9 factors for successful digital transformation execution

If you ask a hundred companies about the definition and planning of digital transformation strategies, you will probably get a hundred different answers. However, companies have reached a consensus on the importance of digital transformation. However, in reality, many companies are struggling to implement digital transformation. According to McKinsey research, only 16% of organizations say they are successfully achieving their digital transformation goals. Now, by combining people, processes, and low-code platforms, companies can effectively avoid most of the obstacles they face in the process of implementing digital transformation.

The three dimensions of digital transformation

A successful digital transformation strategy consists of three levels: strategy, plan, and application. The successful execution of each level helps the company achieve its overall goals.

1. Strategic level

The strategic level is mainly about establishing a vision, including:

• Evaluate and demonstrate the overall impact of digital transformation projects on the business

• Assess the risks posed by this work

• Identify resources that can mitigate these risks and ensure success

2. Program level

Once you have a vision for your digital transformation plan, it’s time to think about how to execute it. The focus of the program level is on the implementation of the strategy, from achieving and proving the ROI of this big project to understanding how to achieve and spread the benefits throughout the enterprise.

3. Application level

After getting the approval of senior management, setting guidelines and planning budgets, it is time to "roll up your sleeves and get to work." The application level is the specific execution stage, and the team responsible for application development needs to deliver a final product that meets the needs of the enterprise and can help the enterprise continue to succeed.

9 factors that influence digital transformation strategy

At different levels and stages, what are the factors that contribute to a successful digital transformation strategy, and why can these factors help the implementation of corporate digital transformation?

Strategic Level

Strategic factors include:

• corporate vision

• Corporate footprint

• A rich portfolio of use case-centric applications

1. Corporate Vision

This influencing factor is not about the business vision of the enterprise after successfully executing digital transformation, but about the leader of the enterprise vision. Only by executing the right vision under the leadership of the right executives or leaders can the enterprise be guaranteed to move in the right direction. Leaders are the starting point of digital transformation.

2. Enterprise footprint

Siemens Low Code believes that only through close cooperation between business and IT departments can enterprises achieve their goals in transformation. This influencing factor includes the vision just mentioned, understanding how it affects the entire enterprise, and how the enterprise can achieve these strategic goals by using low code.

3. A rich portfolio of applications centered on use cases

A rich and diverse application portfolio is critical to the success of digital execution. If an enterprise focuses only on building innovative applications or only updating and maintaining old systems, it will deviate from the track of digital transformation. By meeting the needs of a variety of different use cases, enterprises can ensure operational efficiency, improve customer experience and launch new businesses while maintaining agility and stability.

Program level

The factors affecting the program level include:

• Programme Director

• Architect

• Measurable return on investment

4. Project Manager

Senior management is responsible for developing and maintaining the vision, which is then driven by program owners who understand the vision and have the authority and experience to execute the change.

5. Architect

Responsible for connecting IT and the business through frameworks and guidelines around IT infrastructure, security, data, and deployment, architects focus on designing technology capabilities across departments and ensuring they are implemented efficiently.

6. Measurable ROI

ROI is a measure of success for many efforts. If an enterprise can prove the ROI of a digital transformation strategy, it will be more convincing to obtain the time, budget and resources needed to effectively change the way it works internally.

Project level

Finally, project-level influencing factors include:

• Product Owner

• team

• Application delivery

7. Product Owner

Product managers are different from solution managers. They understand the attributes and functions of the product, and are well aware that the product is a bridge between IT and business departments. Therefore, ensuring that the team is working in the right direction and that product development work can be completed within the deadline is their focus.

8. Team

The team is made up of people who build the application portfolio. The team cannot only be composed of people from the R&D department, but should include people from all functions of the enterprise. Of course, team members should have the will and pursuit to solve business problems from the bottom of their hearts. In addition, carrying out each project in a small-scale team model can improve work efficiency and achieve an agile workflow.

9. Application Delivery

The team must work within the guidelines set by the architect to build applications that truly have a significant impact on the overall business to ensure that both technical and business value requirements are met.

All of the above factors are not specific to technology, as digital transformation starts with employees, their understanding of how to collaborate, their adoption and adaptation of different processes, and their handling of work priorities.

Technology platforms should not be the driving force of change, but should be the catalyst for the implementation of digital transformation in enterprises, empowering people and optimizing processes. Please refer to Siemens Low Code's Digital Execution Manual to learn more about how to work with Siemens Low Code to accelerate the development lifecycle and deliver the right applications by mobilizing internal employees.