A digital transformation project should start with a strategic plan, and then the team should work on the plan once it is in place. The fact is that mistakes in digital transformation can and will be made while working on this project.

In this article, we will discuss the various mistakes that can happen when a team is creating a digital transformation path. So, we’ve listed 10 digital transformation mistakes that could derail your plans. Let’s dive in.

1 – Desire for unrealistic results on the first day

Creating a digital transformation takes time since it follows a specific flow and requires technology to be done. This process cannot move any faster as there is a journey to develop the perfect ambiance for your employees and your customers. That is why you need a plan to be followed, to avoid the anxiety of craving for unrealistic results.

2 – Lacking project plan

Without a digital transformation project plan, your organization is vulnerable to living the same day over and over again. The problem arises when there is a lack of visibility across teams and you have more than one person dedicated to the same task.

With a great plan in hand, you can avoid overlaps that might make your company less productive. You will know exactly where to start and when to end the digital transformation efforts. 

You will probably not get to an end, because digital transformation demands constant efforts, but definitely will complete phases along the journey.

3 – Not following the project steps

To have a digital transformation plan means you will follow the project steps. 

Why would you buy new databases and hardware, if you do not know which technology will be necessary to have the digital architecture in place? The same applies to software adoption or development. 

Again, avoid anxiety and stick to the plan!

4 – Not keeping up with customer needs

The customer wants to have an omnichannel experience. They need to see your brand as a single source of products, services, or solutions. To have eyes, ears and that perception of your clients everywhere demands huge digital effort. 

This means investing in software that can track the customer’s journey on every channel, to say the least. Maybe you will need to adapt your operation or product logistics. 

Each company has a path to digital transformation, and technology will keep the efforts all together.

5 – Organizational resistance

Not everyone is an enthusiast of digital transformation, as it might shake the routine and promote some deep changes in your organization. 

But going through organizational resistance isn’t impossible, it is a matter of communication. You will need to be very transparent to have everyone on the same page. So, political actions are needed to ease this scenario.

6 – Lack of skills

Companies that are promoting digital transformation face a lack of skills in the workforce sometimes. That occurs when you need to develop a specific solution, for example, to transform an amount of data in an organized stack, so you can have your spot on what matters. That is the reason why having the technology to build other solutions might help your organization.

7 – Be unaware of partnerships and benchmarking

Having partners in the process of building digital transformation in your company will help you visualize the market. Other companies focused on helping you build solutions have the knowledge to complement yours. They also can bring valuable data and information about your competitors.

8 – No change in management strategy

Sometimes digital transformation demands your directions to change constantly. That is part of the journey of creating new and disruptive solutions. So, be prepared to promote the mindset of impermanence. The change will be the key to success when the transformation is the solution.

Our tip is to build a good Change Management Strategy for your Digital Transformation journey.

9 – Being fragile and lacking resilience

Being fragile today means something different. It’s not a concept related to company size, as we see legacy companies facing the end of their business. They have been disrupted by technology companies that are willing to transform, adapt, and be resilient. There is an inability to scale innovation and too much effort spent on institutional control. 

That’s why we’re seeing a reduction in the life expectancy of S&P 500 companies because most of them have failed in their digital transformation projects and other measures. 

According to McKinsey, the life expectancy of S&P 500 companies has fallen. In 1958 it was expected they would last up to 61 years. Today they possibly will last 18 years. And in 2027 the expectation is a life of 12 years for the S&P 500 companies. 

So, being antifragile and resilient is key.

10 – Avoid building digital transformation

When you start building digital transformation you may want to give up. We know that. But we encourage you to keep moving towards the future and the success of your company. Avoiding business transformation will keep your company in the past.

Conclusion

Have you ever committed some of those mistakes? We hope not. It’s always recommended to be aware of digital transformation trends. 

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