Technology is having a monstrous effect on businesses and our lives. Howbeit still a lot many business owners don’t consider technology as a major business investment, leave alone considering it as an imperative expense.
What is Digital Maturity?
In simple terms, “Digital Maturity” is the aptitude of an organization to accord to and leverage on the technological innovations that are impacting the business market.
In the current business world, there are hardly any companies that don’t purchase digital tools and services periodically. So, does that mean all present companies are “digitally matured”? Certainly not.
A large number of them shell out on software updates and purchases just because they are left with no choice. Nonetheless, some companies do show a striking advertence in technological innovations.
Therefore, it is crucial to understand that digital maturity is a long but attainable process. To achieve digital maturity, a company should act in accord with the below three criteria:
- They should be aware of the technological innovations in their business and be ready to have a tech-centric approach.
- They should have a precise purpose-driven technology transformation strategy in place.
- The company should be data-driven.
Why Digital Maturity is Crucial?
There are 3 primary reasons why digital maturity is all the more crucial for a business to stay above the rest:
- Technology to enhance efficacy:
Increasing your digital maturity and embracing technology transformation means higher levels of accuracy. When you shift away from manual processes, you can be assured to provide an error-free service to customers (both internal and external). Coordination and communication get easier than never before.
- The business world has transformed:
Technology has transformed our demands and expectations as consumers, employees, and business partners. We hold more power at our fingertips. We demand companies provide us an error-free and impeccable customer experience.
- Technology to survive:
At present we might discuss digital maturity as a requisite to provide a competitive edge over competitors. Nonetheless, with the way the world of business is evolving, digital maturity will eventually become a necessity for survival.
Drawing Out Your Digital Maturity Blueprint:
There are primarily 4 steps to ascertain before you plunge into your digital transformation journey.
Step #1 Evaluate your current Digital Maturity level:
Evaluating your company’s current Digital Maturity level via a “Digital Maturity Assessment” is the ideal way to draft your digital transformation journey. You need to be aware of where you are to understand where you want to go.
Step #2 Reappraise your organizational framework
Before you get your digital transformation blueprint in place, you need to ensure that your organizational framework is ready for the transformational journey.
Digitally mature companies are not guided by hierarchies, rather they work through a multi-functional approach involving coordination and communication amongst various teams.
Step #3 Draft your Digital Transformation Blueprint
What calls for an effective digital transformation strategy? Well, the answer lies in your company’s adeptness to embrace a futuristic view and establish areas where digital technologies can have a strong impact.
Click “DIGITAL MATURITY MODEL” to get your digital transformation blueprint.
Step #4: Commence small
It’s prudent to start small. While implementing your digital transformation blueprint, it is always better to start with a small project, just to ensure the blueprint is on track.
And remember the project your choosing should be relevant enough to guide you to implement your blueprint on a large scale.
The 5 Phases of Digital Maturity:
Having discussed Digital Maturity and the directions of achieving it, we can classify any organization to be in one of the five phases of Digital Maturity, as enlisted below:
Not Yet Digital Phase:
These are companies that rely majorly on conventional modes of operation. They rarely make use of digital technologies to propel their business.
Digital Beginner Phase:
These are organizations in the embryonic stage trying to bring in some digital processes into their systems due to sheer compulsion.
Digital Apprentice Phase:
These are organizations that have started to implement technological processes in some aspects of their business. Nonetheless, they lack clear focus and leadership to spearhead the plan and ultimately fail in their effort.
Digital Expert Phase:
These are organizations that have a clear blueprint to work on and are also quite successful in implementing the strategies. These companies typically rely on digital technologies to run their business.
To Conclude:
Digital maturity is all about the practical implementation of a well-devised plan to help you stay ahead of your competitors. Studies prove that in recent times business owners feel the need for technology partners to help them stride through their digital transformation journey.
