Tech leader outlines 11 steps to digital transformation

Javier Baldor, executive vice president of BST Global, said the strength in new technologies lies not in the technology itself but how you use that technology to leverage change and improvements in your business.

Speaking at European CIO Conference 2017, hosted by the Association for Consulting and Engineering in London, Baldor spoke about the importance of companies being prepared to take risks when embracing forward-thinking technologies and investing in future talent. Strong leadership and fostering innovation were highlighted as vital components of enabling digital transformation. 

“Everyone wanting to work for digital leaders and leaders want to work for digital companies. Digital is where it’s at,” Baldor added.

Baldor outlined a series of 11 measures to enable firms to embark on a digital transformation and ‘go digital’.

1. Be digitally intentional.

2. Become a digital leader.

3. Define your digital strategy.

4. Assess your firm’s digital readiness.

5. Take stock of your digital investments.

6. Prioritise where change is needed most.

7. Invest in a landmark project.

8. Foster a strong digital culture.

9. Set a common digital language.

10. Prepare your people.

11. Be agile in your focus

When addressing how to stimulate and encourage innovation, Baldor stressed the importance of an open dialogue and for companies to not be afraid to make mistakes when striving for a breakthrough in the technology they use.

“Encourage an open culture as you are not going to hit a home run every time," Baldor said. “A lot of organisations want that home run every time but we are going to fail sometimes, especially when it comes to technology, but it’s important to embrace that and learn from mistakes. Foster innovation within your company as great ideas can come from a cross-section of individuals.

"A company’s success in encouraging innovation is about its ability to reach deep down within a firm and getting young employees engaged. But great ideas can come from various elements of an organisation and it doesn’t matter whether someone is 62 or 28, just foster that culture within,” he added.