital transformation initiatives and the important elements to consider when selecting a consulting partner. The prospect of creating a digital transformation roadmap may seem daunting, but our team of experts is ready to help you throughout the journey from start to finish.

‍Want to learn more?

Visit our Digital Transformation Services page and book a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!