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EDITOR’S QUESTION
HESHAM EL KOMY, REGIONAL
VICE PRESIDENT, MIDDLE
EAST, AFRICA & INDIA (MEAI),
EPICOR SOFTWARE CORP
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A
n international study by Epicor shows that two-in-five
industry professionals agree that Digital Transformation
will offer them strong opportunities for growth in the future
– proving that the benefits outweigh the costs. However, Digital
Transformation can be an incredibly complex process. With that in
mind, here are five key steps companies need to take to prepare for a
successful Digital Transformation journey.
Align your business transformation strategy to your
business goals
To avoid investing in new technology for the sake of it, or because
you feel you should, it is essential that regional businesses identify
where technology change is needed most. Start by assessing your
overall business goals and ask what objectives your business wants
to achieve in the short, medium and long-term. Then ask what
technology will help you achieve those goals.
Invest in the right technologies
Digital Transformation means different things to different businesses
and certainly, heavy spending alone is not going to guarantee
success. The Aberdeen Group has identified three digitalisation
technologies that have the potential to impact operations – the
Internet of Things (IoT) because of its ability to provide operational
intelligence, the cloud for its scalability and Big Data analytics, which
can transform data into predictive and actionable insights.
As such, there are multiple options and regional businesses must
ensure they are investing in the technologies that are right for them.
While one business may see immediate benefits from implementing
cloud infrastructure, a manufacturer operating out of just one facility
might want to look at other options first.
resistance to new processes. This is particularly important when
digital technologies are being implemented to automate tasks that
are otherwise completed by staff members, or when it might not be
immediately obvious how an investment will deliver ROI.
Turn insight into action
Businesses today are collecting more data than ever, but simply
amassing vast amounts of information as a result of Digital
Transformation, is not enough. The key lies in being able to use
insights effectively, to guide change or identify new revenue streams.
Ensure buy-in from key stakeholders within your business
After you’ve identified how Digital Transformation can support
your business goals, now is the time to bring stakeholders on board
because successful Digital Transformation strategies change how
businesses work. They impact peoples’ jobs, how they complete tasks
and also how they work together.
Unfortunately, for many businesses, engaging with stakeholders
is easier said than done. Staff from the boardroom and beyond
need to feel they have a personal and professional stake in the
changes being made. Helping them understand the reason for the
business’ investment will make it easier to overcome any potential
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The latest data analytics suites can provide businesses with crucial
information about customer trends and predictions, or information
about how products are performing. Some businesses are already
using this sort of data, to turn insights into action.
Continually reassess your digital strategy
Understand that Digital Transformation is a journey that is never
complete. New technologies are being launched all the time – from
robots that complete tasks on the production line quicker than humans,
to machines that can fix equipment problems without intervention. All
of these bring with them multiple possibilities for businesses.
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