A number of digital transformation trends have become established as we enter the new year. It is clear, for example, that many people will continue to work from home for the foreseeable future, and that a large portion of them will probably work remotely on a permanent basis.

It has also become clear that enterprises that failed to invest in digital transformation are facing significant competitive challenges in 2021. Those companies that still have not seen the writing on the wall need to start planning and implementing soon.

Use Process Intelligence to Plan for Digital Transformation

So does that mean that organizations should just go ahead and invest and install as quickly as possible? There is little doubt that the model of “anywhere operations” is here to stay, and that going digital-first is the only way forward, said Mark McGregor, director of process intelligence at Milpitas, Calif-based ABBYY. However, such strategies must be applied with a human touch and recognize the needs of people, whether they are customers or employees.

“We have seen, through responses to the pandemic, far too many companies diving in headfirst with automation tools that did not deliver the expected outcomes,” he said. A recent survey by ABBYY showed that despite heavy investment in new technology only a third of people say it makes them more efficient, while three quarters suggest it did nothing to improve their productivity, and just a quarter feel it improves productivity.

To better meet new demands, managers and executives need first to know where inefficiencies lie and how they can fix them before considering new automation tools, McGregor said. They also need to understand from people themselves what they need to do their job better. Unless the technology is fully understood and processes are assessed accurately to ensure improved workflow, companies will continue to throw money down the drain.

These conundrums — how to help people be efficient when you can’t see what they are doing, how to apply the right automation in the right way with no data to support a decision, and how to ensure compliance when staff are no longer in the office — are exactly what has sparked a resurgence of interest in process intelligence.

“It is not just about applying technology, it is about understanding where to apply technology, how to monitor the effectiveness of people and technology, and engaging people digitally to understand what they are doing and how best to help,” McGregor said. “And these are tasks that process intelligence is very well suited for.”

Digital Transformation Requires Continued Evolution

For many though, digital transformation remains in its infancy. Some basic strides have been made but they are immature and reflect an approach that treats transformation as a commodity versus a process of continued reinvention, said Ryan Campbell, chief vision officer at Tulsa, Okla.-based Verinovum. The key to a successful transformation is ensuring the foundation or framework for evolution is effectively set.

“It is difficult for large legacy providers to see a clear path to reinvent themselves foundationally and typically find themselves putting lipstick on a pig for as long as they possibly can,” he said.

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