NEW YORK AND SANTA CLARA, CA NOV. 29, 2016 — According to a new report by Forbes Insights, in association with Hitachi Data Systems, titled "How to Win at Digital Transformation: Insights from a Global Survey of Top Executives,” digital transformation sits atop the strategic agenda for enterprises. Half of the executives surveyed believe the next two years will be critical for their organizations in order to make this transition and prepare for future opportunities.
The global study—based on a survey of 573 senior executives worldwide, as well as one-on-one conversations with top executives—reveals that now more than ever, every industry and company faces the pressure to transform before it’s too late. While prompted by competitive pressure, digital transformation holds the key to turning marginal growth into exponential growth. It is considered the accelerator for bending the curve on productivity, time to market, deployment of new business models and revenue generation.
The research defines digital transformation as an evaluation of business processes. As such, the findings show that real business transformation, made possible by digital transformation, is only achievable when organizations realize the interconnectedness of people, processes and technology. All three must be synchronized for meaningful business transformation to occur. As uncovered in the report, only a third of companies consider themselves leaders in customer experience, suggesting that the potential of data and analytics to help with this process has been underutilized.
“Digital transformation is now essential for corporate survival,” said Bruce Rogers, Chief Insights Officer at Forbes Media. “And it’s more about people and culture—about change management—along with investing in the technology.”
“At the center of transformation is data. It is both the creator and accelerator that has proven to be the currency of IT organizations. By failing to unlock the potential of data, organizations are falling short of their own transformation,” said Asim Zaheer, Chief Marketing Officer, Hitachi Data Systems. “Hitachi is at the center of this customer transformation and the leader in data strategy, creating incredible opportunities for organizations to manage, govern, mobilize, learn from and ultimately transform insights into actions for business.”
While the research suggests that most companies are on the right track, the transition toward digital maturity points to five major steps:
- Make transformation a top strategic priority. The Forbes Insights-Hitachi survey confirms that digital transformation is the top strategic priority (50%). The strategic emphasis on digital transformation is reinforced by executives’ focus on investment. Investing in new technologies to enable digitization is the top investment priority over the next two years (51%), along with increasing data and analytics capabilities (51%).
- Business outcomes need to drive digital transformation (DX). New business models are the top driver of DX (41%), followed by new technologies (40%). It is a sign of maturity that the ability to innovate is the top measure by which the success of DX is measured (46%), along with revenue growth (46%), followed by cost reduction (43%).
At the same time, there are issues companies still grapple with and must resolve:
- Untapped potential of data and analytics. While less than half of companies (44%) see themselves as advanced or leaders in data and analytics, a vast majority (91%) have already seen revenue increases due to the use of data and analytics. Only a third of companies consider themselves leaders in customer experience based on their digital transformation, which points to underutilized potential.
- An enterprise-wide approach to DX needs to be adopted. Currently, cross-functional teams are not involved enough in developing (40%) or implementing (35%) strategy, with the bulk of this work done by IT (50% and 54% respectively). IT is the function considered the most prepared for digital transformation (53%), while other functions lag with just over a third of survey respondents deeming them ready.
- Companies must learn how best to marry technology with human resources. Technology cuts both ways. It is seen as the biggest challenge (29%) and the top contributor to a successful digital transformation (56%). People are on top of the list when it comes to how to deal with challenges of DX. New hires come first (57%), followed by internal training (54%). For technology to contribute, people (defined as talent and capabilities), need to be viewed as contributors to success.
About this research
This report’s findings are based on responses of 573 C-level executives from North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. They represented enterprises with revenues above US$500 million, with 62% of companies having revenue of more than $1 billion, and 19% with revenues of $10 billion or more. The majority of respondents were chief executive officers (CEO) (23%), chief technology officers (20%), chief information officers (15%), and chief financial officers (7%), and all were involved in the planning or implementing of digital transformation in their organizations. Respondents represented a wide range of industries, including technology and services (20%), telecommunications (10%), financial services (14%), and healthcare (10%).
The report also includes econometric research, conducted by the Department of Business Technology, University of Miami, in association with Forbes Insights. This research examined the relationship between increasing technology expenditures during the last recession (2007 through 2009) and an increased compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during economic recovery (2010 through 2015). It is based on the analysis of 99 of the world’s biggest companies.
About Forbes Insights
Forbes Insights is the strategic research and thought leadership practice of Forbes Media, a global media, branding and technology company whose combined platforms reach nearly 75 million business decision makers worldwide on a monthly basis. By leveraging proprietary databases of senior-level executives in the Forbes community, Forbes Insights conducts research on a wide range of topics to position brands as thought leaders and drive stakeholder engagement. Research findings are delivered through a variety of digital, print and live executions, and amplified across Forbes' social and media platforms.
Download the report at www.forbes.com/forbesinsights/hds_digital_maturity/
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About Hitachi Data Systems
Hitachi Data Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., offers an integrated portfolio of services and solutions that enable digital transformation through enhanced data management, governance, mobility and analytics. We help global organizations open new revenue streams, increase efficiencies, improve customer experience and ensure rapid time to market in the digital age. Only Hitachi Data Systems powers the digital enterprise by integrating the best information technology and operational technology from across the Hitachi family of companies. We combine this experience with Hitachi expertise in the internet of things to deliver the exceptional insights business and society need to transform and thrive. Visit us at www.hds.com.
About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, delivers innovations that answer society's challenges with our talented team and proven experience in global markets. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal 2014 (ended March 31, 2015) totaled 9,761 billion yen ($81.3 billion). Hitachi is focusing more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes power & infrastructure systems, information & telecommunication systems, construction machinery, high functional materials & components, automotive systems, healthcare and others. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com.
Contacts:
Forbes Insights
Laura Daunis
212-367-4874
ldaunis@forbes.com
Hitachi Data Systems:
Chris Drago
408-410-4591
christopher.drago@hds.com
HITACHI is a trademark or registered trademark of Hitachi, Ltd. All other trademarks, service marks, and company names are properties of their respective owners.
