Google, Amazon, Uber, Facebook, and Twitter are some of the major tech companies that have fundamentally changed society. Streaming subscription-based content directly to people’s TVs, computers, and mobile devices was an obvious disruption to the brick-and-mortar video rental business. This is called digitization: the process of converting information from analog to digital. “In many areas, CIOs and organizations have prepped their organizations for change but haven’t made the full leap to transforming their culture to fully embrace the change.”. What is digital transformation?Why does digital transformation matter?How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed digital transformation?What does a digital transformation framework look like?What role does culture play in digital transformation?What drives digital transformation?What are the key trends in digital transformation in 2020?How can I measure ROI on digital transformation?How can I get started on digital transformation?Where can I learn more? In response to dramatic disruption, many organizations have undergone a healthy re-negotiation of their relationship to digital technology – prioritizing “hey, it works!” over “after years of slaving over this initiative, we’ve assembled the very best bells and whistles.” The “working software” lionized in the Agile Manifesto is getting a true moment in the sun.” (For more, read Swift's full article: Digital transformation: 5 ways COVID-19 is forcing positive changes.). In the last two to three years, dozens of industries have begun research into the effectiveness of blockchain, and it has had the greatest impact on supply chains. Just as a mutual fund manager or venture capital firm would look at overall performance to determine how well things are going, digital transformation leaders must take a holistic view of digital change efforts. You need to have leaders that know what “good” looks like and who are motivated to help the organization understand why you’re doing what you’re doing.”, “This will become apparent when you hear things like, 'Hey, we’re working with your team and it feels different,' or, 'We can’t believe that IT delivered this project early and it met my business needs. Below is a collection of stories and digital transformation case studies you can explore further. At the same time, digital transformation fatigue also became very real.” It's a good time to ask yourself if your team is getting tired or less engaged. That’s what you can outsource.”. As more of the workplace is outfitted with this kind of technology and the tools to analyze data improve, expect companies to find even more avenues to optimize their services. If you look at the vast majority of startups, they’re not starting with giant, shrink-wrapped software packages as the base of their company. Red Hat and the Red Hat logo are trademarks of Red Hat, Inc., registered in the United States and other countries. The old model was to wait for customers to come find you, whether in person or by calling an 800 number. More attention to long-term value of digital intiatives. Melissa Swift, who leads Korn Ferry’s Digital Advisory for North America and Global Accounts, agrees with Swanson's take that that the word "digital" has  a problem because it means a lot of things to a lot of people. Progressive companies embrace social media as a chance to extend their service offerings by meeting customers on their platforms of choice.Â. Discover the secrets to IT leadership success with these tips on project management, budgets, and dealing with day-to-day challenges. How has the skill set changed? Backing these transformative platforms are thousands of coders, scientists, and researchers, who spend years building new technologies designed to address any and all human concerns or needs. Embracing streaming also led to Netflix looking at what else it could do with the available technology. For CIOs, this means rapid experimentation is no longer optional. Try Salesforce Essentials today. Computer operating systems were even designed around icons of file folders to feel familiar and less intimidating to new users. SEE: America's coolest company: How Big Ass Fans went from cooling cows to a multinational tech powerhouse (cover story PDF) (TechRepublic). 4G was a game changer because it was faster and more reliable that anything 3G could offer, providing somewhat of a replacement for slow fixed-line broadband; it was also significantly cheaper than 3G. They can improve efficiency, power new products and services, enable new business models, and blur the boundaries between industries. Why people love to hate digital transformation, CIO role: Everything you need to know about today’s Chief Information Officers, Worldwide Digital Transformation Spending Guide. Blockchain has invaded almost every industry because of its wide applicability to almost any business that needs a more organized supply chain or increase verification. Delivered Tuesdays and Thursdays. Read also: CIO role: Everything you need to know about today’s Chief Information Officers. Morgan Stanley recently called the 2010s "the data decade." Various trademarks held by their respective owners. If all of this makes you feel woefully behind, fear not. Note the word established in that definition: Digitalization isn’t about changing how you do business, or creating new types of businesses. Like The Enterprisers Project on Facebook. An important element of digital transformation is, of course, technology. That is table stakes. Moreover, as we recently reported, “Digital transformation efforts are ongoing and evolving, which can render traditional business value calculations and financial governance approaches less effective.”. Leaders need to be fully aware of this reality as they frame conversations around digital transformation. But often, it's more about shedding outdated processes and legacy technology than it is about adopting new tech. Digital transformation is imperative for all businesses, from the small to the enterprise. It's also worth noting that today's organizations are in different places on the road to digital transformation. SEE: How blockchain will disrupt business (ZDNet/TechRepublic special feature) | Download the free PDF version (TechRepublic). It's easier for enterprises to make sound long-term decisions when leaders are using accurate data that has been analyzed and sorted. If you are feeling stuck in your digital transformation work, you are not alone. Enterprises are using AI for everything from security to human resources, allowing computers to handle tasks that have become costly or redundant. The introduction of widespread cloud computing has democratized data collection and increased the capacity of enterprises, allowing companies of any size to forgo the need for costly IT infrastructures and cumbersome maintenance regimens. It's also a cultural change that requires … A business may take on digital transformation for several reasons.