In its lifetime – whether it’s short-lived or a long-standing one – a company has to go through a significant number of changes. And – I am not exaggerating when I am saying it – business process transformation is the most prominent one amongst them.
But what is it, really?
In a nutshell, business process transformation is a technique that initiates a substantial jump or alteration in a process’s flow, design, activity, and execution.
This might be done through one swooping update or by making smaller modifications leading to a comprehensive business shift. Irrespective of the size or type of the business firm, there is a growing demand for business operations to conform to the rules.
So, businesses might find it quite burdensome to keep pace with the changing ecosystem of an internal or external proceeding and adjust to them accordingly. And, in this case, transforming your processes partially or entirely can be of a potential assistance to you.
Not only business process transformation can result in making your company more effective, but also leads to happier consumers, better supplier relationships, and productive employees.
Business Process Transformation – Looking through a Keyhole
A fundamental part of business process management, business process transformation usually aims to modify or transmute your business’ workflow-related elements.
But, why is it performed?
Essentially, it can help you resolve your operational inefficiencies and improve how you work or operate. Besides, as you’re doing it in course with your workflow, the transformation might also aid you in matching your new business objectives.
However, the benefit of a business process transformation technique will solely depend on the form of it. Some of the examples of it might include –
- Undergoing a transition or transformation to a notably-changed infrastructure or mode of operation (also known as core transformation).
- Changing the way your business operates in the market to help you complete whatever project you are working on (also called operational transformation).
- Shifting the fundamental culture or working essence of an organisation to a fresher or newer outlook (otherwise known as strategic transformation).
The ‘core’ or ‘operational’ business transitions focus entirely on process transformation. So, in a way, you may still progress with them without modifying your current operations.
Nonetheless, making a strategic transmutation will be near-to-impossible if you do not change or re-evaluate your current proceedings. Thus, the planning should be done accordingly.
But… Why is It Considered to be Necessary?
Due to how efficient a corporation can become by going through it, many people have touted business process transformation to be “de rigueur” for everyone.
But how will it help you out, though? Usually there are three reasons why businesses consider transmuting their operational part. Here’s what you need to know about them.
1: Transforming Your Business On-the-Go
The world of business is hard-pressed, dynamic, and cruel. So, if you cannot react to whatever change the industry is going through, it will be impossible for you to succeed in the market.
However, this is one place where business process transformation can help you get the crown.
By transmuting your operational side entirely, you can improve your organisation’s speed and efficiency to some extent. Furthermore, it might also invoke more accuracy and less errors.
Business process transformation can also be future-proof if you’re making the upgrade a little more flexible and effective. So, you may not have to do it again and again if the need rises.
2: Integrating the Groundwork of Utter Optimization
Almost every business out there focuses on efficiency and speed more than anything else. But in order to get those, they tend to shift their attention from operational optimization.
Nonetheless, it can also be taken care of through business process transformation.
Besides optimising all of your processes, it can also take the ‘human factor’ in note and offers assistance regarding how you can control it.
Through proper optimisation, it helps the employees of an organisation grasp the workflow in a more efficient manner. The efficiency related to collaboration tends to be a focus of it too.
3: Establishing Control Throughout a Business Venture
Managing the ever-increasing consumer demand can be a burdensome issue for a company of any size or reputation. And there are two reasons behind it –
- The company lacks the manpower to meet the core requirements of the business.
- Decision-makers of the corporation lack a comprehensive understanding of the overall performance of the business.
Both of these can be quite consequential when you’re handling a particularly-tricky project. In some cases, it can also lead them to not respond quickly to decode a problem and resolve it.
A proper process transformation is also necessary when it comes to creating a strategy. Yes, it can depend on the external or internal changes related to the project.
However, the transition will provide you with enough flexibility to influence such tumultuous issues accordingly. And you can power through everything without any problem at all.
Instances Where Process Transformation has Shined Brightly
Historically speaking, process transformation has been quite successful in four segments.
I’ve discussed each of them here with at least one example so that you can understand how it has grown into prominence properly. So, without making any further ado, let’s begin.
Example – 1: Manufacturing
Many industrial companies have embraced process transformations to enhance efficiency. They utilise predictive analytics to reduce supply chain and maintenance expenses, as well as decrease energy and water consumption.
One example of industry transformation is Desktop Metal, which is revolutionising the sector with its innovative digital technology for 3D-printed metal. This technology has already received significant investments from automobile manufacturers and has potential applications in medical, dental, aviation, and luxury industries.
Example – 2: Food Delivery
Process transformation can also be driven by the goal of improving customer experience. Domino’s, for instance, embarked on a mission in 2011 to enable anyone with a smartphone to order a pizza within 17 seconds.
This transformation turned Domino’s from a traditional pizza company into a technological powerhouse. They developed an app that allows users to place orders and track the status of their deliveries.
Additionally, Domino’s invested in other process transformations, like vehicle deliveries and electric bikes, resulting in online sales constituting the majority of their global retail sales.
Example – 3: eCommerce and Online Shopping
In the retail sector, the growing shift towards online shopping has created challenges for companies to meet customer expectations.
Walmart, in order to compete with giants like Amazon and other grocery stores, has undergone a transformation by shifting towards eCommerce services.
Moreover, they have introduced voice ordering through devices like Google Home, enabling consumers to make purchases conveniently from their homes or workplaces.
Example – 4: Transportation
In the transportation sector, Tesla’s impact has prompted numerous manufacturers to compete in new directions. With increasing concerns about global warming and the world’s reliance on oil, the automotive industry has witnessed a shift towards electric and self-driving vehicles.
For instance, Smart Eye technologies proffer AI-based driver monitoring and automobile interior sensing solutions that enhance safety by –
- Detecting driver distractions,
- Fatigue, or
- Risks to passengers.
Other advancements in automotive digitalization may include autonomous fleet vehicles, CO2-neutral trucks, fleet electrification, and holographic overlays.
How can It Push You into the Path of Greatness?
This transformative approach offers a wide array of benefits that go beyond mere operational enhancements. From cost reduction and increased agility to improved customer experiences and competitive advantage, business process transformation has the potential to reshape an organisation’s trajectory and position it for long-term success.
In this section, we will explore the compelling advantages that businesses can gain by embarking on a journey of process transformation.
1: Increased Efficiency
Business process transformation aims to streamline and optimise workflows, eliminate bottlenecks, and automate repetitive tasks. By doing so, it enhances operational efficiency, reduces waste, and enables employees to focus on value-added activities. This leads to improved productivity and faster turnaround times.
2: Enhanced Customer Experience
By reimagining processes from the customer’s perspective, business process transformation helps deliver an enhanced customer experience. It enables organisations to align their operations with customer needs, reduce response times, and provide more personalised and efficient services. This can result in increased customer satisfaction, loyalty, and retention.
3: Cost Reduction
By eliminating inefficiencies, redundancies, and unnecessary steps, business process transformation can significantly lower costs. Automation of various manual processes and the integration of systems can lead to lower labour costs, decreased error rates, and reduced reliance on physical resources. Additionally, streamlined processes often require fewer resources and result in improved resource allocation.
4: Agility and Adaptability
In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, companies need to be agile and adaptable to stay competitive. Business process transformation enables companies to become more responsive to market dynamics, customer demands, and emerging trends. It will also facilitate scalability, innovation, and the ability to quickly pivot and adapt to new opportunities.
5: Improved Decision Making
Business process transformation often involves implementing advanced analytics, data-driven insights, and real-time reporting capabilities. By leveraging these apps, corporations gain a deeper understanding of their operations, identify trends, and make informed decisions based on accurate and up-to-date information. This leads to better strategic planning, risk management, and overall decision-making processes.
6: Competitive Advantage
Business process transformation can provide a significant competitive advantage by enabling organisations to differentiate themselves in the market. Through improved efficiency, enhanced customer experience, and agility, companies can outperform their competitors and establish themselves as industry leaders. This can lead to increased market share, revenue growth, and long-term sustainability.
7: Employee Empowerment and Engagement
Transformation initiatives often involve empowering employees by providing them with the necessary tools, training, and resources to excel in their roles. By involving employees in the redesign process and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, business process transformation can increase employee engagement, satisfaction, and morale. Empowered employees will try to contribute their ideas and drive positive change within the organisation.
Process Transformation – A Step-by-Step Outlook
Business Process Transformation, similar to other business or management initiatives, requires careful planning and well-defined objectives led by competent management. Failure to incorporate these crucial elements may render all the hard work and efforts ineffective. Here are some guidelines to follow when implementing business process transformation:
- Establish Clear And Measurable Goals: Set specific and realistic objectives that can be measured. Use key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress and evaluate the impact of the transformation. These indicators can be related to financial outcomes, time efficiency, or other measurable factors.
- Engage Stakeholders In Discussions: Before implementing any changes, consult with all stakeholders involved in the process. By involving all relevant parties, successful business process changes can be achieved. Gathering input from individuals directly involved in the workflow provides valuable insights into potential pitfalls and alternative solutions.
- Divide The Transformation Into Phases: Breaking down the transformation project into smaller, manageable phases is beneficial. It allows for regular progress evaluation and early identification of any issues. Having multiple smaller milestones instead of a few long-term goals helps mitigate the risk of failure.
- Embrace Automation And Digitalization: Eliminating inefficiencies in operational processes is a key objective of business process transformation. Leveraging automation and digitalization can greatly facilitate the modernization and simplification of business operations. Digitising paperwork reduces processing time, minimises errors and delays, and enhances audit trails.
- Test And Monitor Changes: Prior to full-scale implementation, it is advisable to test the transformed processes on a smaller scale. Testing allows for the identification of any negative outcomes before they impact the entire business. Continuously track progress using predefined metrics to assess the effectiveness of the transformations.
Conclusion
Business process transformation entails more than just changing operational processes; it also involves shifting people’s attitudes toward transformation.
Additionally, it is crucial to provide consumers with exceptional products and services that are founded on consumer-centric values, differentiating your business from competitors.
Based on the ideas discussed above, let’s create a meaningful potential business process transformation:
The first step is to foster a culture of transformation and engage employees in the process.
Next, prioritise customer-centricity by revamping your business processes to focus on delivering the best quality goods and services.
In parallel, emphasise risk reduction, long-term compliance, and stability.
Throughout the transformation, effective change management is crucial.
By integrating these elements, you’ll achieve a meaningful and impactful transformation that not only improves operational efficiency but also fosters a customer-centric culture, reduces risk, and ensures long-term success and compliance.