A digital transformation strategist is responsible for leading an organisation’s digital transformation process. They work with senior management teams to define the company’s overall vision and strategy for digital transformation, and then plan and execute on this strategy. How is a digital transformation strategy defined and what’s the job of the digital transformation expert?
What is Digital Transformation?
A digital transformation strategy is the process of remodelling an enterprise to incorporate digital technology across appropriate facets. This is done in order to achieve everything from greater efficiencies and collaboration to improving delivery speed and customer satisfaction.
What are the four main areas of Digital Transformation?
The four main areas of digital transformation each present its own challenges and opportunities and constitute all the specific processes and strategies used in digital transformation. These areas are as follows:
1) Process Transformation
Process transformation is a strategic action that deals with the modification of the elements of a business’s process in order to achieve new. In other words, this part of business transformation deals with improving the efficiency of an organisation’s operations.
Processes are usually audited to highlight any inefficiencies and changes are then made accordingly. The progress of the transformation is also closely monitored in order to ensure success.
2) Business Model Transformation
An effective business model transformation is key to staying ahead in today’s business world. This area of transformation looks at a business’s long and short-term goals and then introduces changes to a business’s current model or reinvents it in order to lead to significant growth.
A popular example for business model transformation was Netflix’s move from DVD rentals to streaming content online.
3) Domain Transformation
This area of digital transformation offers incredible opportunities for businesses to create new value. Here, a business is transformed by way of moving their operations and data to the cloud. This allows them to reduce costs, improve scalability, increase agility, and more.
Domain transformation is an area that doesn’t receive a large amount of attention, however, it is capable of providing organisations with enormous potential for growth.
4) Cultural And Organisation Transformation
A digital transformation is only possible when there is a stable alignment between a company’s goals and its employees’ behaviours. Because it’s one thing to offer employees new software, but it’s another thing entirely to convince them to use it.
Which is why it’s important for leaders to create a detailed vision and to help drive a comprehensive effort in order for employees to understand and embrace digital transformation.
How do you strategize Digital Transformation?
A well-strategized digital transformation plan ensures that there is an impactful, measurable, and concerted effort toward achieving key business goals. A successful strategy aligns with an organisation’s goals and seeks specific outcomes.
The key steps involved in creating a digital transformation strategy include:
- Understanding business goals: To set digital transformation up for success, it’s crucial to begin by identifying your business needs and goals and building a strategy from there.
- Analyse current infrastructure: Assessing your present infrastructure, both technology and cultural wise will help you identify your strengths, weaknesses, and areas of improvement.
- Start small and take it from there: Think of digital transformation as a journey. You can start by initiating a digital transformation on a small scale and then developing initiatives gradually.
- Develop a digital culture: As stated above, a culture of change is needed for successful digital transformation. This is why it’s important for you to ensure that any initiatives align with your company’s values and traits while also enhancing the culture.
- Seek out expertise: Look for partners who complement your strengths and understand your business. This will drive results and take your business to new heights.
- Define success measures: Creating specific success metrics and KPIs can help you track the progress of your digital transformation strategy and allow you to take action when needed.
- Reevaluate and refine: Be willing to adapt and change your strategy when needed. This will put your transformation journey on its ultimate path to success.
What are the 7 principles of a Digital Transformation Strategy?
The following core principles should underline every digital transformation initiative, both large or small:
- A business-driven initiative: All digital initiatives need to have a sound business reasoning. Without this, you will not be able to manage scope, valid change, allocate resources, etc.
- Good data: Data is crucial when it comes to implementing a digital transformation strategy. Without access to good, clean data, you will end up with inconsistent results and systems that people (employees or customers) can’t trust.
- Meeting customer needs: A successful digital transformation is one that has the ability to meet customer needs and demands.
- Using analytics: Data is nothing without businesses visualising it and acting upon it to generate new insights.
- Digital agility: Digital agility allows organisations to adapt to each change that occurs throughout the usage of digital technologies.
- Process automation: Automation of certain processes is a big part of digital transformation for a business. This reduces the need for IT involvement and helps businesses lower costs.
- Security: All layers and components need to consider the threat of data breaches and risks. Security is therefore an important principle when it comes to digital transformation and an emphasis needs to be placed on security standards and audits.
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Responsibilities of a Digital Transformation Strategist
A digital transformation strategist is in charge of defining the digital transformation strategy that should be in line with a companies’ goals.
This typically involves assessing the current use of digital technology within the company, identifying areas for improvement, developing new processes and protocols to exploit digital tools and data, and facilitating change management efforts to ensure that new technologies and processes are successfully implemented.
The strategist works closely with IT teams, managers and employees to create a culture of innovation and collaboration. They also help drive the company’s overall digital strategy towards transformative outcomes such as improving customer experience, increasing productivity and efficiency, or opening up new business models or revenue streams.
What is a digital transformation strategist responsible for?
- Defining the digital transformation strategy for a business
- Conducting research and establishing a roadmap for implementation
- Identifying and redesigning priority business processes to fully leverage digital solutions
- Assessing technologies to select the best fit for digital transformation within the company
- Developing and implementing a change management plan to ensure a smooth digital transformation process
- Leading the implementation team to ensure that plans are executed according to specifications
- Integrating data analysis into the digital transformation process to achieve data-driven decisions that improve performance
- Monitoring and managing data privacy and security to ensure security and regulatory compliance
- Providing solutions to improve the productivity and efficiency of the business
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Digital Transformation Strategist Skills
Digital transformation strategists require a range of technical, business and leadership skills to effectively lead the digital transformation within an organisation.
To help businesses with their efficiency and competitiveness thanks to the adoption of digital technology, they must have a good understanding of current and emerging technologies, data analytics, cybersecurity and customer analytics.
These skills will allow them to analyse data and make informed decisions about the right digital technology the company needs.
A deep understanding of how business operations and processes work is also needed. The digital transformation process is often complex and takes time, so project management experience is required as well as analytical skills.
In terms of soft skills, leadership, communication and collaboration skills are a must, as the strategist must interact and communicate with many people across the organisation.
Technology changes fast and business evolves quickly, so digital transformation consultants must be flexible and adaptable to change their strategies when needed so that the company stays relevant and effective.
What skills do you need for digital transformation strategizing?
- A good understanding of data analytics, software development and cloud computing
- Knowledge of SAAS platforms
- Understanding of intelligent automation, cybersecurity, and AI/ML
- Strategic business planning experience that incorporates an enterprise’s vision and direction
- Ability to develop and manage employee and vendor relationships in support of organisational strategies
- Fiscal planning experience
- Strong agile mindset
- Business and management experience
- Strong change management skills
- Experience defining, launching, and delivering IT projects on time and within budget
- Excellent problem-solving skills
- Effective listening skills
- Strong organisational development skills
- Good project and portfolio management skills
- Strong negotiation skills
- Strong oral and written communication and presentation skills
- Commitment to reskilling and upskilling
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How do I become a Digital Transformation Strategist?
Working as a digital transformation strategist requires you to have at least a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising, Marketing, Communication science or a related field.
It is however possible to work as a strategist without a degree. You can boost your chances of finding work by obtaining relevant certifications and skills. Find options for these down below:
- Digital Transformation Using AI/ML with Google Cloud Specialization
- Business Analytics Specialization
- Digital Transformation Strategy
- Building Resilience & Agility: Revitalise your Organisation
Digital Transformation Consulting: How much can I earn in this field?
A digital transformation strategist earns approximately $90,000 per year on average. With years of experience, strategists can earn around $146,000 per year whereas those that are just starting out can earn around $57,000 per year.
In Germany, these professionals can earn around €38,000-€74,000 per year whereas in the UK, they can make around £45,000-£76,000 per year. In Spain, digital transformation strategists can earn around €31,000-€46,000 per year.
How much do digital transformation strategists make?
| US | $57,000-$146,000 |
| Germany | €38,000-€74,000 |
| UK | £45,000-£76,000 |
| Spain | €31,000-€46,000 |
How much do freelance digital transformation strategists earn?
Digital Transformation Strategists on freelancermap charge on average:
Rates in the Digital Transformation Industry range between $40 and $96/hour for most freelancers.
The daily rate for Digital Transformation Strategists (8 working hours) would be around:
