Tuesday 18 February 2014

A digital culture requires digital commitment


Image: eschipul via Flickr
It's been well documented that organisations with a digital culture are the ones most successfully adapting to the changing face of business. 

Often that culture is being driven from the very top by digitally savvy CEOs like Jeff Bezos at Amazon, Howard Schultz at Starbucks and, formerly, Angela Ahrendts at Burberry. 

Some companies are opting to propel digital transformation by adding a Chief Digital Officer (CDO) to their senior ranks. 


Either way, businesses with a digital culture think about how every customer and employee interaction and every business process could be improved through the use of emerging technology and media. 


These businesses are digitally committed. 


And the commitment is asked of everyone. It's the responsibility of every team member to create value through digital. 


Digital is a core part of the overall strategy. Budgets reflect this. The digital vision, plans and results are talked about regularly. Goals are shared and aligned. The opportunity for the business is bigger than any one group or technology, and the behaviours that reflect this are the behaviours that are rewarded. 


To create a digital culture in your organisation think about how you can demonstrate, foster and reward digital commitment.


Thursday 9 January 2014

What impact will investment in digital have on my bottom line?

It's a question that 5metres has been asked a lot lately. Of course, it depends on numerous factors and is often complicated to measure. But if you're looking for benchmarks, look no further.

Capgemini's 2013 research found that when organisations combine the right technology with the right leadership they can seriously outperform their sector (see graph on page five):
- Revenue production: +9%
- Profitability: +26%
- Market valuation: +12%

McKinsey's yearlong study calls out three levels of disruption for businesses and estimates the average bottom line impact over five years to be 20% from digital sales and 36% from cost reductions. 

Monday 25 November 2013

What is a digital strategist and do you need one?

Image: Ben Husmann via Flickr
5metres just enjoyed this early morning read of Anna Colibri's take on the role of a digital strategist. Digital is a minefield for so many companies and Anna's piece is a delightfully clear (and jargon-free) overview of the value of strategy in digital. 

Thursday 24 October 2013

Looking at digital transformation from the perspective of the customer

Image: Cognizant via Flickr

Forbes has a good summary of this year's MIT Sloan and Capgemini report on Embracing Digital Technology: A New Strategic Imperative

The survey-based study found most companies enjoying success when digital transformation is focused on improving the customer experience, and cites the importance of vision, strategy, and leadership in driving effective change.

InterContinental Hotels Group CIO Eric Pearson (an old friend of 5metres) talks about how the company is using technology to deliver an improved guest experience to the "virtually connected consumer" in this video interview about the developing role of the CIO.

Monday 21 October 2013

Your customers expect more... and more...


Image: Alibree via Flickr

In today's digital world, customer expectations are rising faster than a bunch of helium balloons on a calm day.  

Apple raised the bar for design, Amazon is setting the pace for retailers everywhere, and Netflix is changing the way we'll think about TV shows forever.