10 Digital Transformation Mistakes to Avoid
May 20 -2023
Most companies that start today already use cloud-based programs and are on top of tech trends for organizations. But when it comes to older, more traditional business, digital transformation can be more of a challenge.
Implementing digital transformation to replace long standing processes, while you’re trying to run a busy and successful business is definitely a challenge. A digital business transformation strategy is essential, and while you’re creating it, make sure you avoid these digital transformation mistakes:
1. Not Creating a Plan
You wouldn’t start a business without a business plan, and you shouldn’t start implementing digital transformation in your organization. You need to know what your goals are, what you plan to do, and how you plan to roll out the new technology you want to start using. Don’t do anything until you have a digital business transformation strategy in place.
2. Doing Everything At Once
Trying to implement all the new tech trends for organizations at the same time will only result in chaos. While it’s fine to be excited about technology, you need to do things in stages, so you can manage all the changes that are happening.
3. Not Having a Realistic Budget
You wouldn’t start a business without a business plan, and you shouldn’t start implementing digital transformation in your organization. You need to know what your goals are, what you plan to do, and how you plan to roll out the new technology you want to start using. Don’t do anything until you have a digital business transformation strategy in place.
4. Not Engaging with Employees
Many tech trends for organizations are designed to lower costs and improve productivity. It’s one of the big reasons for traditional business digital transformation. However, you will need to invest time, energy and money to get that labor and time saving software and equipment. Make sure you set aside a reasonable budget for your SaaS transformation.
5. Not Preparing Enough
Traditional business digital transformation will change the way you operate, smooth out bumps in the road and give you tools to do things better and faster. However that won’t happen overnight. There will be teething problems, but proper preparation for the big changes you’re making can help. Consider how you can keep running your business and delivering your products and services while you work through this change.
Preparing your business to work through the challenges of a big change like this helps to ensure you can keep delivering what your customers want and need, even when you run into the occasional hiccup.
6. Not Doing Enough Research
Just because some cloud-based platforms are the most popular in their category does not mean they are right for your business goals and SaaS transformation. Every business is different, and different combinations of software and technology are required for each one.
You need to research what each platform or tool does, as well as how it integrates with the other options you’re considering using. Maximizing automation and integration is another important part of implementing digital transformation that you should not ignore. Many systems can “plug into” each other, speeding up processes and reducing human error.
7. Ignoring User Friendliness
Investing in and implementing digital transformation to further your business goals without considering user-friendliness could be a very big waste of money. Overly complex systems that your team can’t master quickly is likely to create more resistance, and resistance to change is one of the biggest reasons these kinds of transformations fail.
You need to select software and tools that are easy to use and master, and that have sufficient support and training options. If your people are frustrated and confused, they won’t want to use your new systems.
Work with a Transformation Professional
8. Overestimating Your Technical Abilities
While many companies do successfully manage their organization’s digital transformation in-house, there are also many that lack sufficient technical skills. If your IT department is not up to the challenge of rolling out your digital transformation on its own, bringing in external help can make the process go a lot smoother and much easier.
The time you will save will often offset the additional cost of hiring a team to help with your business transformation strategy.
9. Underestimating the Timeline
The next big challenge that many businesses face when implementing digital transformation plans in their organization is underestimating the time, they will need to complete the process.
The timeline will vary depending on the complexity of the systems you’re implementing, your existing infrastructure and how large your organization is, but in most cases, you can expect to have several months of implementation and transition ahead of you.
10. Using Too Many Vendors
You might think it makes sense when you’re planning a traditional business digital transformation to use many different vendors. You might even save a little money that way. However, the more companies and service providers you have in the mix, the harder it will be to coordinate all the different parts of the process.
Work with a Transformation Professional
Now that you know some of the pitfalls you might be facing when you’re implementing digital transformation in your organization, you might want to consider working with a digital transformation professional like Seeed.
If you are planning to do anything more than signing up for a few cloud-based platforms, getting help for a broad, company-wideSaaS transformation makes good business sense.
We work with companies who are hoping to implement new technologies to take care of the selection and roll-out of the right kinds of software and equipment. So you can focus on your business goals, while we take care of the transition. Contact our team to find out how we can help you.
