Transformation without a clear strategy in place can quickly become overwhelming. Many organizations make the mistake of viewing it as just an IT project, but it’s far more than that. Digital transformation touches every part of the business, from internal processes to customer interactions to the value you offer.
Recent Gartner research shows that the top priorities for digital transformation over the last few years have been improving customer experience, increasing operational efficiency, and driving revenue growth. Despite this focus, many organizations still face significant challenges. 89% of boards recognize the importance of digital transformation consulting services for growth, but only 35% are making tangible progress towards their goals.
The challenges don’t stop there. Gartner’s 2025 CIO survey found 59% of digital initiatives take longer than expected, and 52% struggle to deliver value as quickly as planned.
To make sure your digital transformation is successful, you need more than just a vague vision. What you need is a well-thought-out roadmap that outlines the path ahead. This blog will walk you through how to create a digital transformation strategy and share insights and best practices to help your organization get there faster.
Assess the Current State
Before you start any digital transformation project, you need to know where you’re starting from. According to recent data, 70% of companies either have a digital transformation strategy or are developing one. But the first step in creating a solid strategy is to assess your current state. This means taking a good, hard look at your existing processes, technologies, and capabilities. By understanding where you’re strong, where you’re weak, and where you need to improve, you can pinpoint where to start your digital journey.
It’s also important to bring in key stakeholders at all levels. Their input will give you a full view of your organization’s challenges and opportunities. Often, digital initiatives stall because of a lack of stakeholder buy-in, with 37% saying it’s held up at the C-level and 10% saying it’s an employee issue. Without this alignment, even the best ideas will fail.
Defining Objectives and Goals
After you’ve gotten a clear idea of your current position, you need to set your objectives and goals. What’s pushing you to seek digital transformation consulting services? Most companies want to grow, keep up with competitors, or follow new regulations. A 2023 Gartner survey of boards showed that 60% of boards put digital projects at the top of their list for the next few years. No matter your reasons, you should make sure these goals fit with your main business plan.
You might want to make customers happier, run things more, or come up with new ideas. Your goals should be easy to understand, possible to measure, and doable. Using a SMART approach – specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound – can help you stay on track. One issue companies face is that different departments want different things. Gartner found that 94% of EMEA companies have trouble creating a unified vision for digital change, often because various stakeholders expect different outcomes.
A Customer-Centric Approach
Digital transformation consulting services should always be about your customers. You need to know their behavior, preferences and pain points to deliver value. Technology like data analytics and CRM systems can help you gather insights to tailor experiences and optimize interactions. And it’s not just external customers who matter – your employees are customers too. A good transformation strategy should make work easier and more efficient for everyone involved.
Industry-Specific Approach
Every industry has its own set of challenges, compliance requirements, and customer expectations. What works for a retail business might not apply in manufacturing or finance. That’s why a one-size-fits-all strategy can easily fall short.
A tailored, industry-specific digital transformation consulting services approach helps organizations adopt technologies that directly impact their operations.
For example:
- In the utilities and energy sector, digital visibility for customers is key. Real-time usage dashboards, mobile self-service portals, and predictive maintenance are crucial for building trust and reducing operational costs.
- In manufacturing, automation drives digital transformation. Robotics, IoT sensors, and predictive analytics help streamline operations, reduce downtime, and boost productivity.
- For financial services, the focus is on data integrity and security. Secure platforms, regulatory compliance, and real-time fraud detection are foundational to any transformation effort.
- In healthcare, digital transformation consulting services improve patient outcomes through telemedicine, EHR integration, and AI-powered diagnostics.
A good transformation strategy should make work easier and more efficient for everyone involved.
Technology Enablement
The right technology is key to any digital transformation consulting services. Many companies get bogged down by old systems that are holding them back. That’s why you need to review your current tech stack and identify the gaps. Moving to the cloud, adopting big data analytics, integrating AI, and tapping into the Internet of Things (IoT) are all opportunities to drive growth and innovation. But these technologies need to be part of a flexible, scalable architecture that can grow with you.
Data-Driven Decision-Making
Data forms the core of any digital transformation consulting services. Companies need to put money into smart data tools and set up rules for handling data to make choices based on facts. Using data well can make your work smoother, keep customers happier, and even open new ways to grow. But it’s just as crucial to keep data safe and private, so you can build trust with your customers and partners
Agile and Iterative Approach
When you’re on the path to digital change, it’s key to take small steps and stay flexible. Split your plan into bite-sized pieces. This way, you can try things out, pick up new skills, and tweak your approach as you move forward. Being quick on your feet means your company can roll with the punches, test fresh ideas, and keep getting better at what you do.
Change Management and Culture Shift
Digital transformation consulting services are about the culture within the organization. Leadership has a big role to play in this, but it’s not just about top-down edicts. A successful transformation requires a culture that encourages innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. This is especially important when different departments or teams have competing goals.
Employees need to be equipped with the right skills and training to adapt to new technology and ways of working. Change management strategies are key to dealing with resistance, encouraging active participation, and a smooth transition across the business. By focusing on these strategies, organizations can drive lasting change and improve the experience for everyone.
A well-executed change management plan helps organizations with:
- Clearly define the scope and objectives of the digital transformation.
- Delivering sustainable business value and encouraging higher user adoption.
- Mitigating potential risks to business continuity.
- Embracing new ways of working and adapting to the evolving digital landscape.
- Engaging employees and relevant stakeholders actively in the change process.
- Regularly monitoring progress and adjusting when necessary to achieve the best outcomes.
Collaboration and Ecosystem Engagement
Another key ingredient for successful digital transformation consulting services is collaboration. It’s no longer enough to rely solely on internal resources. Engaging with external partners, technology providers, industry experts, and even startups can help bring fresh perspectives, provide access to cutting-edge technologies, and open doors to new business models.
However, many organizations still struggle to tap into these external sources of innovation. According to the 2023 Gartner CIO and Technology Executive Survey, only 36% of CIOs and technology leaders are actively using resources like digital disruptors, gig workers, or startups to accelerate their digital initiatives. To stay ahead, it’s crucial to embrace these collaborations and leverage the expertise they bring.
Sometimes, organizations reach a point where their legacy systems just don’t cut it anymore. We had a client in North America, a leading manufacturer of building and construction equipment, who was facing just that. Their outdated legacy system was plagued by performance issues, high maintenance costs, and a lack of modern integration capabilities. With technologies like C++, Fortran, and .NET Framework 4.5 in place, the system was holding them back from reaching their full potential.
Success Story
Stridely Solutions partnered with them to modernize their legacy application into a cloud-native, microservices-based solution. They aimed to bring the system up to date, keeping their past work while making it more scalable, faster, and secure. We spent time grasping their needs and built a solution for easier upkeep, quicker feature rollouts, and smoother system blending. The update included:
The transformation included:
- Microservices Architecture: Modular, scalable, and maintainable components that allow for independent updates and faster issue resolution.
- Azure Infrastructure: Runs on Microsoft Azure using Kubernetes, auto-scaling, and always-on systems to ensure speed and trust.
- Cost Optimization: By bringing key parts together and adding flexible scaling, they cut setup and upkeep costs by 40%.
- Security & Compliance: Better safety with single sign-on, job-based access control, and following industry standards.
How Stridely Solutions can help
At Stridely Solutions, we understand the complexities of digital transformation. As a trusted partner, we have helped numerous clients across industries successfully navigate their digital transformation journeys. We specialize in creating “value-centric” initiatives that focus on people, processes, and technology, ensuring that every transformation aligns with your unique business goals.
With our extensive experience working with global enterprises, we bring deep industry knowledge and expert-driven solutions to the table. Our approach is holistic, where we combine digital technologies with high-quality program management to deliver end-to-end digital transformation.
We provide digital transformation consulting services while ensuring that your organization is equipped to embrace the future. We help you transform your strategy and ignite meaningful change, all while focusing on delivering tangible business outcomes and fostering positive, human-centric experiences. Contact us to learn more about our offerings for your business.
Thought Leader – Nayan Yajnik