Businesses have experienced a significant shift in their operations over the past few years. The 21st century has been characterized by many tech-related changes. For instance, data management is now more efficient and secure than before, thanks to reliable computer servers and programs. Communication within and outside business premises has also improved, hence, guaranteeing higher productivity.

Are you in the process of starting your business and wondering why you’re not getting the expected results?  Well, there are many possible reasons why this is happening, and one of them could be your mode of operation. If you’re still dependent on older technologies, like manual dialers and other outdated equipment, you might want to rethink your choices. With many businesses investing in digital transformation, it’s upon you to also take the same step if you’re going to efficiently meet modern customer demands. 

That said, how and where should you begin your business’s digital transformation?  Here are some of the main steps that you ought to take:

• Review Your Workplace

Before you begin your digital transformation, it’s imperative that you assess the situation at your company. After all, you wouldn’t want to spend money on areas that aren’t broken. During the evaluation process, ask yourself where changes are needed, and whether this move would have a positive impact on the overall business operation system. 

For instance, are there tasks that need to be outsourced?  If so, which options do you have to ensure success?  For one, you can hire a managed service provider, like Simplus, to take care of this bit of your digital transformation. Apart from outsourcing part of your projects, you should also ask yourself whether or not your employees will benefit from a project planning app, intranet, and a video chat system. 

On the customer’s side, what are some of the things that require urgent attention?  Is the ordering system working at its optimum?  Are there customer complaints or suggestions that haven’t been met?  You need to answer all these questions before you can think of moving to the next stage. By going through all these assessment tests, you’ll have a good idea of both short-term and long-term tech-related needs of your business. 

• Initiate A Gradual Change

Since most of the things you’ll introduce are entirely new in your business, it’s important that you do so in a controlled manner. This way, your employees and customers will have enough time to adjust from the old systems. It's recommended that you communicate to all stakeholders about your intentions and when you’re planning to start the process. Remember, people are more likely to accept change quickly when they’re aware that it’s around the corner. 

Apart from prior communication, it’s also a good idea to start training the employees. With every digital transformation project, new equipment and features are introduced. Therefore, there are high chances that your personnel might not be well-versed with the new technology. Educating the employees on the new changes will help reduce any form of anxiety or intimidation they might be feeling.

• Only Select Relevant Tools

Once you’re done with the training process, it’s now time to bring in the new equipment. The market today is filled with many digital tools, and that’s both an advantage and disadvantage. Of course, it gives you a wide range of options, but that’s only a good thing when you know what you’re looking for. Unfortunately, many people are easily swayed by what they come across with in the market and may end up purchasing extra equipment or tools that won’t be useful to the process. 

To avoid this problem, it would be a good idea to consult experts on what your company needs for proper digital transformation. This way, you’ll know which tools to buy and which ones to ignore even when the sellers try to convince you. At the end of the day, you’ll save money and time. 

• Analyze The Progress

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a startup company or a seasoned business owner, data analytics will always be an important step in digitization. Productivity, quality of products, customer satisfaction, and profitability are some of the metrics you should measure to understand how digital transformation has impacted your business. After doing so, you can make adjustments wherever possible to help you meet your long-term goals. 

Conclusion

Before fully diving into digital transformation, it’s important to first assess the situation at your workplace. Note down all the changes that ought to take place and start initiating a slow change. Once everything is set, you should make sure that you track all operations to know if this move has any positive impact on the productivity of the personnel.