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Digital transformation is a journey, not a destination

Digital transformation is essential for business efficiency, team cohesion and adaptation to the new reality we live in. As technology evolves in all areas, it would be wrong to think of digital transformation as a punctual project with finite results. Digital transformation is a journey, in which the physical and the digital space converge, and this new activity space will ensure a major competitive advantage in the coming years.

The pressure to find competitive solutions to continue the successful operation of businesses, the need for fast and remote interaction have forced companies to digitize their operational processes, communicate online with customers and even change their business model.

The acquisition of software solutions, devices and digital technologies does not transform the company. Change can be ensured if we put people at the center of digital transformation, adjust procedures and add processes that make digital transformation come alive. Technology is meant to help, not replace people. Understanding this approach is essential to overcome the natural resistance to change and to ensure the success of digital transformation implementation.

In order to reach a deep digital transformation, we need to go through two stages. Initially, we need to ensure the digitization of information and documents used on paper, and the provision of management registers and records. And at the next stage we can realize the digitization of the interaction procedures with this information, and the management of events applying a digital collaborative environment. No matter how much you want to, you can't burn the stages. If your business is conducted "with pen on paper", you must first solve this problem and then implement digital technologies, which are based on existing qualitative data online.

Examples of digitization are the implementation of business and customer management software and solutions for remote monitoring of company processes.

Thus, employees will see how their work becomes more efficient, they are more productive and can collaborate more easily, and the business becomes more profitable. Similarly, customers will have a faster interaction with the business, even personalized. Also, business partners will be able to track orders, stocks, payment of invoices, the status of works, with reduced effort, time and costs.

The digital transformation, as the next stage, aims at the integration of all applications in the company, the introduction of digital solutions that signal errors, ensure cyber security, through which the business can be coordinated remotely.

During the last years we can clearly talk about a sequence of steps that we have to take on our way to digital transformation. Here are the steps to be followed towards digital transformation.

• Analyze the reasons why digital transformation is necessary. It is necessary to clearly define the purpose and objectives of digital transformation, to understand why you need it and what is essential for the success of digital transformation projects.
• Prepare for change – transformation means change, and it will affect the way the team works every day. At this step it is important that the team understands the benefits to support the change.
  Start with small but strategically important projects - you can start with pilot projects, small in size, but with obvious results. Then, transformation takes time, don't expect changes overnight, try with the team to fix these steps and give appreciation of these results.
• Map the digital implementation - which are the digital technologies on which the transformation will be based and, especially how they help in the business strategy, Apply those technologies and solutions that have passed the maturing phase and can ensure an effective digitalization.
• Look for and attract experienced partners – even if you have the best technology, if you don't find the right partner for implementation, the digital transformation fails. It is important that the chosen implementation partner has the necessary experience and knowledge to understand the business and outline the vision. Do not seek to solve only specific problems, see the benefits as a whole.
• Ask for feedback and revise where needed – at this point you need to make sure you have clear performance indicators for everyone, ask for feedback and add more goals, if necessary. Agility is a characteristic of digital transformation, and correcting errors along the way, depending on the results, is essential for the success of the digital transformation project.
• Measure and transform – as the transformation progresses, you will realize where you can apply the same strategies or what new technologies you can implement. Thus, your business can remodel and evolve towards a new business model.

And in conclusion, we can report that a digital transformation strategy that focuses on these steps will help you create value for customers and maintain your competitive advantage in a digitized world. The given process will help you rebuild your concept of bringing together people, data and processes within the business you manage.