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5 Top Challenges to Digital Transformation and How to Overcome Them

 

Digital transformation is the key to success in 2021. Companies that become more digitally-oriented are likely to enjoy higher employee morale, better customer engagement, increased market share, and improved customer revenue. While many businesses want to evolve into the digital sphere, there are several challenges that come along with the process. It is important to be aware of these hurdles and learn how to tackle them. 

Read on to learn more. 

LACK OF LEADERSHIP

When the executive-level managers within your company do not believe in digital transformation, there is a good chance the rest of the team will not. As such, a lack of leadership can frustrate your digital transformation efforts. 

Solution 

Because digital transformation starts from the top, make sure all managers understand the importance of using digital technology. Managers and executives should focus on using technology on a day-to-day basis. This way, they will lead by example and help promote a culture of being digitally native and innovative. The more people, especially at the top, who use the technology, the more it becomes integrated into the entire business. 

LACK OF TECHNOLOGY

Without the right technology, digital transformation will not yield the expected results. Technology that does not meet your needs will compromise the efficiency and effectiveness of your systems. Because technology is constantly rolling out new tools, you need to stay on top of technology trends if you are to achieve success. Technology helps businesses streamline operations, manage data, personalize communication, automate processes, and much more. A company absolutely cannot go digital without a solid system in place to manage the different aspects of digital transformation. 

Solution 

Having a CRM and marketing automation platform or a complete CRM will help you tackle this hurdle. The software integrates different features, effectively taking the hassle out of technology management. With a complete CRM, you will have a simple but powerful solution that will help you attract, connect and engage with your customers. Investing in an all-in-one system is one of the smartest ways SMBs can cut down on costs (specifically Total Cost of Ownership), simplify their technology stack, and promote user adoption. Instead of applying multiple third-party apps and spending the time to integrate them, or import/export data, having all the tools you need in one place allows you to consolidate resources, but also provides you with a total view of your business. 

A lot of the time, businesses are missing out on that holistic view because they have to piece data together. When your sales, marketing, customer service, and operations departments are integrated into the same system, you reward yourself with a simplified way of getting the information you need, when you need it. The right technology matters. 

LACK OF TRAINING/MANAGEMENT

Your team may not be familiar with the tools and technologies that your company upgrades to. When employees do not have the expertise to lead digitization initiatives, your digital transformation journey will be delayed. Indeed, your technology will not be useful if your team does not know how to use it. 

Solution 

When undergoing a digital transformation, make sure you invest in training for your entire team. You will have to educate your employees on why the technology is beneficial, how it works, and what it does to make their jobs more effective. This will help to make the process of adopting digital technologies smoother. 

When looking for new solutions to help in your digital transformation journey, get a good understanding of the training and support you will receive during the onboarding process and beyond. Do they offer 24/7 support? Is support free? What about additional services like implementation, certification programs, or website development. The more you can get out of your vendor, the happier you and your team will be in the long run. 

RESISTANCE TO CHANGE

Your employees are your company's most valuable asset. However, they can stand in the way of your digital transformation initiative. People tend to be comfortable with what they know and how they are currently working. You can expect that your digital transformation efforts will be met with some resistance. 

Solution 

Dealing with internal resistance to change will require that you help your team cope with the uncertainty. Make sure that everyone understands the process and the associated benefits. Take time to prepare and engage your workers throughout the digital transformation journey. This will go a long way in inspiring them to adopt the new strategies. 

A good strategy is to take their opinions into account when developing your new processes. For example, if you are investing in a new solution, the best way to get buy-in is to have your team contribute to the selection process. What do they need and want? Oftentimes, the C-level or management will choose the solution without really understanding what the team actually needs. If you do not involve them, you are asking for resistance. The more they feel they are involved in the decision making process, the more likely they are to jump on board with new strategies, especially when it comes to technology. 

LACK OF PROPER PLANNING AND STRATEGY

When it comes to transforming your business, you cannot just throw tactics against a wall and see what sticks. The process has many moving parts, and some mistakes can be very costly. You will have to ensure effective use of data as well as human and financial resources.  

Solution

Successful digital transformation takes proper planning and a solid strategy. Before investing in digital transformation, you should clearly define your goals. You will also need to work out what you want to automate, write down the process, identify where you want to start, and allocate resources effectively.  The first step is to understand the difference between digital transformation, digitalization, and digitization

Working with a reliable digital transformation solution provider will help you overcome these challenges. At GreenRope, we are your digital transformation partner. We are an integrated CRM and marketing automation platform that is committed to helping you avoid data loss, keep data accurate, increase productivity and provide an omnichannel customer experience. Contact us today so we can work together to build and grow your business.

 

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