Adopting new technology is critical for business success in today’s world, but making a digital transition is easier said than done. While 89 percent of board directors say digital improvements are part of their company’s growth strategies, only 35 percent have actually achieved those goals—or are even on track to do so.
In order for a company to successfully undergo a digital transformation, it must first develop a strategic roadmap to determine what problems need to be solved and how to tackle the changes. To get started with that roadmap, managers across the company must get on board and work together.
In a recent episode of The Distillery, Megan Harter, director of the Enterprise Transformation Office at Cask, talked about how to get businesses on board with creating a roadmap and getting started with a digital transformation. With more than 20 years of experience in tech project management and strategic program transformation, Megan understands what can keep businesses from making the vital decisions that can improve their operations now and down the road. Here are three tips she gave to get everyone to buy in to a strategic roadmap for a digital transformation.
See the whole picture
Making changes within a company requires acceptance from top to bottom—from management to everyday employees. It is important for upper-level managers to see the big picture of what they want the result to look like. It is also critical to understand the little picture, or how the changes will affect day-to-day operations. Showing employees how improvements can affect their daily workload and address problems they have seen will give them personal buy-in that will help the company succeed in its transition and build up employee satisfaction.
Solving the everyday challenges employees face due to manual processes and operational silos will not only improve performance but also show people at every level of the organization that the problems they are dealing with matter and can be addressed. A recent survey by Salesforce found that 91 percent of employees reported they saved time and had better work-life balance due to the use of automated processes. Megan says when a company shows its employees that it is addressing the issues that they have brought up and their day-to-day work life will improve, it is easy to get their buy-in.
No business is too small
A digital transformation is great for big companies, but can small businesses really afford to worry about such big changes? Smaller companies can get caught up in making the day-to-day decisions to keep the business afloat and feel that big-picture adjustments can wait until they become bigger themselves. One study in the United Kingdom found that half of small businesses were reluctant to make tech-related decisions due to fear of a negative outcome.
Megan points out that this line of thinking can hold companies of all sizes back. A business is never too small to work out a roadmap for where it wants to go and how to get there. “You don’t need to have a high-profile industry placement to be able to make a difference in your organization,” Megan says. “You can start small. You can work into something that’s long term, even if it’s very small pieces.”
Any company can plan for where it wants to go, and those plans can continue to change as the business meets expectations and continues to grow. A roadmap is not a static entity: It is a living plan that can grow and change with businesses as they see their expectations realized and set their sights on new horizons.
Don’t fear technology
Technology can often be a hangup for organizations looking to make changes to their processes. Some businesses may feel as though they don’t understand new technology enough to adopt it, while others may prefer to use what they already know and love. It is also easy for businesses to get caught up in organizational silos and not appreciate attempts from the IT department to make company-wide improvements. Some businesses may even just live with the status quo to avoid the hassle of change.
These issues can get in the way of a company making strategic plans, but Megan says leaders should recognize that they can start anywhere and use what makes them comfortable. “You don’t need to let technology hinder your success or desire to really get started on something,” she says.
When building a roadmap for digital transformation, it is crucial that business leaders recognize that technology should be a friend, not a foe. Rather than viewing the IT department as pushing the company to accept complicated technology, recognize the critical role of departments working together towards a common goal. And, while the ultimate objective may be to adopt new technologies that can make a big difference in the company, the starting point can be much more simple.
The first steps of a roadmap need not be complicated—it can be as simple as sitting together in a conference room and getting ideas on a whiteboard of what the overall objectives should be. When business leaders start with simplicity, it is much easier to get everyone on board with changes and the technology it will take to get there.
Getting started on a strategic roadmap can be intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be. Businesses can start small, looking at the little picture of day-to-day work and how it can inform the bigger picture. As they look at how they want to solve problems now and down the road, they can begin to look at different solutions available to them through new technology.
Most importantly, businesses are not alone. Working with a partner like Cask will help companies solve problems with a skilled guide throughout the process. Once companies and their organizational leaders buy into building a roadmap, they can get started on the path to success.
We’re with you for what comes next
You're working in a rapidly shifting environment.
Global dynamics, AI advancements, heavy competition–the only certainty is change.
We get it. And we’re here to help you harness the full potential of ServiceNow to simplify transformation.
Let's navigate the future together.
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Dive into insights for your strategic roadmap journey. Our ebook, “Building the Case for Your Digital Transformation Project,” offers essential tools for articulating ROI, efficiency gains, and aligning strategic goals—key to securing leadership buy-in for digital transformation.
Download the ebook now to empower your business with a solid foundation for digital success.
We’re with you for what comes next
You're working in a rapidly shifting environment.
Global dynamics, AI advancements, heavy competition–the only certainty is change.
We get it. And we’re here to help you harness the full potential of ServiceNow to simplify transformation.
Let's navigate the future together.
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