Digital transformation may seem like something that can be grasped intuitively, and contacting a digital transformation consultant is often the last thing on managers’ minds. However, the fact that they use the newest digital tools or apps doesn’t mean that they don’t need a professional adviser to fully understand the tech revolution and make the most of it.
A good IT consultant can help businesses of various sizes and industries select the new technologies they should use. Equipped with the right expertise and experience, IT advisers assist their clients in successful digital transformation. IT consultants deliver a precise digital strategy and knowledge that helps customers make well-informed, optimal tech decisions – and increase companies’ digital capabilities and business value in the long run.
This article will delve into the role of IT consultants in digital transformation, including how they can help businesses adopt new technologies, streamline processes, and improve customer experiences. It will also discuss the challenges and opportunities that come with digital transformation and how IT consultants can help businesses navigate them.
Table of contents:
1. Digital transformation in a nutshell
2. Digital transformation: how IT consultants can help
3. Digital transformation consulting services – wrap up
Digital transformation in a nutshell
Digital transformation is something we’ve been hearing about a lot recently, but it’s not just a buzzword. It’s something of great importance and grave consequences that affects businesses in all areas and takes them to a whole new level. However, not all digital transformations succeed, so it’s good to minimize the risk by gathering all information possible.
In brief, digital transformation may be boiled down to „the process of using digital technologies to create new – or modify existing – business processes, culture, and customer experiences to meet changing business and market requirements”.
Digital transformation is also the hallmark – and the core – of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (or Industry 4.0) which is believed to transform the lives of humans throughout the XXIst century. Some of the technologies that drive it include cloud computing, robotics, 3D printing, the Internet of Things, cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data analytics, Blockchain, and virtual reality.
In many ways, digital transformation is also an end-to-end approach to doing business. It is, in fact, a business transformation as these new intense processes concern the way companies operate – manufacture, enhance, supply, and sell products, and let their employees communicate and run projects better.
Although new technologies are vital to digital transformation, there’s something else that makes it what it is. New corporate culture – that drives people to rethink everything and do things differently – is another crucial element of digital transformation. And AI, IoT, or VR are just a means to experiment, innovate, and challenge the status quo.
Challenges and opportunities for businesses
Such groundbreaking changes can be beneficial business-wise, but they are also very demanding and may pose a threat to the company’s stability in the long run. Business owners and managers may need an IT consulting partner to both go with the flow and weather the storm together.
Seizing opportunities and taking chances is not easy when you’re overwhelmed with a huge number of new digital technologies and don’t know what to start with. In fact, the number of possible solutions and available tools can be paralyzing, and overcoming this state may be a true challenge.
Digital transformation initiatives and digital transformation efforts are desired and beneficial but cannot be made at random; a good digital innovation consultant is needed. You cannot just jump in and innovate, or try to streamline the processes in your organization without a thought behind it. IT consulting partnership will help you plan the digital transformation strategy in advance as well as implement it.
Schedule a free IT consulting session with Codete's Consulting Manager if you need help developing a prototype for your next digital product, streamlining your software development process, or improving your infrastructure.
Digital transformation: how IT consultants can help
There are at least several ways IT consultants can help you start making use of digital transformation – which often means rapid experimentation – with a bang.
Creating a digital transformation strategy
Implementing digital transformation is not a piece of cake, and the whole process of taking consecutive steps in that direction, called the digital transformation journey, requires bold moves on one hand and caution on the other. But, most of all, it requires a roadmap that only IT consultants with huge expertise and vast experience can provide.
A real digital transformation depends upon a thorough business strategy, and an IT consultant is the person to reach out to when you need one. It’s best to contact a digital adviser when you’re planning your business, but if you want to switch to digital transformation at further stages of the company's existence, that’s also possible.
Adopting new technologies
You must have heard about Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Augmented Reality, and perhaps also about cognitive computing, quantum computing, or digital twins. These are some of the technologies that are revolutionizing the world, also the world of business.
But how can you be sure which digital technology will suit your business needs best?
It’s easy to pick some of the trending technologies blindly, but selecting the most appropriate ones for your stack and making the most of what Industry 4.0 has to offer is way more difficult. An IT consultant will help you understand all benefits of adopting particular technologies, and what’s best in your case.
Streamlining processes
One of the most desired outcomes of adopting digital transformation is streamlining processes and increasing efficiency, e.g., through automation. Performing a thorough audit – something an IT consultant can help with – is a starting point for enhancing these important processes.
As for companies that create digital products or services already, the improvement may concern, for example, streamlining workflows or some vital software development processes. Thanks to it, the work on the product can become way more effective.
Improving customer experience and UX
Digital technologies also cover customer profiling, Big Data analytics, and advanced data visualization. Making use of huge amounts of data means getting to know an organization’s clients and the whole business environment better. This can easily be translated into customer experience improvement, as digital transformation is often about creating more modern digital versions of existing products – or even totally innovative ones.
Also, user experience – something that’s become vital in the information age – can go through a true revolution thanks to the use of the professional digital transformation consulting service. IT consultants can advise which technologies or techniques available can make the UX remarkable.
Minimizing the risk
Cloud computing, smart sensors, mobile devices, location detection, and similar technologies may be a blessing for any modern company, but they may also be a curse. On the one hand, they let you create (or use) novice products and services, but on the other – they potentially open your door to intruders.
One of the biggest pain points of digital transformation is security concerns. The number of possible threats in this area is truly mind-blowing. They are overwhelming for many business owners who feel the need for digital transformation but don’t know where to start to be on the safe side. Listening to IT consultants’ advice may minimize this risk and another one, too.
A staggering 70% of digital transformations fail, and one of the reasons for that is the lack of experience and knowledge to draw upon. Professional IT advisers have them both, and they may also indicate what skills and expertise the client’s team members should have to make success more probable.
Digital transformation consulting services – wrap up
Digital transformation is a multi-faceted process that encompasses all areas of running a business, and what managers are often able to see is just the tip of the iceberg. Luckily, there are fully-fledged specialists – digital transformation consultants – that know all ins and outs of the whole process and are able to guide you through it.
They can serve as professional advisers, shedding light on particular aspects of digitalization, in line with the client's needs and business goals. Their services may cover, for instance, digital transformation strategy consulting, assistance in digital innovation, and business transformation as a service.
Digital transformation advisory provided by digital transformation consulting firms is definitely something to consider if you want to be ahead of the curve and succeed. Any company – be it big or small – that wants to transform business to digital, or start it with a bang, should take a chance of discussing things with a professional IT consultant.
Want to make sure that your company grasps all the benefits of digital transformation? Need advice on the right digital transformation strategies? If you’re interested in professional IT consulting – or consulting services of other types – don’t hesitate to contact Codete now.
