The topic of digitalization is on everyone's lips. Whether at conferences and events or especially online! Information, opinions, and recommendations are everywhere - but what does this mean for your company? What kind of companies have made the most progress with digitalization and successfully implemented it? Do you know of any? Digitalization is successfully implemented when it is firmly anchored in the company's strategy. This means that it has also reached your employees and your customers. Depending on the goal definition of digitalization, it leads to increased productivity for your company. Digitalization is a matter for the management and part of your strategy. From my personal experience, successful entrepreneurs are those who drive digitalization successfully in their companies and consider these points:
THERE IS NO IT SOFTWARE FOR DIGITALIZATION
Digitalization is not an IT project that entrepreneurs or managing directors can delegate to internal IT responsibilities. It is also not the fantastic new IT solution that was simply purchased without considering the consequences beforehand. Digitalization is a complex process of change, in which IT is only a part. What is important is the organization with its processes and the people (customers, employees, business partners) affected by the change. Therefore, these processes need to be transformed before being digitized. It is important, when assembling the right teams, to thoroughly examine the overall process and gather the needs of all areas. Change management is important and means looking beyond one's own perspective and assessing the impacts together. Not an easy task, but the key to a successful start.
LEADERSHIP
As digitalization brings far-reaching and cross-functional changes, the management must initiate, accompany, and clearly support the process. Although it should be self-evident, this is rarely done. Leading from the front is particularly important now; successful entrepreneurs lead and manage their digitalization projects. They recognize that digitalization means restructuring their companies and setting the course for the future. They personally take responsibility for this and ensure that this restructuring is well planned and organized.
STRATEGY AND AGENDA
To successfully drive digitalization forward, entrepreneurs ensure that it follows a strategy. It can be the company's strategy or a separate digital strategy. What is the maturity level of our company for digitalization? Where do we see the most potential? Where is our greatest need? Digitalization must be planned! Small and correct steps are required. Mistakes must be allowed and learned from.
UNDERSTANDING DIGITALIZATION
Successful entrepreneurs and executives should understand what happens in their company with such a change. Certainly not down to every single detail, but understanding the big picture is important. For economic and time reasons, it makes sense to seek a neutral advisor who brings together and translates the details. It is crucial for the entrepreneur to understand the connections to fulfill their responsibility and understand the implications of their decisions beforehand. A consultant can provide great support as digitalization is very complex and the dependencies are diverse.
"WHY" AND "FOR WHAT"?
Everywhere you hear that digitalization is extremely important and almost everyone will disappear from the market if they do not take digitalization seriously. This is certainly more than exaggerated, but it is certainly not entirely wrong. Each company has an individual current situation, so it is important to answer the following questions: What does it bring us? What do we want to change? What will we change? What will come our way? To successfully implement digitalization, you must question, clarify, and communicate your own intention. This gives you and your employees an aspirational goal to work towards together.
LEADERSHIP
Especially now, as change becomes more realistic and no one can ignore this topic, no one knows where digitalization is heading. Markets are evolving rapidly (new companies are emerging and large firms are disappearing), and standing still is certainly the wrong strategy! Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all approach, as each transformation is individual and must be sensitively planned and implemented to lead to success. If you are convinced of digitalization but still unsure, take on the responsibility and approach the topics with courage and as a role model. This "leading from the front" gives your teams the confidence to tackle the upcoming changes with motivation. Digitalization becomes an opportunity when the entire corporate culture evolves, and employees are the key to a successful transformation. Therefore, foresight, openness, creativity, courage, and effective communication with employees are crucial, as only when they understand why their company is changing and what they stand to gain from it, will they support and implement this process with motivation and dedication. And for that, I congratulate you.
