It is pretty hard to establish a precise definition of digital transformation. This is due to the fact that digital transformation appears differently for every company. However, digital transformation is generally defined as meshing digital technology into every aspect of a business or an enterprise. This meshing brings about fundamental changes in the operation and delivery of an enterprise.

In other terms, digital transformation is a cultural change that demands organizations to experiment often and challenge their status quo. In some cases, this could mean turning back on some business processes that has been the custom for a long time.

Author Greg Verdino also talked about digital transformation as bridging the what between what analog businesses deliver and what digital customers expect.

Digital Transformation Framework

Digital transformation often differs when it comes to businesses and organizations. This is due to their specific demands and challenges. However, studies have shown that there are frameworks that have been put in place. Businesses and organizations are however advised to consider this framework before embarking on digital transformation. Below is a list of these frameworks.

• Leadership and culture

• Agility in operation

• Enablement of workforce

• Experience of costumers

However, it is important to note that each of these frameworks comes with its recommendation and varying steps. So businesses and organizations can develop their own strategies in using this framework.

Leading a Digital Transformation

It is not news that customer expectations often vary. To meet these expectations, Chief information offices (CIO) align with key executives of the same organization. This alignment brings about organization changes, setting up if innovation labs, and experimenting with new technologies to accomplish strategic mandates given by their boards and CEOs.

Before embarking on digital transformation, companies should answer the critical question of what business outcome they hope to achieve for their customers. It is also important to understand your customers' lifecycle and journey map.

Consider the process involved in settling an insurance claim which could take about 14 working days and lots of paperwork. Thanks to mobile applications and algorithms, settling claims can now be done in a few minutes.

Tips in Digital Transformation

There are several tips to take note of in digital transform. A few of these tips are details below.

Making Accountability

Make sure to know who is responsible for a particular job. Companies have to be accountable for everything. This will help in bringing the kind of change they want.

Ruthless Focus

You might want to start from scratch or transform an existing business. Either one of your choices, it is important for leaders of the company to reach an agreement on the best path to follow.

Boldness in Setting your Scope

Most successful digital transformations tend to be more enterprisewide in scale compared to others. So boldness is required in setting the scope of the business as well as making incremental changes. This will also help CIOs in pinpointing their biggest bangs from the tech investment they've made.

Consider Adaptive Design

The days of rigid key performance indicators (KIP) and upfront investment are over. Adaptive design helps CIOs to pursue transformation strategy tweaks that are monthly or weekly. This also helps CIOs to reallocate talent.

Embrace Agile Execution

For a successful digital transformation, it is important to encourage risk-taking. You can even give low-level employees a chance of making decisions. This will help in your learning process.

Disrupt Yourself

For you to succeed in digital transformation, you have to make some preemptive changes. This decision of making changes is better than reacting to pressure from competitors. It is also important to when to make preemptive changes.