Digital transformation – from presentation to reality

By Edwin Wieringa

I want to discuss digital transformation one more time. A widely used but tricky term, not least because it is multi-interpretable. Is it about IT, business or strategy? Are we talking about replacing or modernizing large ERP systems, about digitalization of existing (business) activities and interaction with customers, or is the movement mainly at the strategic-administrative level?   

Besides the fact that digital transformations usually play out across all the aforementioned domains and solutions, another thing is certain: it is not about the slick PowerPoint presentations you so often encounter – at conferences, with IT vendors and, yes, with consultants as well. Sure, it’s all part of it. The question to answer in transformation reaches beyond formulating a vision, it is about how you can realize the implementation in practice. 

That turns out to be a lot trickier. You have to translate the PowerPoint into Excel, so to speak, and into a plan to implement things iteratively, in short-cycled steps. Preferably according to a proven method and approach. In order to realize this structurally for clients, we as strategic consultants have also gone through a process of change: from manual work to ‘productizing’ our methods, models and approach. Now, clients are more in the driver’s seat and at the controls themselves.  

Perspectives    

Defining for Anderson MacGyver is that digital transformations are always viewed by us from different perspectives: customer perspective, business operations, organization, architecture, technology, not to mention the data flowing through it all. In doing so, clients are typically guided through a tried and tested process of models, methods – including reference material, best practices and so on. We see this as our intellectual property.  

Such a process goes far beyond only fine words and supported by ditto pictures, but offers practical tools for implementation and hands-on support if required. Through the mentioned productizing we want to enable the customer to do more steps in this process themselves. The data generated during such a (partial) self-service process will be used as a sector-specific benchmark or other form of reference. That information will gradually become richer and richer, allowing organizations to transform even more accurately. The method itself will also improve as a result.  

Not only advice

Once again: it all starts with a widely supported picture of the organization and a common dot on the horizon. To get that clear, we at Anderson MacGyver naturally offer the trusted personal advice of the best people, where sometimes strange eyes compel so that things get going just that little bit faster or are picked up by someone. And in doing so, we now also deploy products based on the same tools, frameworks, methods and vision that our clients can use themselves.  

In both cases this provides an overview in a very short time, including a detailed roadmap to get where you want to go. In terms of required capabilities, organizational structure, IT solutions, architecture, data management and more. Without speech confusion, because everyone “sees” what it’s about. This is how PowerPoint slowly but surely becomes a reality.  

Interested in Anderson MacGyver’s solutions for digital services?

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