By Fraser Norman, Channel Partner Manager, ManagementStudio

In recent years, the IT landscape has seen significant disruptions, including the infamous WannaCry cyber attack in 2017, the swift shift to remote work due to Covid-19, and a myriad of other events. A common thread among these occurrences has been the urgent need for organizations to quickly adapt and restore a sense of normality.

Currently, many large organizations face the daunting task of migrating thousands of employees to Windows 11 or maintaining regular software updates, a process fraught with complexity and potential costs that can reach into the millions. As stated by a VMware representative years ago, the reality is that there is always a migration underway - whether transitioning from Windows 7 to 10, 10 to 11, or moving from physical to virtual environments. These migrations have typically been perceived as "big bang" events, characterized by significant upheaval, numerous moving parts, and high resource demands. As a result, organizations often find themselves in a constant cycle of turmoil, managing one major event after another.

In response, some of our clients are exploring establishing specialized teams dedicated to swiftly and efficiently handling these transitional projects. Similar to military rapid reaction forces, these "Rapid Digital Transformation Teams" can provide large organizations with the agility needed to confront the next major disruption.

So, what exactly does "Rapid Digital Transformation" entail?

It requires a shift from reactive "big bang" migrations to a proactive "Transformation as a Process" approach. This paradigm emphasizes continuous preparedness rather than a hurried response to external challenges. 

Most organizations already have valuable data about their employees, work locations, and technology infrastructures. However, when embarking on large-scale transformation initiatives, accessing, and contextualizing this data can prove difficult. A robust platform that collects, stores, and contextualizes essential data can empower multiple projects to leverage the same information, ultimately supporting the rapid digital transformation process.

Consider the complexities inherent in a typical migration or transformation initiative. The process often necessitates mobilizing resources to address a series of queries, such as, "What teams work at the New York office, what devices and applications do they use, and what obstacles prevent us from upgrading them to Windows 11?" The challenge lies in organizing disparate data, linking it effectively, and presenting it clearly to business analysts for decision-making. 

Faced with the need for collaboration across numerous stakeholders - with varied languages and verification requirements - organizations must not only convey plans and instructions but also manage training and schedule logistics. This can be daunting without a unified dataset, which tracks changes and enables functional collaboration.

Ultimately, this shift away from "big bang" migrations is driven by the realization that such approaches are excessively stressful, costly, and result in the dilution of acquired knowledge as individuals move on to different projects. 

Summary

In summary, the emergence of Rapid Digital Transformation Teams may be pivotal for organizations navigating complex IT migrations. By embracing a continuous transformation model, companies can streamline processes, leverage data coherently, and maintain agility in the face of future challenges, ultimately reducing costs and minimizing disruptions. As we look forward to 2025, these teams could redefine how organizations manage digital transformation, ensuring they are continually prepared for the next big event.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fraser Norman, Channel Partner Manager, ManagementStudio

Fraser has worked in the IT industry for over 25 years. Initially, working as a draftsperson in a CAD bureau where, Fraser learned the basics of 2D CAD and also new skills in the emerging world of 3D CAD, modelling and animation. This set the scene for a combined technical and commercial move into sales where Fraser helped develop a specialist reseller channel for some of the new 3D animation solutions. Since then he has largely remained in channel development in technically complex areas such as mobile games, server based computing, thin client sales, IT security and application/desktop virtualization solutions. Fraser joined ManagementStudio in April of 2016 to help build and develop our channel partner programme.