It plays a key role in ensuring that companies are able to be innovative, creative, productive and crucially, remain competitive. With more than $2 trillion to be invested in digital transformation by 2022 and companies already spending up to a third of their budgets on digital-first initiatives, the pressure is on for business leaders and IT decision makers to ensure that these initiatives are a success.
From complex integration with legacy systems to a lack of knowledge and resistance to change, businesses need to balance the expectations against the realities of digital transformation. If executed correctly, digital transformation has the power to be the shining light for businesses and the UK economy.
Digital transformation: the need for a helping hand
Riverbed’s recent Rethink Possible: Visibility and Network Performance research report revealed that some digital transformation projects have produced unforeseen IT challenges, underpinned by the widespread pressure to ensure that the IT department generates a significant return on investment for these initiatives and that they fuel business growth.
For many, this is being driven by a lack of preparation for these disruptive technologies and not being realistic in terms of the scale of change that is needed within a business.
With over half of IT decision makers across EMEA spending up to 30% of their IT budget on progressing digital transformation projects, it is vital that businesses set expectations early across the business and have the right technology in place to ensure this investment drives growth.
Slow running systems impacting digital transformation
A key aspect of successful digital transformation initiatives is having the infrastructure in place that can support the increase in services, new processes and optimise the digital experience.
At present, this infrastructure is often not implemented in a way that supports transformation initiatives. Three-quarters of respondents to Riverbed’s survey reported feeling frustrated by their current network performance, with IT infrastructure being given as the key reason for the poor performance.
This is believed to have a direct impact on productivity, creativity and innovation, with almost half of the C-Suite (49%) respondents to Riverbed’s Rethink Possible report believing that slow running and outdated technology is directly impacting the growth of their businesses.
It’s clear that organisations can’t shy away from implementing new technology, and digital transformation, if they want their company to succeed.
But, this technology must go beyond improving performance, it needs to deliver visibility into the whole digital journey itself in order to troubleshoot problems quickly. Only then, will businesses be able to avoid issues and ensure they see the benefits of digital transformation.
As business priorities evolve, technology needs to follow
An overwhelming 80% of business decision makers and 77% of the C-Suite surveyed in the Rethink Possible report believe that investing in next-generation technology is vital. But with these new priorities come the need for change, collaboration and a commitment to having the right infrastructure that will maintain performance and visibility.
In these challenging times, businesses, more than ever, need to focus on effective planning and preparation to ensure the success of their transformation projects. It is no longer enough to invest in digital transformation as just a solution to driving innovation, productivity and creativity.
It needs to be a holistic approach, with the benefits communicated across the organisation. This ensures that everyone is brought into making these initiatives a success and prepares employees for any challenges that lay ahead.
Digital transformation is inevitable for business success
There is no denying that digital transformation initiatives are both inevitable and necessary for business success. However, for the adoption of new technologies to successfully come into fruition, the implementation of the correct foundational network infrastructure must go hand-in-hand with the onboarding of new initiatives.
With the appropriate network support in place allowing for full visibility and communication across a business, digital transformation will empower organisations to enhance their competitive position in their market sector and expand their footprint.
To have true success, businesses must understand that having comprehensive visibility into their network performance is just as crucial as the new digital transformation initiatives themselves. It is this understanding that will be the key for organisations in driving the innovation, creativity and productivity needed to future proof their business and thrive during these difficult times.
