It’s Time to Start Rocking Your Digital Transformation

That digital transformation is a hot topic shouldn’t come as a surprise anymore. But how are we performing compared to other countries, and what is making it hard for some of us to embrace innovative tech? In this article, we discuss how digital transformation can benefit or even safeguard the future of your business and how Xebia can help you make the shift. Read on to find out!  

Q: What is the DESI report, and how does Belgium rank in digitalization according to it? 

The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) report is an annual publication that assesses how European Union (EU) countries are progressing towards a digital economy and society.  

According to the most recent DESI report, Belgium ranks sixth in the EU regarding the integration of digital technology. So, while our infrastructure may have some catching up to do (we rank 27th on connectivity), we are among the frontrunners when it comes to the use of digital technology by individuals and companies. 

The shift to remote work and the increasing popularity of online shopping have only further highlighted the importance of digital technologies in maintaining business continuity and meeting customer needs, and companies that are slow to adapt to digital transformation are risking being left behind.  

Q: What can digital transformation bring a business? 

 It’s worth noting that one of the main, perhaps even most important, benefits of being digitally savvy is preventing technical debt. Sure, what you do now is working, but if you don’t maintain and update the technology, you will quickly develop a technical debt. Once behind, it’s increasingly more work to catch up. Moreover, you could struggle to find people willing or able to work with outdated technology. You may already notice this today; imagine what a pain it will be in five years. Keeping up, of course, is not the only reason to move to the cloud. What are the other benefits? 

A superb customer experience: by leveraging digital technologies, you can provide personalized, seamless experiences that meet customer needs and expectations, increase customer loyalty and boost revenue. 

Increased efficiency and productivity: by automating processes and using data analytics, you can streamline operations and make more informed decisions, leading to cost savings and improved profitability. 

Scalability and agility: can you continue to respond to market developments on time? What happens as you grow? Will your current technology slow down or accelerate growth? 

Stability: innovative tech will help you offer users a secure solution with high availability.  

New deployments: without new tech, how quickly can you make changes to keep your business up-to-date and offer new applications or services?   

Core business: what impact does not transforming have on your core business? For example, how dependent are you on third parties for data or BI solutions? 

New markets and global audiences: e-commerce and digital marketing have made it easier than ever for companies to sell their products and services abroad. By taking a digital-first approach, you can enter new markets and achieve previously impossible growth. 

Q: Why are some companies still struggling to go digital? 

Despite the many benefits of digital transformation, companies sometimes struggle to adopt new technologies. One of the main obstacles is the current shortage of digital talent. A lot of companies have trouble attracting staff with digital skills, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that lack the resources to compete with large companies. In addition, SMEs are not always aware of the potential of digital transformation for their business. They are often hesitant to invest in new technologies because they are concerned about the cost and complexity of implementation.  

Q: How can Xebia help businesses shift to digital? 

Xebia can help businesses shift to digital in three steps.  

First, we’ll conduct an assessment to understand the current setup and identify pain points. Second, we’ll create a roadmap to plan the migration to digital and explore how to shift left, look for low-hanging fruit, and make a plan for the next five years. Finally, we will provide you with an on-site team to guarantee the right people are in the right places within the organization, including architects who have all requirements top of mind and ensure they are included in the development and a team that will raise the in-house knowledge level so that when we leave, your people can take control. 

Q: What can you do yourself? 

Be sure to make the right choices. 

As much as we support digital enterprise, it does come down to ‘do it right or don’t do it at all.’ Many ghost stories circulating the marketplace come from choosing technology that doesn’t fit your situation or experimenting with no previous knowledge of the product.  

For example, moving to the cloud involves new working methods and, at times, more complex architectures than on-prem applications. You don’t want to make wrong choices at the beginning that will result in more significant technical debt or much higher costs, for example, by using the incorrect building blocks or setting up an architecture that doesn’t perform as you want. 

Digital transformation is no longer a choice; it is necessary for survival and growth in an increasingly digital world. While there are challenges to overcome, companies that embrace digital transformation can reap the benefits of increased efficiency, cost savings, and improved customer experience. With the proper support and resources, businesses of all sizes can embark on a successful digital transformation journey and stay ahead of the competition.

Gill Cleeren, CTO Xebia Microsoft Services Belgium.