Article contributed by Devin Partida, Editor in Chief at ReHack.

The 2020s will be remembered as the decade of widespread digital transformation. Businesses have been shifting to these processes more than ever before over the past couple of years. While this trend was slowly rising throughout the previous decade, the COVID-19 pandemic sparked a surge in digitalisation.

Businesses need to use the best approach possible when strategising their digital transformation. These best practices are crucial for success.

1. Put the Customer First

Companies need to put their customers at the centre of their digital transformation strategy. After all, the goal of any major transformation in business should be to improve the clients’ experiences. A digital transformation should take place behind the scenes and on the customer-facing side of the company. Before implementing any significant changes, always consider how they will impact clientele. 

2. Build a Supportive Digital Culture

Employees need to be part of the process for a digital transformation to be successful. They will feel its effects the most every day. The transformation strategy may stumble if they don’t feel comfortable with the new technology or are unwilling to adopt it. 

Businesses need to offer plenty of opportunities for training to ensure employees feel valued and prepared. Training sessions should include any new software, devices and cybersecurity practices the company is adopting.

It is also important to remember that a digital transformation has to start from the top and work its way down. Business leaders have reiterated the importance of board members and managers in a successful digital transformation. These are the people employees will look to for examples of a company’s values and priorities. 

Employees will be more willing to join if leadership shows enthusiastic and active support for digital transformation initiatives. It also reassures sceptical workers that they can go to their managers for help if they have any technical questions or issues. A successful digital transformation is a team effort first and foremost.

3. Gear up for Security

Transitioning to digital processes and tools means upgrading security practices. No digital transformation is complete without a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. The COVID-19 pandemic sparked a surge in cybercrime, particularly among phishing and malware attacks. These threats can a newly digital company. 

Strong, versatile cybersecurity practices must be woven into every element of a digital transformation strategy. For example, when employees receive training on how to use a new project management software, they should also learn how to secure their accounts for the software well. All new devices, programmes and digital services also must be well-secured, ideally with some type of multifactor authentication method.

Additionally, businesses need to have a data storage and destruction plan to ensure that company information is secure throughout its entire life cycle. Leaders who are new to digital transformation may be surprised by how fast data can pile up. Insufficient server space and poor management can reduce digital transformation initiatives' performance and pose a security risk.

4. Bring in Experts

It’s vital to put existing employees first, but hiring some experienced experts may help streamline digitalisation. The type of expert will depend on the specific digital transformation initiative. For example, a business might hire a specialist for a particular programming language or software suite. Strengthening IT and cybersecurity teams is a good idea for any digital transformation strategy. 

Hiring additional technical experts may increase the overall cost of a digital transformation, but it will ensure immediate and long-term success. Having someone already on hand to deal with issues as they come up will prevent any harmful snowball effect. Additionally, technical experts may be able to offer ideas and strategy tips from a unique perspective. 

5. Track Performance and Adapt

One of the keys to success with digitalisation is maintaining a progress mindset. Technology is constantly evolving and advancing. A digital transformation is a similarly continuous process, one focused on innovation. Businesses need to create a strategy for measuring the performance of digital transformation initiatives. Tracking and analysing this data will reveal how effective certain strategies actually are and provide insights for improvement and future endeavours. 

Business leaders have to remain open to change and be willing to adapt if their digital transformation strategy does not perform as expected. By evolving alongside technology, businesses can stay at the cutting edge and deliver the best possible experience for their customers. 

Evolving for the Digital Era

Digital transformation is vital to success in today’s business environment. Transitioning from conventional to digital processes can be challenging, but the right approach and best practices will help ensure success. The process is all about evolving so companies can continue to thrive in the digital era. Stepping into the future now will position them as leaders and innovators, willing to adapt to advance the customer experience.