Now more than ever companies are finding it hard to keep up with market changes, supplier issues, and other factors that eat into profitability and undermine competitive advantage. Regardless of your industry, the ability to deliver customer value and compete and win new business is inherent to your success.
Yet too many companies are still addressing the same problems they faced decades ago, time wasted on manual, repetitive, low-value tasks, poor visibility from one department to the next, profitability challenges, and a reactive approach to business and customers.
Digital transformation can be a massive step forward in addressing these problems, and more. But where to start? You can learn about the Dos and Don’ts for successful digital transformation in CIMdata’s recent commentary.
CIMdata defines digital transformation as the adoption of digital technologies to transform a business’ products and services. There is no “one size fits all” digital transformation project. Every business has a different objectives and starting points regarding technology and process improvements they need to adopt.
Connecting the global workforce and supply chain
A core part of a successful digital transformation initiative is transforming digital skills to enable a more flexible, global workforce. There is a direct correlation to product development agility and supply chain agility. Doing more with less and breaking down collaboration barriers and being able to respond quickly to changing factors whether it’s customer demand, competitive pressures, or quickly finding a new supplier.
In manufacturing, cloud-based technology is a critical component for product development agility and keeping your business operational. There are data and process management tools that can help you use product data for actionable insights, resulting in smarter decision making; tools that can help you adapt and respond to new business opportunities, and tools that keep everyone connected and productive regardless of location.
At Autodesk, we believe that digital transformation begins with the convergence of design and manufacturing disciplines, putting data at the center to connect the entire organization, enable collaboration across the value network, and unlock the power of automation. Cloud-native data management and product lifecycle management are central to this ability.
Using cloud-based PDM and PLM can break down silos between departments and make sure the right people have the right information at the right time. Internal and external stakeholders can stay connected anytime, anywhere, including throughout the supply chain.
Important Dos and Don’ts for successful digital transformation
CIMdata summarizes that successful digital transformation impacts all areas of a business: culture, technology, processes, information, and people skills. As a result, it needs to be carefully planned and executed.
A few critically important Dos and Don’ts for successful digital transformation include:
• Establish a broad vision and approach and get senior management commitment and involvement.
• Seek and obtain multi-phase, multi-year funding and break the process into manageable phases.
• Establish data and process governance — manage scope creep.
• Educate and train the organization at all levels.
• Don’t underestimate the effort — transformation is a journey that takes time and money.
Digital transformation is critical to success in today’s complex, rapidly changing manufacturing world. Learn more in CIMdata’s commentary.
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