The ability to scale digital transformation initiatives across global enterprises is both a necessity and a challenge in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. Christophe Derdeyn is an expert business consultant who’s spent decades helping companies around the world scale their technology infrastructure with the times. His insights provide a roadmap for companies looking to expand their technological advancements while ensuring successful adoption at all levels.
Understanding the True Challenge: People, Not Technology
Derdeyn emphasizes that the biggest hurdle in scaling digital transformation is not the technology itself but the organization and its people. “When you scale technology, it’s not the technology that is often the problem. It’s the organization and the people within it,” he explains. Many companies assume that if a technological solution has been successfully implemented in one location, it should seamlessly roll out globally. However, this assumption overlooks the human element.
To this point, Derdeyn offers an example from a large petrochemical company in Southeast Asia. Despite successfully deploying new technologies in Singapore, the company struggled to implement them across its global operations. “On paper, it may look like a no-brainer. In practice, it becomes incredibly difficult because people are just not keen to adopt change,” he explained.
Preparing the Ground for Change
Chris advises businesses to prepare the ground before rolling out changes on a larger scale. “You need to see that you prep the ground before you actually go and do that, because otherwise, it will indeed fail,” he cautions. This preparation starts with identifying key stakeholders and understanding their concerns. One example of this comes from a workplace safety app he helped design that was meant to help with safety regulation compliance. While the app seemed like an obvious improvement, its introduction faced resistance due to concerns about privacy and job security. “People walking the grounds using checklists might feel their jobs are at risk. If they are not prepared for the change, they will push back,” he explained.
Answering the Question: ‘What’s in It for Me?’
One of the fundamental principles of digital transformation success is addressing the concerns of those affected. “The one question that you always need to be able to answer for every single person in an organization is: ‘What’s in it for me?’” Derdeyn stresses. While leadership may focus on the overall benefits to the company, employees often prioritize their own job security and daily workflow.
By proactively engaging with employees and clearly communicating the personal benefits of new technology, companies can reduce resistance. “Before you even start pushing anything, you need to have long conversations with all the different stakeholders and make sure they see the benefits not just for the company, but for themselves,” recommends Derdeyn.
Bringing Global Teams Together
Chris’ extensive experience in shared services transformation and offshore integration highlights the importance of fostering collaboration across different regions. “If you have global operations, one of the most important things is that you bring people together,” he notes. Companies often establish offshore teams without properly integrating them into the broader organization. This often leads to inefficiencies and miscommunication issues. “Most organizations will start to work with a new offshore provider or build a team somewhere else, but if you don’t properly connect these teams, you won’t get the full benefit,” Derdeyn warns.
Successful business transformation is about managing human dynamics as much as technological advancements. Derdeyn underscores the importance of embracing management strategies that prioritize communication and encourage employees to buy-in at all levels of an organization. “Making sure you have these conversations and manage the right level of discussion with the right people is very important. Otherwise, you get stuck!” By recognizing that transformation is not just about deploying technology but also about aligning people with a shared vision, businesses can increase the likelihood of success.
Follow the Experts Who Drive Change
Christophe Derdeyn’s expertise in scaling business transformation makes him a valuable resource for organizations navigating global change. His insights emphasize the importance of strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and a people-first approach to innovation. To stay informed on his latest strategies, follow Christophe Derdeyn on LinkedIn.
