If your business is undergoing a digital transformation, you’re not alone. In a recent survey, global research and advisory firm Gartner claims that 91% of organizations are engaged in some type of digital initiative.The top digital transformation trends reveal that digitalization is continually growing more important to keep up in such a fast-moving and competitive market. However, there are a lot of challenges and hurdles involved if your company does not take digital transformation initiatives seriously. Most organizations have high digital transformation aspirations, yet many of those will fail to reach the true potential of their goals. Gartner elaborates that although 87% of senior business leaders claim digitalization is a priority, only 40% of organizations have reached scale for their digital initiatives. With proper planning and the right strategy in place, digitalization does not have to be difficult. Here are the 4 toughest challenges of digital transformation and how to overcome them.

1. Defining measurable goals and targets

One of the biggest challenges is keeping your transformation from stalling out or completely derailing. Without a definition of what the digital journey looks like for the business, it is easy for the vision to get hazy and confusing during the process. Having the will and aspiration to start a digital transformation is only half of what is necessary for success. It is important for the organization to define their goals, set targets and metrics, and then measure and analyze the efforts taking place to ensure that the transformation is on track. Measurable goals is the key word here and the best way to achieve realistic and sustainable success.

2. Integrating legacy assets with new technology

Digital transformation does not mean throwing out everything from the old system and replacing it with a new one. In fact, doing so might mean disaster for your transformation. New technology tools should enhance legacy assets as much as possible. However, integrating new processes with the old system can be challenging. There are likely to be delays, redundancy, and confusion until employees get up to speed with the changes taking place. Training employees and providing them with tools for success is just as important as making sure the new technology is an improvement and not just for show.

3. Having a short term view and narrow scope

Planning the first few months of a digital transformation can feel like a monumental task, but the biggest mistake you can make is not planning out a long-term strategy. Unfortunately, one of the challenges of digitalization is the inevitable project fatigue from the amount of people working over a long period on the transformation initiatives. Not preparing adequately and not having a long-term strategy in place can lead to months of effort and resources going to waste if things come to a halt. Having a narrow scope for how the digital transformation will affect the company and not taking advantage of the new opportunities presented is also a waste of your time and money.

4. Updating the culture and overcoming hesitation

Proposing a transformation might be met by a lot of hesitation from employees. Fixed mindsets make it more difficult for employees to learn and adapt to changes, and getting everyone on the same page is important for a successful transformation. Digital transformations affect every aspect of the business. However, company culture is much more difficult to change than technology. Smooth transitions require an accepting and enthusiastic company culture. If you do not have one, then it is a must that you create one. Early training sessions and preparing employees for the future of work ahead of time can help them overcome hesitation. Encouraging cross-team collaboration is helpful for a successful transformation as well as empowering employees.

As technology continues to improve and change, company-wide digital transformation creates more innovation opportunities. Using an innovation management platform can help your business overcome the challenges of digital transformation and also take advantage of these new opportunities. Initiatives to improve how your company works should be exciting and not a worrisome headache. Using the right tools makes this process a success without all the hurdles that slow down change. The goal is to stay ahead of the competition and be an industry leader, which makes efficiency and speed critically important. To schedule a free consultation with Planbox to discuss your business needs, click here.

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