Digital Acceleration over digital transformation

Author: Alan Garza

Digital Transformation has been a trending to–pic in Industry 4.0 for quite a few years now. But then there is another term that not many executives are familiar with: Digital Acceleration.

Before we jump to a conclusion, let's first understand what Digital Transformation is. Well, even before that, let’s discuss what Digital Transformation is NOT.

The term Digital Transformation is often interchangeable with Digitization or Digitalization, but we need to understand that there is a difference.

Digitization

The term digitization process is to convert analog data into some digital form, so then it becomes easy to store, access and share.

Example of digitization:

1. Converting a picture into digital images.
2. Converting a book into an electronic text so you can read it on a screen, perform a search, highlight text and more.
3. Converting technical books into explainer videos to help you understand the information easier.

Digitalization

This term refers to leveraging technology for day-to-day activities to boost performance. This could include using computers to do things like banking and shopping or having a digital device like a phone or an e-reader to read books.

Digital Transformation

The use of all the above concepts to change how an organization works from top to bottom is what we call Digital Transformation. In other words, it is the evolution of business models to take advantage of digital technology. Take the evolution of the music industry as an example, from selling records to now selling music streaming services.

Digital transformation takes digitization and digitalization a step further by using digital technology to completely change how a business operates.

So then, what is Digital Acceleration, and how is it different from Digital Transformation?

Companies hoping to gain a competitive edge in the digital future are now investigating a new concept: digital acceleration. Digital acceleration and transformation are often mistaken for one another. But, there are important differences that executives must understand if they plan to make either one a strategic focus for their company.

What’s the Difference?

During digital acceleration, technologies are adopted at a much faster pace.

Digital acceleration means that your company is continuously incorporating new technologies and developments into its procedures as soon as those developments are identified as useful. In this way, acceleration empowers businesses to always be at the cutting edge of new technology.

Today, digital is no longer about transformation. Acceleration refers to continually reviewing, updating and iterating digital properties.

Why Is Digital Acceleration So Important?

Because it means, always evolving. During the pandemic, many companies were forced to implement new technologies just to survive. For example, many small businesses that only sold physically had to create an online store or use a marketplace to promote their products and some of that came to stay. How often did you see the QR Menu in restaurants pre-pandemic vs post-pandemic?

How do I do it?

1. Stop and assess: consider everything from the technology you’re implementing to the data insights you’re basing your plans around. You should also investigate if your team needs additional members with relevant skills. Digital acceleration requires agility as well as expertise, so make sure you hire the right staff before you begin.
2. Start small: the “think big, start small” mentality means putting aside the dreams of a fully automated workflow enhanced by the latest tech to focus on smaller improvements first. Although it might not feel like much, the effects will be instant. Starting small means the personnel will become accustomed to continuous improvements, giving them the agility needed to undertake larger, long-term tasks.
   1. Build on what you have: recognize you aren’t starting from scratch.
   2. Embrace continuous change: break down your digital efforts into small efforts.
   3. Make iterative milestones: they embrace continuous change and ongoing iterative improvement.
   4. Place the user at the center: in all your decision-making, build experiences that provide more value to users.
3. Monitor and improve: successful digital acceleration requires continuous improvement through monitoring. If you haven’t achieved the desired result (increased productivity, for example), remember that digital acceleration is an iterative process. Learn how to improve each iteration by reflecting on the previous one and adjust your plan to ensure you don’t make the same mistakes twice.

How we can help

What is London Digital

London Digital drives transformation and shapes businesses by bringing together the capabilities needed to help organizations grow and thrive in the digital age.

Our Digital Acceleration & Enablement program helps our clients overcome challenges in customer experience, analytics, data and business intelligence. Innovate new digital solutions through emergent and novel use of cloud-based software solutions, infrastructure (IaaS) and platforms (PaaS), and custom development. Identify technology capability gaps within your organization to accelerate digital transformation, build digital skills, capabilities and competencies across the enterprise.

At London Consulting Group, we understand that this is a journey, and the journey begins with understanding where you are. Then we can use best practices to define a roadmap for digital success.

Assessment

• We evaluate your company, identifying where you are in terms of technology, analytics, automation and management.

• We identify opportunities.

• We propose a roadmap for success.

• Project;

• Continuity and Support
  • You are never alone. Once the project is finished, we offer plans for continuity and support. You will never have to face challenges alone.

Begin your journey to Digital Transformation.

Step 1, understand where you are: take our digital maturity survey.