Planning a digital transformation – here’s what you need to do.

Digital technology rose in its significance to businesses back in 2010 and, since then, the transformation has been continual and considerable.

With the pandemic book-ending this decade, we’ve been left in no doubt that our ability to connect and operate online as well as remotely, is by far, the most critical element of business continuation.

For small and growing businesses, the past year may have felt like moving from a peaceful country drive straight into the fast lane of the motorway when it came to digital strategy and delivery. A sudden need for implementation at that pace, with accuracy, and a challenge to find expertise and budget appearing overnight can be overwhelming at the best of times.

This piece of research by McKinsey shows the true scale of change we have experienced, with estimates that the year or so we spent in lockdown or remote working has moved the digital landscape forward by up to four years.

As an SME, such lack of notice and interruption to business has made this a difficult time to transition.

As a business who specialises in providing SMEs with services normally only available to much larger companies, we are familiar with the tension businesses face when balancing requirements and the funding available.

So, we thought it might be useful to share our top 3 considerations when you’re facing a major IT transformation decision:

• Talk it through

One of the most common issues with businesses talking themselves out of major IT projects is that they don’t know what they don’t know. It’s worth being aware that digital transformation is currently the second highest investment priority for the coming year, according to a study by KPMG, who found that almost 70% of the privately owned businesses they surveyed saw the need to harness digital in order to increase productivity.

Because we partner with many leading technology companies, we are aware of, and experienced in, a vast range of solutions. And we bring that experience to the table when we discuss your needs. Our advice centres around the solutions you actually need – not necessarily those you think you need.

• If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing properly

Sometimes it’s tempting to go for an affordable solution over and above one that better fits the brief. As partners to some of the world’s leading software and hardware providers, we have access to expert advice and guidance, often at little or no extra cost to buying off the shelf. Our wide scope of solutions means we can show you the best way to integrate your systems, which in turn brings about greater efficiency, in terms of business outputs and investment of budget.

This approach enables you to get as much value as you can for your money in the first place – and avoid the unpleasant risk that you have to change your solution after a short time because it’s not fit for purpose.

• Pick a support partner who can grow with your business

It’s unlikely that the scope of digital services is going to stand still and many are predicting a continuing sustained period of change. With new technology and solutions emerging all the time, it’s important to work with – and build a sustainable relationship with – a provider who can grow and scale your services when you need them to. We help our clients grow and adapt by treating them as partners and acting as if we are an extension of their own team as this gives us the ability to understand the business and help you to achieve the best results.

Digital transformation can feel daunting but, with the right partner, you can achieve what you desire in a seamless way and within budget.

Give us a call on 0345 260 8801, email contactus@advoco-solutions.co.uk or hop on to our website and use the contact form or chat function to find out how we can help you.

We’ll be more than happy to discuss your needs and help you arrive at the best solution.