Digital Transformation

What is "digital transformation"?

Digital transformation has been described as the use of technology to radically improve the performance and reach of organisations. This has already happened - with smart phones, apps, connected devices, charities are being left behind, as current and potential donors move towards digital offerings.

Charities must keep up to date and radically transform their organisation in order to keep up to date with the rapidly changing technology of the modern world. Digital transformation isn't about improving current practice or upgrading systems, it's about using digital tools and processes to genuinely transform how the charity or organisation operates and interacts with others.

Why aren't we making the most of the digital world?

Risk aversion - investing time and money into new technology is often a scary prospect for organisations, especially in the current uncertain economic climate; Lack of leadership - we need examples of success stories to give others confidence to talk the step towards digital; Focusing on digital marketing and social media - although this is a start, it doesn't transform the organisation and therefore shouldn't be considered as digital progress. What can we do to embrace the digital transformation?

1. Have a clear leadership strategy focussed on digital transformation;

Having a leadership message that it focused on digital transformation encourages all others within the organisation to improve and work towards the goal of effecting real digital change within the organisation 2.Put technology at the heart of what you do;

Digital services are not just the focus of IT departments, everyone should be focused on the goal and be able to have input into how they could aid the goal of digital transformation within the organisation 3 Start from the inside of your organisation and work out;

Collaboration within the organisation is a key to digital transformation. All of those involved should be able to feed into the project. By transforming the environment and working practices of the organisation, this will lead to more innovation out with the organisation. An example of this is the Cystic Fibrosis Trust who recently moved to an office specifically designed to allow the staff to work collaboratively. The office is open plan and they have invested heavily in video conferencing to give employees flexible working opportunities. 4 Encourage experimentation;

You could set up a research and development...