Analyzing the impact of digital transformation on business

Abstract

Digital Transformation (DT) is defined as the "use of technology to radically improve performance or reach of enterprises" [35]. The never-ending acceleration towards faster and cheaper computing resources has enabled software to be delivered on increasingly compact timelines - measured in weeks or even days. In parallel, leaps in technologies such as analytics, social media, mobile computing, etc. are changing the business landscape. As a result of these internal and external factors, businesses are continuously under pressure to undergo transformation to stay competitive. However, facilitating DT is a challenging undertaking for any organization and needs to be understood and executed with clarity in vision and business direction. The goal of this study is to analyze existing DT frameworks and introduce a pragmatic DT framework which would allow organizations to stay up-to-date with the latest trends while improving efficiency and flexibility, ultimately resulting in increased customer satisfaction and higher revenue. The scope for this study encompasses evaluation of different architectures, technology stacks, development, testing, deployment, and operational methodologies as well as changes in cultural and business processes required to realize this goal. Throughout the journey, the impact of DT on the organization is constantly measured using custom-defined metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). We conclude by discussing the implications of this model while raising questions for future work to further validate this model across other business domains.