As technology undergoes multiple advancements and competition increases along with it, as business transformation, has become a must. Transforming our processes so that we don’t fall behind the curve but rather stay ahead of it.
But we know how overwhelming and tiring it can be – especially for large corporations. After all, we’re changing the way we’ve been conducting our operations for years, maybe even decades. But don’t worry – that’s why we’re here!
We’ll go through a series of best practices that are crucial to implementing business transformation processes successfully. And who knows? You might even discover a newfound interest in business process reengineering or change management along the way!
But First, Let’s Establish What Business Transformation Is!
The process of business transformation and automated business is all about changing the way we operate in order to increase efficiency, optimize performance, and, overall, drive growth. There are a variety of improvement opportunities - from improving the design to brushing up the operational processes and even refining sales or CRM workflows.
But how exactly do we do that? By identifying new technologies, techniques, or processes. We can even accomplish that by just using the already existing approaches to their maximum capacity. Let’s face it – we all have some programs that we’re using just their basic functionalities.
Okay, so how do we implement a business transformation and business automation process model?
Before diving into the whole system, try to recognize where a business or digital transformation is needed and what drives this transformation! Whether it is from an external context or not, such as customers, investors, or even internal, like spending too much time on a specific workflow – and especially, the gains or the risks you will face if put into practice.
Understanding this, we can set viable goals and conceive a roadmap so that the desired outcomes are achieved. So, follow the steps below in order to implement a business transformation process successfully.
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1. Identify the Issues
This is the starting point that will drive your business transformation processes moving forward. To begin, it’s essential to have a clear vision of where you want to take your company. To do so, you have to grasp the current state of the business and understand why transformation is needed.
Once you have the vision, it’s time to identify the issues that need to be addressed and changed. This can involve everything from looking at processes and systems to even culture and people. Approach this step with an open mind - you have to be willing to consider all possibilities that could go into the transformation part.
However, without a lack of direction - it’s easy to dig where it’s not necessary. Discover if an automated business needs a digital transformation! You do not want to destroy what it’s working. By focusing on the areas that truly need your attention, you can create a targeted and effective plan that will bring your vision to life.
To understand this better, let’s look at one of the most infamous disasters in a company’s history. We talk, of course, about Blockbuster. The company had a clear vision of being the go-to place for video rentals. However, as technology advanced, they weren’t able to identify the issues that were keeping them from success - even though they had the power of example. Its biggest competitor, Netflix, leveraged technology to its advantage - Blockbuster didn’t. And guess what company it’s still here today?
2. Do Your Homework
Peak in at how your competition is conducting business. We can even research companies who are not in direct competition with us because we can still take inspiration from them. Gaining such insight is extremely critical in developing a strategy as we can see hands-on what strategies, techniques, or technologies are successful. And the best part? We can even optimize this even more.
One effective way to do your homework is to conduct a SWOT analysis. This involves analyzing your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. You see this advice everywhere - and guess what - it works, that’s why everyone says a SWOT analysis is game-changing. This way, you will be capable of identifying the areas where your competition excels and areas where it struggles. You will understand how to differentiate your business this way.
And that’s not all! A great strategy is to attend industry events and conferences in the industry in which your business operates. You get the opportunity to learn from leaders and experts in your field and even network with other professionals!
3. Engage Your Stakeholders
Transforming our business requires support and feedback. And who better to ask than our team, our investors, or even our dedicated customers? Make sure that everyone understands what changes are being made and the benefits that come along with them. And involve everyone, especially your team members, in all the important decisions.
Because look - transforming your business is not an easy task, on the contrary. Therefore, the support of everyone involved is crucial. Without the insights from your stakeholders, the process can quickly become derailed. Everyone needs to be on the same page.
And it might be a cliche - but communication is key! Especially when you’re implementing a business transformation agenda. Ensure that everyone understands why the changes have to be made. Also, outline the benefits that come from the implementation!
Unfortunately, this is something that most managers overlook, but it’s essential as our employees are the ones to directly experience the changes.
4. Develop The Plan
Now it’s time to put everything we researched into a quantifiable plan. We’ve already identified what transformations we want to make. Now, let’s establish how we want to achieve that. Do we need new technologies? If yes, we need to discover what those technologies are and how we can get our hands on them. You have to set a budget for this - as the technology that goes into business transformation processes can get expensive.
And you have to ask yourself why do you need automation in your processes? What are the benefits that come from embarking on this journey? If you need new processes - think about how long it will take to have them successfully implemented. Business transformation is not something that you can do overnight - let us tell you that.
And, of course - who will be responsible for the implementation? Here, we recommend getting more people involved - as a second opinion is always better. But make sure that the people involved are on the same page - you do not want discrepancies to exist!
All of these questions need to be answered when crafting a plan. It’s like developing a business plan, but smaller, with a focus on the steps needed to reach the desired transformation.
5. Implement and Optimize
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