These days it isn’t enough to simply be more efficient than your competitors; the most successful companies are those which embrace digital transformation and provide radical new services.
But it can be difficult to know how to go about making the change, and even where to start. That’s where the specialist skills of a Business Analyst (BA) can really help.
Business analysts can play a key role in helping companies to take the necessary steps to identify those innovations and transform their services to become digital organisations.
What is Digital Transformation?
Digital transformation is much more than simply improving your business through the use of technology.
Transformation means the creation of completely new innovations that were not previously possible. We are not talking about a one or two step improvement in the efficiency of traditional practices, but a profound change to the kind of work being done and services provided. A perfect example is how Amazon has changed the retail industry, or the impact Uber is having on taxi services.
What makes digital transformation different is not just the emphasis on customer experience, but that the example of companies like Google and Amazon has raised customer expectations so high that speed, simplicity, convenience, and personalisation are the new norms for all organisations think about a charity taking contactless donations or customers managing insurance claims from mobile apps.
How Business Analysts can help with your digital transformation
Business analysts are specialists in change and the process of change. This means they have a toolkit of knowledge and techniques which are specifically relevant for transformational thinking.
A good BA offers many advantages. Here are some of them:
- Critical analysis. The ability to think in the abstract without being constrained by existing systems or the current ways of doing things.
- Planning and facilitation of ideas and requirements workshops.
- Has an external view of the organisation and its practices; they are able to bring a fresh pair of eyes.
- Takes nothing for granted and asks the obvious questions that otherwise may be taken for granted.
- Has a breadth of experience from working across different industry sectors; can introduce ideas from other industries and suggest what they have seen work in other companies.
- Provides the bridge between the business and developers by translating complicated user requirements into technical specifications.
- Politically neutral without baggage or vested interests, which removes any barriers which may exist to stakeholders and participants voicing their ideas and contributions.
- Gravitas; working with an independent BA can add to the status and credibility of a project.
Customer expectations are higher than ever, which means the pressure is on for companies to have a better understanding of their customers’ needs and to translate those needs into innovative technology solutions. A business analyst can play a key role to help companies reach that goal.
To start your digital transformation with one of our Business Analysts get in touch today.
