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Digital Transformation Is NOT About Tech

January 13, 2025 by
Kolawole Mobolaji
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Let’s get real—when people hear “digital transformation,” they picture shiny new software, AI-driven workflows, and automation replacing manual tasks. Sounds exciting, right?

But here’s the plot twist: Technology is not the hard part. People are.

The most successful digital transformations aren’t about tech; they’re about how well people and processes adapt. Get that wrong, and even the most expensive tools will gather dust.

3 Non-Negotiable Rules for Digital Transformation That Works

After years of leading transformations, I’ve found three golden rules that separate success from failure. Ignore them at your peril.

1. Start with Business Outcomes (Because Fancy Tech Won’t Save a Bad Strategy)

Too many companies buy software first and figure out the purpose later. That’s like buying gym equipment and expecting it to get you fit while you eat pizza.

Before choosing a platform, ask:

✅ What specific problem are we solving?

✅ How does this impact revenue, efficiency, or customer experience?

✅ Will this make employees’ lives easier—or just add complexity?

📖 Must-Reads:

  • The Lean Startup by Eric Ries – Teaches you how to focus on value, not vanity.
  • Measure What Matters by John Doer – Helps you set goals that actually drive results.

2. Focus on User Adoption (Because Tech Is Useless If No One Uses It)

Picture this: You roll out a sleek new system, but employees keep using their old spreadsheets. Sound familiar? That’s because tech adoption isn’t automatic—it needs to be sold internally.

🔹 Get employees involved early. Change imposed feels like a threat; change co-created feels like an opportunity.

🔹 Invest in training (not just a 2-hour webinar nobody remembers).

🔹 Show quick wins—people love to see results.

When I helped a logistics company go from manual chaos to digital efficiency, the real challenge wasn’t the tech—it was convincing the team it would make their jobs easier, not harder. The result? 40% efficiency improvement in six months.

📖 Best Training & Books:

  • Change Management Training (Prosci or Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model).
  • Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry – Because navigating resistance requires EQ, not just IQ.

3. Measure Impact Continuously (Because “Set It and Forget It” Doesn’t Work)

Here’s a hard truth: Transformation is never “done.” It’s an ongoing process of testing, tweaking, and improving.

👀 What should you track?

📊 Efficiency gains

💰 Cost reductions

😊 Employee & customer satisfaction

Celebrate small wins, listen to feedback, and be ready to pivot. Otherwise, your transformation will become another forgotten project.

📖 Must-Reads:

  • The Four Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney – A guide to tracking and achieving goals.
  • Good to Great by Jim Collins – Because greatness isn’t an accident.

The Real Challenge? Culture Change.

Let’s be honest—people hate change (unless it’s an unexpected bonus or an extra day off). The toughest part of digital transformation isn’t the technology; it’s shifting mindsets.

The key? Clear communication, strong leadership, and patience. Without those, even the best strategy will fail.

💡 Final Thought:

The companies that win in digital transformation aren’t the ones with the fanciest tech; they’re the ones that get people and processes right.



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