Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 36 | Page 31

////////////////////////// D igital Transformation is only as successful as the groundwork that supports it, and the vision that drives it. Organisational longevity hinges on the ability to build a business that’s capable of leveraging digital and data intelligence to deliver transformational customer experiences. However, achieving this goal asks that the organisation clearly defines its future state – the optimal position for their business to remain relevant in the future. This definition demands that the business answers tough questions around its digital business investment goals and existing state, while re-examining how it approaches implementation, spend and customer. These thoughts and processes are critical to understand in order to drive the transformation to becoming an Intelligent Enterprise. It has to answer very specific questions that include: • What does ‘future state’ mean to the business – where does the business need to be tomorrow in order to remain competitive and relevant in a constantly changing market? • What does this future look like and how should it be measured? • What is the long-term vision that refines and defines this future state and how will this shape decision-making and measurement parameters today? The answer lies in the data. In the organisations ability to understand the role of data and how it can be leveraged to achieve a sustainable and achievable future state. Data is the key to unlocking understanding around existing business systems and capabilities, employee competencies and requirements, and harnessing emergent technologies. It is the platform from which the enterprise can deep-dive into its existing infrastructure and skills challenges and thereby paint a picture that not only reflects today, but a realistically achievable tomorrow. Perhaps the one question that should rule them all is the one that asks how? How can the organisation get to its desired future state and fully realise its potential within a highly competitive and challenging market that’s undergoing endless and unexpected disruption? www.intelligentcio.com Nicholas Bell, the CEO and founder of Decision Inc “ THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE ORGANISATION IS TO ACHIEVE A FUTURE STATE THAT ENSURES RELEVANCE. The X Factor The ultimate goal of the organisation is to achieve a future state that ensures relevance. This is not defined exclusively by the use of data and analytics. The tools that refine and harness data and analytics are varied and adaptable to situation and circumstance. The true value lies in the ability to work with the existing technology, human capital and investment potential to deliver a future- proof solution that will drive the reality of the future state. INTELLIGENTCIO 31