{"id":68295,"date":"2019-06-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-17T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sage-new-clone.local\/en-za\/blog\/?p=68230"},"modified":"2025-12-10T17:08:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T15:08:51","slug":"technology-in-the-way-of-digital-transformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/technology-in-the-way-of-digital-transformation\/","title":{"rendered":"Why technology stands in the way of digital transformation"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/category\/technology-innovation\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Technology &amp; Innovation<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhy technology stands in the way of digital transformation\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2019-06-18T00:00:00+02:00\">June 18, 2019<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"Why technology stands in the way of digital transformation\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/technology-in-the-way-of-digital-transformation\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/author\/matthewkibby\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/01\/Sage-Advice-YT-logo-2-350x350.png\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/01\/Sage-Advice-YT-logo-2-350x350.png 350w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/01\/Sage-Advice-YT-logo-2.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 40px) 100vw, 40px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Matthew Kibby<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>here\u2019s a common misperception that digital transformation means adopting new technology and jumping on buzzword bandwagons like AI, blockchain, and machine learning. But this is exactly why so many businesses get it wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So says\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/za.linkedin.com\/in\/antonioschristodoulou\">Tony Christodoulou<\/a>, CIO, EMEA, at American Tower Corporation and lecturer at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBBS), speaking in the latest episode of the\u00a0Sage Futurealist podcast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><mark class=\"highlight-and-share\">Digital transformation does not mean a change in technology, or something you apply to the front-end of your existing products and services. It\u2019s about business transformation \u2013 changing the way you do business to serve your future customer. Most importantly, it must be linked to a specific business objective.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are three key elements in a digital strategy, he says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a business priority,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>data as an asset, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a visionary and strategic CIO.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Define the priority<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><mark class=\"highlight-and-share\">Digital transformation means starting with a business imperative and thinking about how technology can enable it<\/mark> says Christodoulou.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t overcomplicate things; simplicity is the art of effectiveness \u2013 always go back to&nbsp;<em>why<\/em>&nbsp;you\u2019re doing this and don\u2019t worry about how you\u2019re going to do it or about understanding the technology. If you don\u2019t know why, look at your value chain and identify your business drivers. Then ask&nbsp;<em>how<\/em>&nbsp;technology can make you more efficient. If you change how you do things, will you be better, quicker, or cheaper?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is not to say that businesses should not dabble in new technology. But Christodoulou says this type of \u201cvalue play\u201d must be calculated and link back to the business priority. \u201cNothing is ever a failure \u2013 it\u2019s a first attempt at learning. It\u2019s only a failure if you bring technology into the business for no good reason \u2013 then it becomes aimless execution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He says tools like chatbots are exciting, but there must be a reason for implementing them: what\u2019s the value? \u201cIf it\u2019s to reduce admin tasks so your customer service team can focus on other value-add activities to reduce costs and increase revenue \u2013 that\u2019s valuable. Chatbots are not valuable simply because they\u2019re cool.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Data as an asset<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The same business imperative question applies to data: what are you trying to see or answer?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People think their data problem will be solved once the data is scrubbed and they have reporting capabilities and visualisation tools in place, but again, this starts with the technology rather than a business imperative, says Christodoulou. \u201cAnyone can find insights in their data, but those insights mean little if they don\u2019t link back to a business imperative.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For him, there is no greater business imperative than treating data as an asset, and this usually requires a change in processes. \u201cGet people on your team with a business process mindset who also treat data as a business asset,\u201d he says. <mark class=\"highlight-and-share\">\u201cGood data starts at the business competency, business processes, and user ability to follow the process.&#8221;<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">C-Level Guide to Digital Transformation<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Through digital transformation, businesses can secure growth, as well as improve products and services. But C-level leadership must push through the strategic change needed to meet tomorrow\u2019s challenges, today.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-e490e7b1-9373-48c0-8af6-bb8f9154bf50\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download the guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1064\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/07\/resize-1675x1275-39-1064x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/07\/resize-1675x1275-39-1064x810.jpg 1064w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-strategic-cio\"><strong>Strategic CIO<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">The person identifying business imperatives and how technology can enable them, is the CIO, as the right hand of the CEO. The role of the CIO has fundamentally changed, from a support function and cost centre, to a strategic partner and profit enabler, says Christodoulou.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">\u201cThe transformational CIO has to be a line-crosser. He or she needs to be on the ground, understanding customers\u2019 and employees\u2019 operational pain points and being proactive about architecting solutions &#8211; &nbsp;not just waiting for business to verbalise their requirement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">He adds that <mark class=\"highlight-and-share\">any CIO waiting for a requirement doesn\u2019t understand the business problem and is losing the opportunity to be strategic<\/mark>. \u201cBy understanding where the business is going, the CIO should be defining the requirements that will enable the CEO\u2019s vision. They need to be thinking about technology from the onset, before there\u2019s a requirement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-time-for-change\"><strong>Time for change<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Any business embarking on a digital transformation journey should keep two things in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What does the future customer and employee look like?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How will they interact with your current products and solutions?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">There\u2019s no silver bullet to digital transformation. It\u2019s not about replacing existing technology \u2013 that\u2019s the easy part. It\u2019s about the transformation of processes and understanding users\u2019 current competency level, and their ability to use and adopt new technology. It\u2019s about managing change and ensuring everyone understands what it means going forward. It takes a village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Ultimately, he says, it\u2019s about using technology to enable a business process, not the other way around. Be clear on the objective and focus on the value you\u2019re trying to achieve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-202034923-501523208\/futurealist-tony-christodoulou-on-digital-transformation\">Click here<\/a> to listen to the podcast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice enewsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get a roundup of our best business advice in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-84fe79b5-668d-41f8-a0cc-6229018c4ac9\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1181404518-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1181404518-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t\t\tThere\u2019s a common misperception that digital transformation means adopting new technology and jumping on buzzword bandwagons like AI, blockchain, and machine learning. But this is exactly why so many businesses get it wrong.\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":806,"featured_media":501,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,29],"tags":[317,338],"business_type":[2,3],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[9,12,16],"imagine_tag":[62,63,65,81],"coauthors":[415],"class_list":["post-68295","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology-innovation","category-trends-insights","tag-change-management","tag-opinion-columns","business_type-small-business","business_type-medium-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-za","author_name":"Matthew Kibby","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-642980978.jpg","imagine_tags":{"62":"Ambition","63":"Business intelligence","65":"Data","81":"Technology and Innovation"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice South Africa","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/806"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68295"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68295\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68295"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=68295"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=68295"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=68295"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=68295"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=68295"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=68295"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=68295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}