Building A Digital-First Culture for Your Business

Technology is only part of what makes a digital transformation successful; how people leverage that technology is essential. Discover how a cultural reset can support your business growth.

Recent technological developments, such as the mainstream adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, the Internet of Things (IoT), Virtual Reality, and the shift to primarily cloud-based applications have shaped how modern businesses operate, allowing for greater opportunities for innovation and offering value to customers in new ways.

While digital transformation can help an organization reach its true potential, it must be accomplished with a people-first mindset to do it right. There’s a reason why research shows that less than 30% of digital transformations are successful. Resistance to change, skill gaps, and risk aversion are some of the biggest hurdles organizations face when implementing a digital transformation initiative. So the question remains: how can businesses modernize effectively?

We’re exploring how your organization can recognize the transformative potential of technology for efficiency and growth and how to build a digital-first culture that really works.

Modern Organizational Cultures Are Digital-First

People are at the heart of the digital transformation process. That’s because technology is only transformative if it is leveraged effectively by and for your employees and customers. Implementing a digital transformation goes beyond reshaping existing processes and systems to integrate with new technology. Digital transformation and culture go hand in hand.

Culture can be described as an organization’s collective behavior and beliefs that influence a company’s practices and values. Understanding organizational culture and its alignment with digital strategy is a powerful catalyst leading to digital transformation. Like Ian Rogers, Chief Digital Officer at LVMH says, “the big moment for an organization is when they have embraced the fact that digital transformation isn’t a technical issue, but a cultural change.”

Digital culture utilizes the power of digital technologies to respond to market upheavals and streamline processes to elevate the customer experience. The result is empowered employees, improved operations, and a competitive advantage.

Overcoming Cultural Clash

In order to thrive in today’s digital-first world, It is a necessity for businesses to also embrace a digital-first culture. Undergoing a cultural makeover requires cooperation from engaged employees to break from the ingrained traditional working methods and mindset of an organization.

A misaligned culture is a roadblock to digital effectiveness; luckily, there are solutions for creating new synergy with digital-first initiatives:

1. Gain Support from the Top.

Getting everyone on board with a digital transformation should be priority #1, and it starts from the top. Leaders are influential figures who are mainly responsible for shaping the organizational culture. Initiating behavioral change and communicating a shared vision must start at the executive level, with leadership teams championing organizational initiatives and values.

2. Eliminate Silos.

Flattening hierarchical structures and tearing down divisions will support the free flow of innovation with teams working collaboratively toward a unified goal. Combine stakeholders across the organization into groups rallied around digital transformation and see the solutions they come up with. Including your organizational stakeholders will help build enthusiasm and support for the change.

3. Breaking Risk-Aversion

Businesses that are reluctant to pursue digital transformation for fear of failing will lose out on key growth opportunities. A digital transformation is no easy endeavor, but can represent a major return on investment if approached thoughtfully. Rather than dismiss the possibility, plan carefully and work with an experienced partner to ensure your digital transformation is executed and deployed successfully.

Transitioning to a digital culture does not mean abandoning your company’s established identity. Rather, it involves exploring how technology can further your mission and values, allowing you to better serve your customers.

Paving The Way for Digital Transformation

Being digital-savvy is more than going paperless or having an online presence through a website, mobile applications, or social media; it is all about embedding digital solutions into work practices and creating an organization that thinks and breathes digitally.

The right culture is a crucial component to long-lasting success as it sets the tone for an organization’s readiness to embrace digital objectives. Of course, a culture shift doesn’t happen overnight; it requires investing time, resources, and commitment from everyone at all levels of the business.

Because culture determines the pace of organizational change, it is vital to assess where your business stands. Ask yourself these questions:

Is the majority of your consumer interaction taking place in digital spaces?
Do you collect and analyze data to better understand your customer’s needs and preferences?
Is your business responding quickly as consumer habits change?
Are your employees equipped with adequate digital tools to enhance their skills?
Do your standard operating procedures attract digitally native talent?
Are your leaders leading by example when it comes to leveraging technology at your organization?
Is your team motivated to innovate with technology?

Considering these questions can help you plan your approach to digital transformation, from the types of technological solutions that will make a difference to your employees and customers to the actions required to encourage adoption. Hint: if it doesn’t complement the existing processes and behaviors of your stakeholders, then you’re looking at the wrong digital solution.

Accelerate Your Digital Transformation with UDT

An organization that embraces a digital-first approach will reap the benefits of an adaptable and resilient workforce, so it’s imperative to get things right. An experienced partner can ensure your digital transformation efforts have real impact and ROI for your business.

If you’re interested in exploring how UDT’s IT Modernization solutions can benefit your organization, we invite you to book a consultation with one of our experts. Together, we can future-proof your business with a people-centered digital transformation initiative custom-catered to your unique needs and goals. Together, we’ll accomplish more.

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