The digital economy is entering a new stage that presents unique challenges for the enterprise organisation.
This is according to Gavin Jones, business development manager - enterprise mobility at Dimension Data Middle East and Africa, who notes organisations have access to technology, networks and powerful devices.
Jones says the rapid adoption of technologies is disrupting traditional business models and most companies do not have a clear and solid strategy to harness the opportunities brought in by analytics, mobility and the cloud.
According to an Accenture report, security and keeping pace with digital advancement are some of the biggest concerns facing organisations in transforming to a digital business.
Accenture notes most organisations have difficulties getting the right technology partners, exploiting digital's potential and having sufficient resources to support digital deployments.
Most organisations are approaching digital efficiency in terms of age but instead, they should approach it in terms of capability, says Jones.
Most companies' approach to digital is not integrated, with responsibility to draw and implement a digital strategy spread across the enterprise, he adds.
Businesses are always hesitant to adopt technology in SA and they lack a clear strategy and plan to implement, explains Jones.
"Organisations saw BYOD [bring your own device] and mobility trends coming and didn't know how to deal with it and they let devices come in the enterprise without having a clear adoption policy and still today they are battling with adoption."
Executives need to valuate that enterprise environment and then start having a fit for purpose discussion on how to go about transforming, says Jones.
There needs to be realignment between IT and establishment of a road map to guide the change in business processes, he adds.
Achieving a digital enterprise will involve educating and inspiring the business around digital transformation, as well as partnering with stakeholders to develop a shared understanding of digitisation, says Ulrike Weitz, enterprise marketing lead at Microsoft SA.
He points out the digital business only evolves when people and businesses communicate, transact and negotiate with one another.
Companies have to transition from passive data collection and reporting to an active search for business insight to succeed as a digital business, says Weitz.
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