Modernizing your business with cloud technology

It used to be that small and midsize business small and midsize businesses had two main advantages over large corporations; they could provide more personalized service and could make and implement strategic decisions faster. The personalized service meant they built loyal, long-term relationships that gave them valuable customer insights and business intelligence. The speed of change kept them a step ahead of the competition. But as information became digitized and front office processes became automated, these valuable advantages were lost.

Today, large corporations provide highly personalized marketing and services. In place of old-fashioned business intelligence, they utilize artificial intelligence to find and create additional value for their customers. Digitization has enabled automated processes that deliver services faster and more efficiently. Think Facebook, Google, Amazon, Netflix, and Apple. These companies defined how we now use technology to grow quickly, scale efficiently, operate simply, and communicate dynamically.

The advance of big tech and the digitization of business is no longer a new concept. However, the impact is still as potent as companies of all sizes prioritize leaner, more automated, and cost-efficient operations and a shift to remote or hybrid work models. So, the question isn’t can digitization help your business? Or how can digitization help my business? It’s what is the best approach to digitization for my business?

Digitization Begins at The Top

Business leaders need to be champions for digitization. Typically, I see that resistance to change is most ardent at the top. Staff often recognize the need for process improvements and better technology solutions before the executives. I advise the C-level staff to begin by simply embracing technology not solely as a one-off solution but as a cultural value. Be willing to evolve with technology. For example, simply switching to cloud storage can return a lot of value by eliminating hardware costs, enabling a scaled plan for growth, and allowing staff to work flexibly from wherever they are most productive.

Digitization Is a Process

Don’t approach digitization as a transformation. Instead, approach it as a process. Outside of going from an insecure cybersecurity position to a secure state, there is rarely a need to implement a business-wide transition. There are a multitude of solutions that can help improve both front-office and back-office operations. The critical thing is to begin the digitization process and reposition your business to be more productive and competitive in a digital economy.

Define Your Goals

Before you begin planning for a digital transformation, it's important to define your goals clearly. What specific business challenges are you hoping to solve with a digital transformation? How do you want to improve your operations, customer experience, and overall performance? Having a clear understanding of your goals will help you to focus your efforts and ensure that your digital transformation initiatives are aligned with your business objectives.

Assess Your Current IT Infrastructure

Take a thorough inventory of your current IT infrastructure, including hardware, software, and network configuration. Identify any existing vulnerabilities or bottlenecks that could affect the performance and security of your systems. This assessment will also help you to identify which areas of your IT infrastructure will need to be upgraded or replaced to support your digital transformation initiatives.

Conduct A Digital Maturity Assessment

Evaluate the digital maturity of your organization and identify the areas where improved technology can help your business the most. This will help you to prioritize the areas where you need to focus your efforts and resources.

Develop A Comprehensive Plan

Based on your goals, current IT infrastructure and digital maturity assessment, develop a comprehensive plan for your digital transformation. This plan should include a detailed roadmap that outlines the specific steps you will take to upgrade your IT infrastructure, implement new technologies, and train your staff.

Implement and Test

With your plan in place, begin implementing your digital transformation initiatives. Test your systems and processes to ensure that they perform as expected and that all vulnerabilities have been addressed.

Continuously Evaluate and Adapt

As the digital landscape is continuously changing, it's important to evaluate and adapt your digital transformation plan continuously. This includes monitoring for new technologies and trends, reassessing your digital maturity, and adapting your plan to take advantage of new opportunities.

Partner With Experts

While planning for digital transformation, it is beneficial to partner with experts who can help you understand the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead and guide you through the process, from strategy to implementation and optimization.

A digital transformation can be a complex and challenging process, but by following these steps, business owners can ensure that their digital transformation initiatives are aligned with their goals and objectives and that they have the necessary infrastructure, technologies, and support in place to succeed.