Setting up a digital strategy takes focus, planning, and dedication, but with that comes plenty of mistakes along the way. First, you must better understand what you can’t avoid to ensure optimal results.
Understanding that having an overall successful business is a goal and that digital transformation is just another step along the way will take you far in dissecting everything you might’ve gotten wrong in a previous digital strategy.
There’s No Such Thing as a Pre-Made Digital Strategy Solution…
Especially not the same for everyone. We’ve been seeing a lot of digital professionals claim that there’s a pre-set template and a single framework that can be adapted to each business, with promises of generic solutions that will help businesses thrive and build long-term loyalty with customers. However, the reality is that each business is unique and different, and any strategy in the making should work towards the business’ goals and be flexible enough to face the uncontrollable obstacles that might occur, whether financial, cultural, internal or otherwise. A pre-made, one-size-fits-all digital strategy could actually do more harm than good.
It’s Not Only for Big Businesses
One main idea a lot of beginners get wrong in their digital strategy is assuming that it’s only suitable for big businesses and that it should only rely on the latest technology. Well, contrary to popular belief, digital transformation is less about technology and more about people. Whether they own a small business or work for a big corporation, their ability to adapt and close the gap between talent supply and demand, and technology is proof of their talent and how they can create and implement a strategy at different scales. Why? Because the most up-to-date innovation is irrelevant if you are not skilled enough to use it.
When thinking about investing in technology, investing in people should come first, as they are the ones who will make that technology useful.
Technology Doesn’t Solve Everything
Even if you’re a digital advocate, technological transformation is not necessarily the ultimate solution to a company’s problems. Any digital strategy will have little value if poorly implemented and if it disregards the needs of its target audiences, and it takes a great digital leader to know the difference.
Digital Strategy is Not Just Digital Marketing
While digital marketing is exclusively about using digital tools to promote products and services, a digital strategy encompasses broader tactical thinking and combines all the efforts of a company’s department to ensure its success.
A true digital strategy should cover everything from your supply chain to your internal communications, sales, customer service, HR, finance, marketinm IT and administration.
Every department should have an active role, as opposed to a digital marketing strategy that only touches the marketing department. The biggest difference between the two is that your digital strategy serves your company’s overall business objectives, while digital marketing is designed to meet your sales and communication objectives.
How to Spot the Difference?
By being properly equipped with the know-how and hands-on experience early on in your career.
EMLV’s MBA programme will help you sharpen your skills and increase your knowledge to transform your talents into a career. The MBA combines real-world connections and hands-on learning, so you can rise to the challenges of a fast-evolving digital business environment.
This MBA is designed for business professionals and entrepreneurs with a minimum of 3 years of work experience who wish to learn to work outside of their comfort zone. In a single year, you will gain firsthand knowledge of the entrepreneurial mindset and strategic skills required to drive innovation in today’s digital business world.
This one-year break is your perfect opportunity to set yourself new challenges and push back your limits to design and build your international path!
