Despite the relentless pace of disruption, the latest Dell Technologies Digital Transformation (DT) Index shows many businesses' digital transformation programs are still in their infancy. This is evidenced by the 78% of business leaders who admit digital transformation should be more widespread throughout their organization (US: 82%). More than half of businesses (51%) believe they'll struggle to meet changing customer demands within five years (US: 33%), and almost one in three (30%) still worry their organization will be left behind (US: 26%).

Dell Technologies, in collaboration with Intel and Vanson Bourne, surveyed 4,600 business leaders (director to C-suite) from mid- to large-sized companies across the globe to score their organizations' transformation efforts.

The study revealed that emerging markets are the most digitally mature, with India, Brazil and Thailand topping the global ranking. In contrast, developed markets are slipping behind: Japan, Denmark and France received the lowest digital maturity scores. The US came 15 places in front of Canada and 2 places behind Mexico in digital maturity scores. What's more, emerging markets are more confident in their ability to "disrupt rather than be disrupted" (53%), compared to just 40% in developed nations.

Behind the curve

The DT Index II builds on the first ever DT Index launched in 2016. The two-year comparison highlights that progress has been slow, with organizations struggling to keep up with the blistering pace of change. While the percentage of Digital Adopters has increased, there's been no progress at the top. Almost four in 10 (39%) businesses are still spread across the two least digitally mature groups on the benchmark (Digital Laggards and Digital Followers).

"In the near future, every organization will need to be a digital organization, but our research indicates that the majority still have a long way to go," says Michael Dell, chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies. "Organizations need to modernize their technology to participate in the unprecedented opportunity of digital transformation. The time to act is now."

Barriers to transformation and confidence

The findings also suggest business leaders are on the verge of a confidence crisis, with 91% held back by persistent barriers.

The top five barriers to digital transformation success:

1. Data privacy and security concerns (from 5th place in 2016) (2nd place in US)
2. Lack of budget and resources
3. Lack of the right in-house skill sets and expertise
4. Regulation and legislative changes (from 9th place in 2016)
5. Immature digital culture
   

Almost half (49%) believe their organization will struggle to prove it's trustworthy within the next five years (US: 31%). Nearly a third (32%) don't trust their own organization to comply with regulations (such as the EU General Data Protection Regulation) (US: 25%). One in three don't trust their own organization to protect employee or customer data (US: 32%).

Plans to realize their digital future

Leaders have reported common priorities and investments to aid future transformation, including an increased focus on workforce, security and IT. Forty-six percent are developing in-house digital skills and talent, by teaching all employees how to code for instance, up from 27% in 2016 (US: 38%, from 31% in 2016).

Top technology investments for the next one to three years:

1. Cybersecurity
2. Internet of Things technology
3. Multi-cloud environment
4. Artificial intelligence
5. Compute centric approach
   

How organizations fare in the future will depend on the steps they take today. For instance, Draper, a Dell Technologies customer, was traditionally focused on department of defense research but it's starting to move into more commercial areas such as biomedical science.

"Technology enables us to keep solving the world's toughest problems; from the infrastructure and services that underpin our innovation, to the experimental technologies that we wield to prevent disease for instance," says Mike Crones, CIO, Draper. "We couldn't push boundaries, and call ourselves an engineering and research firm, without being a fully transformed and modern company from the inside out."