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<\/p>\nAs a long-time Microsoft partner, it\u2019s been interesting over the years to watch Microsoft identify, adapt, and capitalize on the various megatrends in the technology field. They\u2019ve had some stumbles, like any large organization, but the current industry buzz and recent financial results indicate that they\u2019re on the right track. That\u2019s certainly our perspective at 3Cloud, where we\u2019ve seen waves of innovation from Microsoft, and the ever-growing adoption by our clients of Microsoft\u2019s tools and technologies for data, analytics, and insights.<\/p>\n
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At the recent Microsoft partner conference, Inspire, CEO Satya Nadella reaffirmed Microsoft\u2019s belief in Digital Transformation as the defining megatrend of this generation. I was intrigued and impressed by his presentation, which inspired my question “What does this mean for 3Cloud?”<\/p>\n
This is the first in a series of blog posts on Digital Transformation. We\u2019ll begin by offering our perspective as data and analytics consultants and practitioners, and then work into specific examples on each of the Digital Transformation pillars.<\/p>\n
So, what is Digital Transformation? Simply stated, it is the process by which organizations leverage information (digital) technology to reimagine the way in which they serve their stakeholders and provide value in the marketplace. Digital Transformation can be evolutionary<\/a> or revolutionary (disruptive), depending on the industry and the commitment level of organizations looking to embrace these innovations.<\/p>\n We\u2019re at a unique point in time where a confluence of factors are enabling this transformation to occur. For example, increasing data volumes \u2013 as in, the amount of data being created and stored (cheaply) – provide a rich opportunity for organizations to mine that data for deeper insights about their respective markets and customers. New sources of data, such as sensor data (Internet of Things), and the ability to easily integrate data from outside one\u2019s organization enable new types of analysis that were previously very difficult or nearly impossible to perform.<\/p>\n Another key factor in enabling Digital Transformation is the rapid advances in computing power which have stimulated the maturation of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. These advances enable forward-thinking organizations to change the way they design and build products with augmented reality, and interact with their customers through bots, just to highlight a few examples.<\/p>\n And last, but not least, the very real culture shift and changing demographics of the modern workforce, increasingly made up of \u201cdigital natives\u201d who have grown up with technology and have expectations of rich digital experiences in the workplace that they\u2019ve experienced in their personal lives. Data and technology are pervasive, and in this new world, leading organizations are taking advantage of these factors to transform their organizations.<\/p>\n Now that we\u2019ve defined Digital Transformation and outlined some of the factors that enable this trend, let\u2019s dive deeper into the pillars of Digital Transformation, which are:<\/p>\n These pillars provide us with a model to conceive and deliver new and\/or improved business outcomes that we can measure and rally around as an organization. Let\u2019s explore each one.<\/p>\n Customers are the lifeblood of any business, and cultivating and strengthening those relationships largely determines whether an organization will flourish and grow, or stagnate and struggle. Broadly speaking, we can think of the term \u201ccustomer\u201d as representing the external stakeholders served by your organization.<\/p>\n In a commercial context, customers may be individual consumers who purchase your products and services. They could also be business customers in organizations that provide goods and services within a B2B setting. And in the public sector, customers might be better termed constituents or citizens. Regardless, Digital Transformation in this context is about improving the \u201cface\u201d of your organization by whatever customer touchpoints you have available. If you improve customer experiences, customer satisfaction, and brand image, business results will follow.<\/p>\n Great organizations focus on building a culture of high performance and investing in their people. Empower Employees is the pillar that looks inward at the various business units, departments, teams, and individuals, and asks, “How can we leverage digital technology to better serve our people?”<\/p>\n From a data and analytics perspective, we strive to provide our clients with solutions that deliver \u201cthe right information, at the right time, in the right format.\u201d If I\u2019m a mobile worker, that means mobile information delivery is likely a priority. What information would I like at my fingertips when I\u2019m on the way to service equipment or visit a customer? If I\u2019m an executive in the corner office, what information is important to me to see \u201cat-a-glance\u201d to help me start my day?<\/p>\n We also look at Empower Employees through the context of creating data and analytics assets to meet the information needs of the organization. How do we serve (often) overlapping needs of IT administrators, BI professionals, and data scientists in an organization? As Microsoft partners, we have a rich set of tools and technologies to leverage and align to these roles based on team structure and organizational goals and objectives. If we empower each of these parties, we accelerate delivery, improve quality, and drive user adoption and satisfaction \u2013 all key measures of data and analytics success.<\/p>\n As consultants, we often describe opportunities and initiatives through the lens of \u201cpeople, process, and technology.\u201d Optimize Operations is the pillar that brings all this together in ways that transform an organization \u201cfrom the inside out.\u201d It often starts with building a better understanding of current processes, whether they are in the areas of human resources, manufacturing, sales, marketing, finance, or otherwise. We help organizations build comprehensive data repositories that represent a \u201csingle version of the truth\u201d and serve as the foundation to enable analytics and insights. This could take the form of a predictive model to help us understand the useful life remaining of our products, or in a retail setting to gain a better understanding of which customers are likely to churn (and when). Identifying patterns in the data allow us to act and change outcomes before it\u2019s too late.<\/p>\n The last pillar in Digital Transformation is Transform Products. This term could be refined to include both products and services, as the key point is in how organizations are leveraging technology to innovate on their value proposition to the market and their customers. The healthcare industry is filled with examples of digital innovation \u2013 anywhere from fitness trackers\/wearables, to devices designed to promote and monitor medication adherence. Not only do the physical aspects of these products and services improve in performance, but they also often create new markets that are only recently possible thanks to advances in digital technology.<\/p>\n In summary, Digital Transformation is a megatrend that provides all of us with a model to identify and pursue innovative solutions that make a meaningful impact for our clients. As this blog series continues, we\u2019ll explore specific client examples that illustrate these points, and provide you with the inspiration to look for Digital Transformation opportunities within your own organization.<\/p>\nSo, why is Digital Transformation a trend right now?<\/h2>\n
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Engage Customers<\/h3>\n
Empower Employees<\/h3>\n
Optimize Operations<\/h3>\n
Transform Products<\/h3>\n