“The most common mistakes businesses make in Digital Transformation” A Summary of Tasos Taskaris’ speech at the “Total Digital Transformation 2024” Online Conference
Tasos Taskaris, Founder, and Managing Director of EXIS I.T, took the stand at the 7th Total Digital Transformation Conference, shedding light on the common pitfalls encountered by businesses in their digital transformation.
He emphasized that technology should be viewed as a tool rather than an end goal in this journey. According to Tasos Taskaris, the fundamental ingredient for achieving a successful transformation lies in having a clear vision and goal.
The speaker pointed out how the company’s extensive experience in the IT sector has revealed various challenges in implementing IT projects in the past, and today, in digital transformation initiatives undertaken by businesses and organizations.
He summarized the prevalent mistakes hindering businesses as follows:
- Insufficient understanding of the core problem that a business aims to address.
On many occasions, there is a lack of prior research & analysis, and decisions are made based solely on the beliefs of the entrepreneur or certain company executives regarding potential solutions. Additionally, there is a misconception that automating processes alone can resolve any issue, whereas automation should be seen as the means, not the solution itself. - Lack of a clear strategy and definitive business objectives.
In the realm of digital transformation, it is crucial to establish:
o The overarching strategy guiding the project.
o The desired outcomes.
o How the project aligns with specific business objectives, as measured by key performance indicators (KPIs). - Internal misalignment, often characterized by limited involvement from IT, inadequate processes, and resistance to change stemming from low staff engagement.
Participation can be fostered by:
a. Ensuring staff are well-informed about project objectives.
b. Involving employees in requirements analysis to capture the needs and challenges across different departments.
c. Presenting project deliverables in stages, allowing for user feedback, improvements, and corrections.
d. Providing training on new technologies and the use of adopted systems. - Focusing on individual projects rather than integrating them into broader roadmaps.Attempting to address short-term or urgent needs with software tools without considering their integration into a comprehensive framework of organizational changes could prove to be a setback.
- Misconception that “digital transformation” simply entails acquiring an information system or a software application.
Digital transformation encompasses much more than a software tool or a software application—it involves a holistic reimagining of business processes and operations. - The belief that companies can achieve digital transformation solely by leveraging existing staff without seeking assistance from experts (i.e., consulting firms).
- The perception that digital transformation follows a linear path with a clear starting and ending point.
Digital Transformation is an ongoing process involving continual efforts to achieve goals, adopting new methodologies, incorporating customer or user feedback, and harnessing emerging technologies. It operates iteratively, with each cycle demanding greater intensity or significant changes. - The assumption that digital transformation merely involves distributing products through alternative sales channels.
Tasos Taskaris emphasized that digital transformation is much more than that; it opens numerous opportunities for businesses, including the creation of entirely new digital products or new business models by means of adopting innovative technologies. - The misguided notion that digital transformation is inherently complex and challenging.
Contrary to this belief, the speaker highlighted that it does not necessitate drastic overhauls within a company; rather, the chosen technologies should aim to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.
In his presentation, Tasos Taskaris also outlined the steps businesses should take for successful digital transformation:
- Partnering with suitable consultants or advisors.
- Assessing the current business landscape.
- Defining clear goals across short-term, medium-term, and long-term horizons.
- Allocating adequate time and resources.
- Developing a roadmap detailing planned actions and system implementations.
- Iteratively implementing the roadmap, with a gradual increase in the intensity and complexity of actions over time.
Wach Tasos Taskaris’ insightful speech at the 7th Total Digital Transformation Conference
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