Having the right data is the cornerstone of a successful digital transformation project. Without it, your transfortmation will be fraught with challenges, and you are likely to be amongst the 70% whose digital transformations fail! In a 2022 McKinsey Global Survey of 2,190 companies, two-thirds reported they were merely ‘treading water,’ taking no decisive action, and consequently achieving little or no success.
One key reason for this is incomplete information and inadequate discovery. Here’s why and the steps you can take to ensure you have the right data…
Understanding the Problem
Digital transformation projects are complex and multi-faceted, involving numerous stakeholders, processes, and technologies. Decision-makers often embark on these projects without a complete understanding of the data relating to their current organisational state.
This lack of comprehensive discovery leads to devaluing the team’s efforts to deliver outcomes. underestimated scope, unforeseen challenges, and ultimately, failure. As highlighted in our research, decision-makers frequently rely on hearsay, speculation and gut feelings rather than concrete data, resulting in costly change requests and rework.
The Importance of Comprehensive Discovery
A successful digital transformation always starts with a thorough discovery process. This involves capturing a holistic view of the organisation, including processes, data and information flows, and value chains. By visualising business processes and quantifying the value of changes, organisations can make informed decisions, prioritise investments and avoid the pitfalls of incomplete discovery.
Key Benefits of Comprehensive Data Discovery
- Visualising Business Processes: Creating a Digital Twin of the Organisation captures how work is done, who does it, and the data involved. This model allows decision-makers to see a high-level overview and dive into granular details, ensuring nothing is overlooked.
- Quantitative Data for Decision-Making: You need metrics to demonstrate the benefits of proposed changes, enabling leaders to make logical and evidence-based decisions. This reduces reliance on gut feelings and increases confidence in the transformation process.
- Prioritised Roadmaps: With clear insights, you can develop prioritised roadmaps for improvement based on value. This helps in focusing resources on the most impactful areas, ensuring that efforts and investments are directed towards initiatives that offer the greatest return.
- Engagement and Buy-In: Deep engagement with subject matter experts within the organisation is crucial. By involving your team members in the discovery and modelling process, it develops a sense of ownership and commitment to the transformation journey.
- Accelerated Change: The ability to model current and future states rapidly accelerates the decision-making process. This delivers insights up to 10 times faster than traditional methods, reducing the time to decision and speeding up innovation cycles.
Real-World Impact
Several organisations have already reaped the benefits of thorough data discovery for their digital transformation projects. For instance, using LINQ, the New Zealand Defence Force improved their civilian recruitment process, saving 3,500 hours per annum and significantly enhancing productivity and employee satisfaction. Similarly, the University of Otago consolidated its procurement systems, saving 10,000 hours annually and streamlining operations. Read more here (link to case studies)
Conclusion
Digital transformation is challenging, but with the right tools and data, it can lead to significant improvements in efficiency, productivity, and business value. Carry out comprehensive discovery and get the data-driven insights necessary to navigate the complexities of digital transformation successfully. By visualising processes, quantifying benefits, and prioritising investments, you can make informed decisions and achieve your transformation goals with confidence.
Investing in the right data at the start of your digital transformation journey is not just a good practice—it’s a critical success factor that will ensure your transformation projects are well-informed, well-planned, and ultimately, successful.
LINQ manages all of this for you—quickly and easily, up to 10 times faster than more traditional methods. Get in touch to find out how we can support your digital transformation journey.