When you go into a fast food restaurant these days, you might find yourself ordering at a kiosk instead of talking to a cashier. If you’re in the market for a new car, the sales rep at the dealership might have a tablet so that they can check inventory, offer virtual test drives, and come up with quotes on the spot.
These are both examples of digital transformation. New technologies and trends such as the growing prevalence of mobile devices, the emergence of the Internet of Things, and the skyrocketing popularity of the cloud have changed how we live and work. Customers’ expectations have shifted, and businesses must adapt in order to survive and succeed in an increasingly virtual and digital age.
If you’re seeking guidance on your digital transformation journey, here are the answers to some essential questions you might have about the concept and process.
What is digital transformation?
Essentially it’s the use of new technologies to transform business processes and culture, boost efficiency, and improve the customer experience (CX). Successful digital transformation promises benefits like greater revenue and increased productivity.
Embracing new technology has also become vital as CX becomes increasingly important in the business world. By 2020, the vast majority (81 percent) of marketers in charge of CX anticipate competing mostly or entirely based on that factor, according to Gartner.
By leveraging tools like the tablets mentioned earlier in this article, you can give consumers what they want quickly and easily, which will likely lead to more sales.
Why should my organization care about digital transformation?
As mentioned earlier in this blog entry, new and emerging technologies influence the expectations of your current and prospective clients. For example, due to the growing number of people who own smartphones and other mobile devices, having a mobile friendly website has basically become mandatory for anyone who wants to show up at the top of Google results.
Your customers’ expectations will continue to change as new types of tech transform their lives, and you’ll need to adapt to deliver a top-notch CX and ultimately stay in business.
A lack of flexibility and failure to integrate new tech into your business processes could have grave consequences. Consider how Uber and Lyft have affected the taxi industry, or how Amazon has impacted companies across various industries, from booksellers to department stores, according to Business Insider.
How should my business approach digital transformation? Where should we start?
Digital transformation is far from easy. The concept can seem extremely broad and difficult to tackle. In fact, even organizations in tech savvy industries like telecom, high tech and media have a maximum success rate of 26 percent in their digital transformation efforts, according to research conducted by McKinsey & Company.
Partnering with third-party experts can make the digital transformation journey much easier for your company. Our team of expert consultants have experience working with a wide range of IT solutions from provider in our partner network, allowing them to serve as trusted advisors to our clients.
We can assist you in creating a transformation road map, including technologies such as the cloud, mobile device management solutions, automation, the Internet of Things, and more. Call 877-599-3999 or email sales@stratospherenetworks.com to get started today.
