Ignoring the importance of digitalization is akin to skating on thin ice in today's business world. With such a mindset, we risk being caught up by the competition and overtaken by them in a short time.
And mindset is precisely one of the biggest challenges in implementing digitalization, as it guides us through the entire process of (digital) change. At this point, a crucial question arises: will we embrace the changes with open arms or resist them with all our might?
And it is precisely in the answer to this question that the line between successful and less successful companies lies.
How?
Successful companies are those that are aware of their weaknesses and are strategically focused on them. These are the companies that embrace change with open arms and look forward to new opportunities for growth and development. In other words, we can confidently say that successful companies are aware of the true importance of digital transformation and are firmly committed to using digital technologies to achieve business competitiveness. In contrast to less successful companies, who perceive digital transformation mostly as a necessary evil and a bottomless financial pit.
However, we cannot "absorb" a digital mindset overnight, as it involves a combination of many factors, such as work culture, (digital) company culture, business goals, and vision, availability of new technologies, employee commitment, motivation, etc. It is of no use if a company has all the available technology at its fingertips, but at the same time, it has demotivated employees who do not want to step out of their comfort zone. Learning new technical skills is undoubtedly an essential condition for digital transformation, but it is not enough. Employees must also be ambitious and committed enough to use their skills to create new opportunities. Therefore, they need a digital mindset. Here and now.
Mindset can roughly be defined as a way of thinking and orientation toward the world that shapes our perceptions, emotions, and actions. Therefore, a digital mindset is nothing more than a set of attitudes and behaviors that enable people and companies to understand how data, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence open up new possibilities and pave the way for success in the business environment.
If we want our digital transformation to be successful, its initiator and supporter must be the company's CEO or top management, who are well aware of the business vision and goals.
Since changing everything at once is extremely difficult, we advise that you approach the transformation gradually, one area at a time. Do you want to reduce the minimum cost of your product? Or is your first goal to implement a highly scalable real-time inventory system? The success of your transformation will depend on the goal you set in the first phase of digitalization, so be sure to set it as specifically as possible and in line with your current business needs.
If you successfully carry out the process of digitalization and digital transformation, the initial financial investment will quickly pay off. Furthermore, digitalization not only reduces operating costs but also allows the company to grow and develop in line with market needs.
However, we must not forget an important fact: everyone - the entire management and all employees, even students - must take a bite of the digital transformation apple. Why? For the digital transformation to be successful, all members of the organization must work in unison, like a crew in a boat, rowing in the same direction towards the common goal.
