As I am currently immersed in Digital Transformation and exposed to multiple Cloud based solutions, Augmented Reality and Advanced Data Analytics, this article becomes more prevalent each day. I am a firm believer that creating a networked Digital Platform that reaches out to multiple clients and employees is key to your future success. You absolutely need to understand how to connect and use data from multiple sources like Google, Facebook and Amazon do, so very well. Also, Customer experience should always be King. Below is something I wrote a couple of years ago. It stands the time well.
Information Technology is now a core part of a forward minded and flexible company, as advances in technology have increased at an unforeseen rate in the last few years. In my last article, I described Industry 4.0 and how Cyber Systems, Internet of things (IoT), and cloud computing are driving the collaboration of workers, work machines, and IT.
Let’s take a simple look at Digital Transformation and the customer experience. Not too long ago we paid with cash or credit cards, then debit cards and debit cards with chips for advanced security. This morning I transferred my store points cards to the Apple Pay app and I have further protection with my thumbprint to pay through the IPhone. No more cash, small change, points cards, credit cards or debit cards and all my transactions are stored in one safe place. This is called improving the customer experience with a WOW!
And that is just an Apple example. What about Google, Amazon, Facebook? All are huge Digital Transformation disruptive companies in their own fields. Think of Amazon using reader reviews as free marketing for their entire book inventory! All they had to do was to create a platform for readers including a 1-5 star system.
For SAP I have written about Supply Chain Monitoring across the Supply Chain to extract standard data, break down silos, and create one source of data truth. What if we made this into a pure digital dashboard? No excel sheets and no paperwork. All your users and executives would see the entire Supply Chain metrics in real time. And what if we combined other data from systems outside of SAP? This is on top of SAP’s own drive to join the digital transformation. This is innovative and forward thinking.
Here are a few key questions for you
- What kind of customer experience do you want?
- How do you reduce silos and increase collaboration of workers, work machines, data, ideas, and IT?
- How can you collaborate with clients and data from R&D to Delivery using prototypes and simulations to produce innovative ideas?
- How do you reduce redundant and unnecessary tasks between departments and reduce bottlenecks?
- How will IT become a world class division to escalate the strategic work of a company?
- What kind of Digital Platform are you creating?
Terry Vermeylen is President of Terry Vermeylen Enterprises and owns Worldclasssupplychain.com