Today , every business is a digital business and our customers are transforming by leveraging digital technologies to create :

• New customer experiences - 9 out of 10 companies are competing primarily on customer experience 4 ,

• Innovative business models to improve performance - 23 % faster time to market is achieved with digital processes in manufacturing 5

• Empowering workforce experiences - 50 % jump in earnings per share happens with 10 % increase in employee satisfaction 4

The need to change is well understood and digital companies are 26 % more profitable and achieve 12 % higher market valuation than their competitors 2 . However , too many companies see transformation as an episode they must endure , just like weathering a storm . Organisations are continually transforming , and business model reinvention occurs on average every 1 – 3 years 1 .

$ 2.1Tn is being spent on digital transformation in 2019 6 , but our customers are struggling with the ‘ how ’ to transform and recent research suggests that only 5 % meet or exceed expectations of the business 3 .

Cisco alongside our partners are helping customers to evolve their infrastructure to achieve digital business agility – the capacity to change , raise greater awareness of the threats that disruption presents whilst maximising the opportunity of seeking new forms of value .

Cisco is focussing more on how we become the Secure , Intelligent Platform for Digital Business . Just like a building , a digital business needs strong foundations and we describe these as the 5 technology pillars .

• Intent-based Networking – simplify and scale networks

• Enabling the Multi-Cloud World - productionise cloud .

• Unlock the Power of Data – better decisions faster ;

• Personalise customer and employee experiences – new customer experiences ;

• Security Everywhere - reduce business risk

How should businesses execute digital transformation ? Fundamentally , transformation is change , which is inherently difficult and , in general , businesses are risk averse and take a traditional approach to change management . - silo ’ ed initiatives and small-scale pilots .

The transformation dilemma exists as organisations are entangled , just like a knotted rope , by three characteristics 1 : scale , interdependence and dynamism .

To have a real impact a connected approach to change is needed – operate within the Orchestration Zone . Organisations have to conduct transformation just like an orchestra playing a symphony . Start with guiding objectives of the transformation that you are hoping to drive .

1 . What is the value creation opportunity ( Cost Value , Experience Value , Platform Value ).

2 . What is the strategy - harvesting ( winding down ), retreating ( exiting ), disrupting ( disrupt your own business or create a new market ) or occupying ( outcompete rivals ) a market .

Just like an orchestra there are different sections and instruments . Go-To-Market ( Channels , Offerings ), Engagement ( Customers , Partners , Workforce ) and Organisation ( Structure , Incentives , Culture ). Think about enabling connections and mobilising resources . Businesses need digital business agility , which consists of three core attributes all delivered securely … 1 :

1 . Hyperawareness – sensing changes in the company ’ s environment , workforce and customer base . Cisco Collaboration , IoT – connected service business etc …

2 . Informed Decision Making – Know what to act on ! Cisco DNA and AppDynamics insights and analytics ;

3 . Fast Execution – Automate the response . IT assets , need to be dynamically orchestrated , and shifted quickly and seamlessly when priorities change . Cisco Multicloud , programmable and software defined infrastructure .

Why choose Cisco for digital transformation ? Cisco gives you a solid foundation for digital transformation . We bring software , processes , and systems together in a digital-ready infrastructure that is simple , intelligent , automated , and highly secure .

• Simple - Our products and services are cloud ready with flexible consumption models

• Intelligent - We provide analytics to unlock the value of data . Its insights will help you make rapid decisions ;

• Automated - We can automate many parts of your business to help you become more lean and agile ;

• Secure - We help secure your infrastructure from end to end so you can detect and remediate threats quickly . Watch Now : A secure , intelligent platform for digital business .

Sources : 1 . Global Centre for Digital Business Transformation ( Cisco & IMD ) 2 . MIT / CapGemini 3 . Bain & Company “ Orchestrating a Successful Digital Transformation ” 4 . Gartner 5 . SCM World 6 . IDC https :// www . idc . com / getdoc . jsp ? containerId = prUS44440318