B) Risks associated with digital transformation
No doubt about it, digital transformation comes with risks—and even the best strategy can encounter challenges. Here’s what we see with our clients, plus how we minimize risks and overcome challenges.
1. Lack of buy-in from all stakeholders
Some transformation projects affect only one part of an organization, but most projects touch several parts—if not the entire company.
If you don’t include all stakeholders, there’s a risk that some people won’t adopt new technologies and processes. It’s tough to get people to change if 1) they don’t see what’s in it for them, and 2) they don’t feel like they had a seat at the table.
The solution is to build an early coalition of stakeholders—then keep everyone involved, every step of the way.
This is why we use a proven process for cross-functional collaboration here at Corsica. Our goal is to get everyone involved, speaking up, and contributing to the final outcome in a healthy way.
2. Strategy that works today, but not tomorrow
Here’s a curious thing in digital transformation—almost a contradiction:
The best companies view transformation as a continuous exercise.
Yet a transformation project that isn’t future-proofed can cause more harm than good down the road.
It’s a tough thing to get right—which is one reason to engage a digital transformation consulting company. Here at Corsica, we help you lay a durable foundation that doesn’t stay static, but rather empowers future transformation. And we do it without creating technical debt, which is so important in this environment of continuous change.
3. Bandwagon strategy may not be right for you
Digital transformation can create a herd mentality. But the trends that dominate TED Talks and LinkedIn may not be right for every organization.
Here’s a great example. As cloud technology gained prominence in the 2000s and 2010s, many leaders in business and IT believed the cloud was right for every use case. This led to migrating all on-premises systems to the cloud.
Sadly, the cloud isn’t right for every system. Sometimes it’s actually more expensive than hosting things locally. In these cases, on premises may actually be the right approach—which leads to the growing trend of cloud repatriation or reverse migration.
So how do you know if you’re pursuing real value or chasing a buzzword in digital transformation?
Consulting can bridge the gap. Here at Corsica, our experts bring an outside perspective, auditing your real needs and cutting through the hype. We’re passionate about helping companies find the solution that really is best for them—regardless of what’s trendy.
C) Challenges of digital transformation
Digital transformation is rarely easy. Even the simplest projects come with complexity, which is one of the reasons to engage a trusted consulting team like Corsica. You want to uncover every potential issue so there are no surprises.
Here are some common challenges we see in digital transformation—and how we overcome them when consulting with our clients.
1. Stakeholders may disagree about transformation
The more complex the organization, the more opinions your team will have. After all, Sales and Operations interact with a given system in different ways—and they have different needs.
It’s totally understandable that stakeholders would disagree about transformation. But you can’t stay in a place of friction. You need to work through those negotiations and define a viable path forward—one that works for everyone.
Unless you have seasoned digital transformation experts on staff, that process can be challenging. It’s one of the biggest reasons to engage in consulting. An expert partner like Corsica can bring all stakeholders to the table and facilitate a healthy dialogue that builds consensus. This is critical to success in digital transformation.
2. Existing processes may depend heavily on dying technology
Sometimes, the driver for transformation is the fact that a critical system has become EOL (end of life). When this happens, it’s fairly easy to define the goal in terms of technology. You want to retire that system and replace it with something future-proofed.
But old processes are often just as inefficient as the software that supported them. It may not be advisable, or even possible, to replace that system 1:1 and maintain existing processes.
In these cases, digital transformation goes far beyond technology. It requires deep, thoughtful reengineering of critical processes so they run better—both in terms of software and operations.
Some companies can get there without consulting, but most benefit from an expert perspective. Here at Corsica, this is how we help our clients achieve results without wasting time and money.
3. Lack of in-house talent to facilitate transformation
Most organizations aren’t in the digital transformation business. This means they don’t have a team of technology specialists with deep experience in digital transformation. If they do have technology staff, these people may focus heavily on day-to-day support and reactive break/fix requests. It’s tough for them to be proactive, let alone develop and execute a strategic digital transformation project.
This is one of the primary reasons companies come to us for consulting. They know they need to engage in digital transformation, but they lack the resources to articulate the why, the what, and the how. And when it comes to execution, they need just as much help.
Here at Corsica, we help our clients through every stage of transformation—from consulting to implementation to to support after go-live. Learn more here: Digital Transformation Services.
4. Limited visibility into cybersecurity
Whenever you alter business processes or introduce new technology, you have to think about cybersecurity. While old systems may have been less secure, new systems introduce new attack surfaces that must be accounted for. Certain technologies, like generative AI, may even create net-new cybersecurity risks. Learn more in our post on Microsoft Copilot vs. ChatGPT.
Ultimately, it’s best to engage in cybersecurity consulting alongside digital transformation. You need expert consultants who can advise on how transformation will impact security. That’s one of the reasons we have a comprehensive team here at Corsica Technologies. We handle digital transformation, cybersecurity, EDI, IT services, and more. Check out Our Services for the full picture.
