Digital transformation often sounds like a complex overhaul, replacing systems, introducing new platforms, or making large-scale changes across the business.
In reality, not every organisation is ready, or needs to take that approach from the outset. We’ve often found that the best results come when you start smaller tackling specific areas of a business or workflow step by step, building momentum over time.
Even then, the first challenge is knowing where to begin because organisations don’t have a single, obvious problem. If they did, it would likely have already been addressed. Instead, there are usually a number of smaller inefficiencies, workarounds and disconnected systems that have built up over time.
Some of these are visible. Others are harder to spot as they’ve simply become part of ‘how things are done’.
How does your business really run?
Before thinking about big transformations, new tools or new platforms, it’s important to understand your current setup.
Start by looking at the systems or processes your teams use day-to-day and answer these questions:
- How does the data move between these systems?
- What processes are in place that rely on manual input?
- Where are teams duplicating effort or working around limitations?
The aim here is to build a clear picture of how work really gets done vs how it’s supposed to. The gap between the two is where the opportunity most likely lies.
Where is the friction?
Friction can show up as lost time or unnecessary effort. One of the simplest ways to identify it is to speak to your teams or observe how work actually gets done day to day. Patterns quickly start to emerge, such as:
- The same data being entered into multiple systems
- Teams relying on spreadsheets or manual tracking alongside core tools
- Processes that depend on individuals ‘knowing how it works’
- Delays caused by chasing information or approvals
- Limited visibility of progress or status
These moments of friction are often small on their own, but together they create a significant drag on efficiency and consistency.
What improvements will have the biggest impact?
While it would be ideal to address every inefficiency at once, that’s practical. Most organisations don’t have the time or budget for a complete overhaul, and in many cases, they don’t need one. We find it more effective to focus on the areas that will deliver the greatest value first.
For you, that might be:
- A process that happens frequently and takes up a lot of time
- A point in the journey where errors are common
- A stage that slows down delivery or impacts customer experience
- A task that could be automated or simplified
What might the solution look like?
There isn’t a single technology, system or platform that will solve your issues. Successful digital transformation comes from finding the right solutions for your organisation’s specific needs. In some cases, that means introducing something new. In others, it’s about making better use of what’s already in place, for example, connecting systems via APIs or integrating with existing platforms.
Examples of solutions include:
- Connecting existing systems so they work together seamlessly
- Introducing automation to remove repetitive manual tasks
- Improving or replacing specific parts of your current setup
- Introducing new tools where there are clear gaps
- Or building a bespoke platform tailored to your workflows
We saved our client 400 hours a month by implementing a bunch of these solutions. Read what we did >
What’s the best way to ensure success?
Research from Boston Consulting Group found that only 30% of digital transformations succeed, with the majority failing to deliver their intended value or lasting change. The most common contributor to success rates is adoption.
If changes, regardless of how small, are not aligned with how teams actually work, the rate of adoption is significantly reduced. Other factors that contribute to adoptions include leadership buy-in, clear strategy and adequate training.
Some recommendations to improve changes of success:
- Involve the people who use the systems every day from the start
- Understand their challenges and workarounds
- Introduce improvements gradually, rather than all at once
- Ensure there’s clarity around what’s changing and why
- Make sure to provide training for new systems/ platforms
A real-world example
Over the last 4 years, we’ve been working with a leading organisation on their own digital transformation. Rather than replacing their systems, we focused on identifying where time was being lost and processes were breaking down. From there, we introduced improvements step by step, connecting systems, automating key tasks, and creating a more structured workflow.
The result:
- 30 minutes saved per case
- 400 hours saved every month
- Equivalent to 2.5 advisers’ capacity created
Final thought
Identifying opportunities for digital transformation starts with understanding how your organisation works today, and where small changes could make a meaningful difference.
If you’re not sure where those opportunities are, or how to uncover them, we can help. Bringing in a fresh perspective often makes it easier to spot inefficiencies that have become ‘just the way things are done’.
We work with organisations at every stage of their digital transformation journey, from identifying where change will deliver the most value, through to shaping an approach that’s practical, scalable, and aligned to how your teams actually work.
