Solving the digital business conundrum

JAIPUR, INDIA: Enterprises often ask what's digital and how should they move to become a digital enterprise. On the last day of C-Change, Praveen Sengar, principal analyst, Gartner tried to uncover the mystries around digital business.

"The digital dragon is upon us and its time to take action," said he. He pointed out few things enterprises need to remember with regard to a move to digital:

1. Consumers want anywhere, anytime engagement. There are a growing number of touch points such as mobile, face to face, social, phone, IPTV, etc.

2. Social is ingrained in everything.

3. Consumers want personalization. They want personalized 3D printing, personalized apps, personalized interactions, and location aware.

4. Consumers want ganification and fun. An app is mBank.

5. Consumers want visual engaging experience. They want to see a product without being there.

6. Everyone can be a seller, buyer, service or delivery channel. Two countries are using drones to deliver - China and USA.

7. Consumers want transparency. They want more openness.

8. Consumers want right information in the right context.

9. Consumers want interactive engagement.

10. Consumers want real-time engagement. They want to 'dunk in the dark.'

Enterprises often ask how IT can transform themselves into new age digital enterprises. But we need a three-part strategy to tame the digital dragon. You need much more integration in digital - with business, IT and people.

A digital savvy CEO can gve you wings. At least 8 percent of enterprises have digital savvy CEOs. Bimodal IT allows a way to get unstuck.

But there is a need to close digital talent gaps to make that transformation happen. These are in the areas of digital design, data science, digital anthopology, start-up/SMB management, agile development, etc. The role of a chief digital office is on the rise. Gartner predicts a tripling of the CDO role by 2015.