Flexible and Agile: Two Keys to Successfully Achieve Digital Transformation

A digital transformation is underway, taking place on a massive scale and a global basis. A growing number of connected devices and applications, combined with a subscriber- and service-based content economy, have necessitated a number of changes in the way networks are architected as well as how data is delivered, consumed and paid for. This perfect storm of disruption has resulted in a digital transformation that is completely changing network infrastructure and the technology world at large.

According to research from IDC, 60 percent of the top 1,000 enterprises in the APAC region will make digital transformation a key part of their corporate strategy by 2017. In tandem with this phenomenon, Manik Narayan Saha, CIO of SAP for the Asia Pacific and Japan regions, believes there are three key components for organizations undertaking a digital transformation.

The live enterprise is an idea that is rapidly catching on as networks transform and companies embrace the digital economy. Built on flexibility and adaptability, the live enterprise emphasizes personalized customer experiences, an engaged workforce and a streamlined supply chain. The concept focuses on agility with an eye toward change in the future along with the ability to continuously customize and evolve to meet customer and business demands.

Digital Business Networks are slated to become the marketplace platform du jour in the era of digital transformation, acting as a gateway for global consumers. These networks will promote collaboration among government agencies and businesses ranging from startups to multi-national corporations, keeping business outcomes, agility and collaboration at the center of planning and strategy. These changes and transformations will also elevate cyber security to an even higher priority position than it has been previously.

“The pace and scale of change that digital technology is enabling means organizations must adapt to remain relevant,” wrote Jonas Bogoshi, country manager for southern Africa at EMC, in Gadget magazine. “And they must use digital technology to do so. In short, digital transformation is now a business imperative.”

Bogoshi believes a majority of worldwide enterprises are poised to completely overhaul their digital customer interfaces as well as their customer engagement systems. As part of this transformation, customer services are slated to become more agile and personalized, while workforce processes and procedures are becoming more efficient and streamlined.

For any organization set to take on digital transformation, Bogoshi advises first and foremost the adoption of a risk-taking attitude. This type of wholesale change is simply not possible without flexibility, agility and an open mind. Businesses also need to emphasize data, creating new services and procedures around data pipelines to maximize productivity and innovation. Big data and analytics will also play a pivotal role as the digital transformation gains momentum. Similarly, companies need to update their data centers to handle the millions of devices and the massive amounts of data traversing networks.

The digital transformation is already well underway, but it is certainly not taking place overnight. With the proper planning and prioritization, organizations can capitalize on the benefits and value of network transformation while updating their digital infrastructure to meet the demands of tomorrow’s technology economy.

Edited by Maurice Nagle