Tapping Volcanic Transformation
VERSION NEXT, NOW
Core Issues in People, Process and Technology
The Change Agent
The story of digital transformation and holistic business strategy through technology innovation today.
Transformation Bubbling Through the Bedrock
Fascinating parallels exist between nature and technology. Studying volcanoes, for example, gives us a window into the planet’s history, forming continents, atmosphere and oceans. Similarly, a surface-level view of any technology system or initiative never tells the full story. A comprehensive analysis digs through the layers and identifies the connections where transformation begins. Technology powers a complex system embedded into every aspect of business today, so digital transformation initiatives should run parallel with continuous changes in technological innovation.
Of course, this is easier said than done.
Organisations frequently embark on modernisation efforts with great expectations, only to see their plans not come to fruition due to a lack of alignment across business and IT teams and their respective systems and capabilities. Addressing this common problem is essential for organisations to succeed in their transformation efforts. It is critical to shift the focus to optimising processes and providing more real-time business value through technology—rather than technology, especially the surge of AI, driving change.
Applying AI can boost efficiency and serve as a strategic differentiator for organisations. AI, however, is not always the solution. Decision-makers should take a well-rounded approach and understand short-term and long-term organisational goals. Rather than reacting to an outcome or following a trend, it is important to create a thoughtful, well-aligned approach harmonising people, process and technology.
Like the hidden, powerful movement below the earth’s surface that produces spectacular eruptions and morphs landscapes, effective balance and synergy between organisational goals and technology initiatives can catalyse progress and lead to volcanic transformation.
Digital transformation is a continuous flow of technology innovation and adoption. There is no endpoint. Most organisations have ongoing digital transformation initiatives, but many lack a sustained strategy for long-term technology investment, optimisation and business alignment. Transformation efforts should align strategic thinking with exceptional execution.
Strategists, designers and technologists can combine their expertise to actualise the transformation from vision and strategy to implementation and optimisation.
Vision and Strategy
- Explore and envision: Assess current-state value streams with respect to customer needs, business objectives and transformation readiness. Prioritise targets for the establishment of new or updated technology and/or experience strategies.
- Shape and validate: Align on transformation parameters and metrics and define guiding principles and key future-state components in partnership with stakeholders. Then establish a roadmap to guide realisation and complete foundational work to enable implementation.
Implementation and Optimisation
- Build and evolve: Establish operating models, ways of working, programmes and reports to govern modernisation efforts. Execute on modernisation and innovation efforts from any additional exploration needed through operationalisation.
- Operationalise and scale: Hone and extend modernisation processes, tools and reporting to enable continual innovation and adaptation of digital solutions. Manage your value streams to ensure the ongoing success of your digital transformation.
At the Core: Value-Driven Transformation
To help achieve your organisational goals, experts can guide you through each step, from value discovery to value optimisation. The right partnership can provide a structured approach, proven methodologies and practical tools, delivered through focused workshops and team engagement to ensure the success and sustainability of your transformation.
Maximise your return on investment (ROI) by organising and prioritising transformation initiatives. Your transformation partner should provide comprehensive services to guide you on your journey to include the following:
Modern Enterprise Architecture
- Modernise complex applications, data and infrastructure to support a successful business transformation.
- Define an AI ecosystem strategy to revolutionise your enterprise structure.
Business Process Transformation
- Transform business processes to improve operational efficiency and drive measurable value.
- Identify opportunities to implement AI and automation and build the foundation for the future.
Organisational Optimisation
- Maximise the value of IT with innovative approaches to organise, operate and deliver value at scale.
- Explore the potential of AI to amplify the human experience and offer new possibilities to create, explore and advance your service offerings.
IT Value Management
- Align IT investments with organisational goals to enhance decision-making and support sustainable growth.
- Leverage AI-powered data analytics to optimise performance tracking and adapt to an evolving market.
Digital transformation is no longer a one‑time initiative; it is a holistic, continuous journey with no finish line.
Sandhya Pandita, Director of Business Operations, TEKsystems India
Our Perspective
Organisations can gain greater transformation success and return on technology investments by aligning people, process and technology with an intentional strategy across cross-functional teams and ecosystem partners.
88% of organisations say the initiatives failed to achieve the desired business goals. They invested millions on transformations, and only 12% achieved the original ambition.1
Transformation is complex and requires attention from all impacted parties. Many organisations fail to focus on a bigger-picture approach to include every layer in people, process and technology for a successful outcome that solves the root of the problem, not just a symptom. Aligning business objectives with the right investments is essential, especially in AI, because it’s now part of every conversation. Hesitancy circulates due to unknowns with AI, and inefficient investments result from businesses simply desiring the new, shiny thing. Ensuring that you’re solving the right problem and being intentional with these investments is mission-critical.
Due to the complexity of technology implementation, missing steps is not uncommon. It is important to launch a full value assessment and run a realistic cost-benefit analysis early on while deciding what initiatives you move forward with. Organisations can help avoid costly misses by connecting the work to their strategic objectives. They should measure ROI consistently and create and manage checkpoints throughout the process to ensure alignment and correct direction.
In the age of AI, the focus has shifted from simple optimisation to delivering real‑time value, making digital transformation itself the key driver of sustainable growth.
Sandhya Pandita, Director of Business Operations, TEKsystems India
Optimise the Value Potential of Transformation
When you begin a digital transformation, build a sustained strategy for long-term technology investment, optimisation and business alignment. Digital transformation experts can help organisations engage key stakeholders and align business objectives and priorities to ensure you have a roadmap to the future. An effective partnership can optimise value potential across the entire organisation by infusing industry and domain expertise to create a strategy that guides the transformation and prepares you to implement meaningful change, deliver value and gain a competitive edge.
As your digital transformation initiatives progress, prioritise the core business changes with a big-picture perspective, whether related to business processes or how value is measured and received. Your enterprise architecture landscape should also be prepared to adopt new technologies such as AI.
AI is advancing at a rapid pace and creating new ways of transforming the way we do business. Whether or not you are implementing AI tools or completely transforming your business's processes, it is important to have a solid success strategy. While the rapid pace of implementation and change in the AI space poses legitimate concerns, people also have significant optimism about its potential to foster innovation and drive positive value. Implementing an annual objective and key results (OKR) framework ensures that you remain agile and forward-thinking, aligning teams with clear and measurable goals to capitalise on AI’s transformative opportunities. It is also important to set appropriate benchmarks and receive guidance from experts, who can facilitate workshops and brainstorming sessions to build a roadmap for the best outcomes.
TEKsystems’ Tips to Master the Momentum of Technology
