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Digitisation has become an essential part of the business world. Digital technologies offer us so much in terms of efficiency gains and customer intimacy.
In this article, we will explore some of the key challenges you may face on your journey towards digitisation and provide you with five tips that can help you mitigate the risks and make your digitisation efforts a success. 
What is digitisation and why is it important?
Digitisation is the process of converting analog information into digital format. It is important because it allows for easier storage, retrieval, and sharing of information. Some potential benefits of digitising your business operations include increased efficiency, improved data accuracy, streamlined processes, enhanced customer experience, cost savings and the ability to leverage data for better decision-making.
Why do some businesses fail to achieve their digital ambitions?
No business is immune from the shift towards digitisation. As we witness rapid changes in technology, most business leaders know they need to keep up with the latest trends to stay competitive. But why do some digital transformations seem to go well while others fail miserably to yield the desired benefits?
The answer lies in looking beyond the technology. Digitising your business is a complex journey that requires a lot of planning and effort. Common misconceptions about digitisation include thinking it's solely about implementing new technology and that it will magically solve all organisational problems. In reality, successful digitisation requires strategic planning, involvement of all stakeholders, and the transformation of workflows and processes.
If people resist change or existing processes are flawed, digitisation may simply amplify those issues.
5 key elements of successful digitisation
Nothing in life is a guarantee, but there are ways to mitigate risks. Here are some helpful suggestions to guide your digital transformation towards success:
1 - Clarify your business strategy
It is crucial that you clarify your business strategy before investing in new technology or trying to digitise your business.
This may mean pausing before jumping on the hottest trend like artificial intelligence or robotic process automation. You need to ask yourself some key questions about how the technology aligns with your broader business goals. You should always try to clearly define the purpose and expected outcomes of these changes.
Are you optimising, innovating, attracting new customers or creating new business models and revenue streams? What are the benefits being sought?
The next part of this is to communicate your business strategy to all stakeholders involved in digitisation projects. Continuously evaluating and realigning digitisation efforts with evolving business strategies ensures their effectiveness. Additionally, setting up key performance indicators to measure the success of these initiatives is imperative for achieving your desired results.
Related - Case Study: Performance Sailcraft
2 - Involve internal stakeholders
Effective business transformations happen when internal stakeholders are involved in digitisation. People inside your organisation have developed an intimate understanding of your daily operations - far greater than any external expert can have. You want to tap into that pool of internal knowledge. Of course, you can still bring in external expertise but don’t underestimate the power of bringing people on the journey.
Engage employees at all levels to gain a better understanding of challenges and opportunities. Foster a collaborative environment where stakeholders actively contribute to planning. Leverage diverse perspectives to inform strategies and empower stakeholders to take ownership of initiatives. Create avenues for open dialogue and feedback, fostering a sense of involvement and responsibility.
This inclusive approach ensures that digitisation efforts align with business goals and are embraced across your organisation.
3 - Design for customer experience
Your approach to digitisation should incorporate user-centric design principles from the beginning. This ensures that the focus stays on improving or enhancing customer interactions and satisfaction. Before trying to enhance customer satisfaction, gather detailed input from customers. Interview a broad range of stakeholders and adjust processes based on their feedback. Leverage these customer insights to inform your strategies and decisions, and continuously iterate projects based on feedback.
Additionally, incorporating customer journey mapping can further improve digitisation outcomes and ensure a seamless experience for customers.
By prioritising the customer experience in your digital transformation, you will foster stronger connections and loyalty.
4 - Acknowledge employee concerns
In addressing the impact of digitisation on employees, it's crucial to proactively acknowledge and alleviate their fears and uncertainties. That means be upfront and address employee fear of job loss due to automation or apprehension about learning new ways of working. Clear communication and support mechanisms play a pivotal role in supplying reassurance and fostering a sense of security during times of change. Acknowledge concerns and highlight digitisation as a genuine opportunity for skill enhancement and new ways of working.
Offering training and upskilling opportunities shows your commitment to mitigating the impact of digitisation on the workforce while empowering them for the digital age. Enable employees to connect their strengths to Digital components, fostering ownership and innovation. Establishing a forum for transparent discussions enables employees to voice their concerns and feel valued in the digitisation process. 
Recognising and celebrating employee contributions further reinforces their vital role in successful digitisation initiatives.
5 - Adopt an experimentation mindset
Adopt an experimentation mindset as part of your culture. Leadership must embrace agility, rapid prototyping, and flat structures. Traditional hierarchies can hinder quick decision-making and experimentation necessary for customising digital technologies. Instead, foster a culture of innovation and learning through small-scale digital experiments.
Related – Leadership 4.0. the digital revolution and ESG change
Embracing failure as a learning opportunity in the digital journey can lead to valuable insights. Encouraging a test-and-learn approach helps continuously improve digital processes. You can also use the data and insights gained from digital experiments to inform future initiatives.
Related - Leadership 4.0 - The digital revolution ad ESG change
Embracing an experimentation mindset allows for iterative improvements and agile adjustments in the digitisation process, ensuring adaptability to changing requirements.
Successful digitisation is not just about the technology you use; it requires an integrated approach that addresses the key challenges and incorporates these essential tips. By clarifying your business strategy, involving internal stakeholders, designing for customer experience, acknowledging employee concerns, and adopting an experimentation mindset, you can navigate your digitisation journey effectively. Remember, the success of digitisation lies in aligning people, processes, and technology towards a common goal.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you need expert guidance or support in your digitisation efforts, don't hesitate to contact us. RSM experts will work with you to clarify your digital ambition, determine what is possible and devise a strategy to achieve it.
