Digital Transformation – Where To Start

A company seeking to stay ahead of the competition and utilise every available resource in the modern age needs to embrace the most beneficial systems and infrastructure available to them. Every business is different and has different needs, but nearly all businesses can benefit by altering their operations and embracing, at least in some part, the benefits of modern data storage operations. Cloud storage solutions have clear advantages in accessibility, security and scalability when compared to traditional data storage solutions, but it is important to remember what you need in the initial stages of looking toward a digital transformation.

Understanding the Process of Digital Transformation

Moving a company into a digital space, whether partially or completely is an extremely complex process involving changes to many processes and operations. Even relatively simple transitions can be difficult when considering all the factors involved. Many companies experience interruptions to their usual services or delays in normal operations when undergoing a digital transition and it is important to understand some of the issues involved.

Whilst they are highly dependent on the service requirements of the customer, the changes involved in moving to a digital space are widespread and often have unforeseen effects on parallel processes or even some unrelated processes. Established measurements of success and performance can be affected and a digital transformation will often require a re-assessment of common company metrics. So how can a company make this transition effectively?

Understand the Needs of Your Company

Even something as simple as a company moving data storage to the Cloud involves understanding how that will affect the day to day operations of a company. Every company is different and when considering how best to move your company to the Cloud it is important to understand what processes and operations can and should be moved to the platform.

An increase in ease of access has led to mass adoption of consumer-based Cloud storage, but business facing Cloud solutions require support and specialised knowledge to be effectively integrated into the existing processes of a business or company.

Considering how some companies have been adversely affected by their transitions to a digital platform, it is of primary importance to first understand your company or business and the needs it has in relation to the digital space.

Meeting The Needs of Your Company

Companies that are beginning to store data on Cloud-based services must consider their specific needs, from access times, data capacity, speed of transfer, redundancy and general accessibility. Making a greater digital transition requires a complete understanding of how new processes will replace old and how the new systems integrate into the overall functionality of the company.

Understanding this initial requirement is a massive and daunting step, and an incomplete understanding can lead to a digital transition being rushed or seeming unapproachable. Factors such as computing power and the increase it is having over time cause rapid changes in both software and hardware, but these are factors that affect many companies, not just those moving to a digital space.

Maintaining Digital infrastructure

A digital transition is an ongoing process. Just as traditional on-site data centres require specialist staff and infrastructure, costly in both money and expertise, modern data solutions have different expenses. While having massive advantages in scalability and accessibility, cloud systems comparatively have hefty upkeep requirements both in terms of cost and adopting current technology standards.

The infrastructure of the digital platform, both in terms of hardware and software, is changing constantly over time. Understanding and remaining ahead of these changes is critical for any modern company in the digital space.

A digital transformation is not temporary. Taking advantage of digital infrastructure in any capacity requires an understanding of the current digital environment and knowledge that those changes will continue.

 

This is the first part in our series on Digital Transformation. If you want to read more before our next update please see Adapting to Change in the Industry, with insights from Change and Transformation Management Expert Kerryn Fewster; or book a free consultation with Digital Sense.