How does digital transformation impact the role of IT in a company?

Historically, IT departments have been the gatekeepers, not enablers, of digital strategy due to their focus - and mandate! - on governance, security, support, and operations. However, for a company to truly go "digital", it must begin with its own transformation. This involves breaking down system silos, and investing in collaboration and automation. IT departments, or companies like Microsoft, that understand this and digitally dissolve department silos are paving the way for transformation and innovation. This shift also requires IT professionals to broaden their understanding of business needs. Their decisions should not only be technically sound, but always foster customer value, adoption, and competitive advantage.

Digital transformation impacts businesses and people. IT roles are then affected because they need to start talking the business language to the customers and have a broader perspective of the business beyond technology. Digital business transformation impacts people, processes, technology, and the profit formula. It has a starring role to play; it supports and strategically innovates the business to generate growth.

The main point is that we can see the evolution of the technological platform with the same level of importance of the business advancement. It’s an evolution of tooling infrastructure for the development of solutions and other elements that we often call “IT problems/ issues”. For instance, when a server goes down, it’s not just an 'IT problem'—it's a business problem that impacts customer access to services, potentially leading to loss of revenue and customer trust. In this digital era, IT is the backbone of innovation and competitive advantage. As such, the role of IT in a company has been redefined to include driving digital strategy, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and delivering agile solutions.

Digital transformation in IT necessitates agility and flexibility, shifting from a traditional push approach to a pull system. This change is vital to swiftly adapt to the evolving business landscape and customer expectations. Adopting agile methodologies like Scrum, Kanban, or DevOps, and embracing technologies such as cloud computing, microservices, and APIs, IT can accelerate service delivery and enhance quality, reducing time and layers of management. This agility extends beyond mere methodologies; it embodies a mindset shift. IT must anticipate change, embedding flexibility at every technology stack layer. This anticipatory approach minimizes delays and fosters a deeper understanding of business operations and customer needs.

No matter which agile methodology you use, I strongly believe, that embracing the core principles of the Agile Manifesto is paramount for everyone working in IT or Digital and goes a very long way: - Prioritize personal interactions and individuals over tools and processes - Value functional software over exhaustive documentation - Favor customer collaboration over contract negotiation - Embrace change instead of rigidly adhering to a plan

Knowing agile methodologies does not guarantee agility in delivering solutions or projects. Implementation of a shared understanding of what and how, as well as support and collaboration, is imperative to be successful in Agile. Sometimes, a business has more tools available than tools actually in use. Being agile also means optimizing tools and methodologies. A project managing multiple tools to do the same is not an agile project.

Upskilling is a demand for all professionals today. Business and commercial people need to become technical savvy. In the same way, IT professionals need to master communication and stakeholder management. They need to create with business and customers in mind. They all need to sell their solution to stakeholders to make developments successful.

DIgital & Tech professionals must embrace continuous learning to stay current in digital transformation. This includes participating in training, workshops, and industry events to understand business challenges. Cross-functional training is key, combining IT skills with business insights for a comprehensive approach. Networking and internal mentoring are essential for developing critical skills . Change management skills are also vital, as IT staff need to lead digital transitions within organizations. Direct engagement with customers or through customer-facing units is crucial for understanding customer needs and behaviors. This approach ensures that IT initiatives are not only technologically but also aligned with real-world demands.

Control is critical in managing risks, for example, breach of information. As we access more and more data, the responsibility and the need to meet the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) and SOX requirements also increases.