Don’t get it twisted. It’s digital-first, not digital also. In today’s business landscape, the difference between a digital-first and a digital-also strategy can mean the difference between thriving and merely surviving. Let’s dive into the harsh realities that separate these two approaches.
1. Commitment Is Non-Negotiable
Digital-first: You’re all in. Digital isn’t just a channel; it’s THE channel. Every decision, from hiring to resource allocation, revolves around digital success.
Digital-also: You’re hedging your bets. Digital is important, but it’s just one of many priorities. This lack of commitment shows in your results.
2. Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast
Digital-first: Your culture breathes digital. From the CEO to the intern, everyone understands that digital prowess is crucial for survival.
Digital-also: Your culture is fragmented. Some departments embrace digital, while others resist. This inconsistency breeds inefficiency and missed opportunities.
3. Adapt or Die Isn’t Just a Slogan
Digital-first: You’ve internalized that change is constant. Your team is always learning, experimenting, and pivoting based on data and market shifts.
Digital-also: You’re reactive, not proactive. By the time you decide to adapt, your competitors have already lapped you twice.
4. Leadership Sets the Tone
Digital-first: Leaders are digital champions. They understand the tech, speak the language, and lead by example in embracing digital tools and mindsets.
Digital-also: Leadership pays lip service to digital but doesn’t walk the talk. This disconnect trickles down, creating a culture of skepticism towards digital initiatives.
5. Resources Follow Priorities
Digital-first: You invest heavily in digital talent, tools, and training. It’s not an expense; it’s the cost of doing business in the 21st century.
Digital-also: Digital investments are scrutinized and often cut first when budgets tighten. This short-term thinking cripples your long-term digital potential.
6. Failure Is a Feature, Not a Bug
Digital-first: You celebrate fast failures and learn from them. Your team knows that experimentation is key to staying ahead in the digital realm.
Digital-also: Failures in digital initiatives are seen as proof that “digital doesn’t work for us.” This risk-averse attitude stifles innovation and growth.
7. Data Drives Decisions
Digital-first: You’re obsessed with data. Every decision, from product development to marketing, is backed by solid analytics and insights.
Digital-also: You rely more on gut feelings and traditional metrics. Data is used sparingly, often to justify decisions already made rather than to inform them.
8. Customer-Centricity Is Digital-Centricity
Digital-first: You understand that in today’s world, being customer-centric means being digital-centric. Your entire customer journey is designed with digital touchpoints in mind.
Digital-also: You still see digital as just another channel to reach customers, not as the primary way modern consumers interact with brands.
9. Speed Is a Competitive Advantage
Digital-first: You’ve built systems and processes that allow for rapid iteration and deployment. Your team can launch new features or campaigns in days, not months.
Digital-also: You’re bogged down by legacy systems and approval processes. By the time you implement a digital initiative, it’s already outdated.
10. The Talent War Is Real
Digital-first: You attract top digital talent because they know you’re serious about innovation. Your company is seen as a place where they can make a real impact.
Digital-also: You struggle to hire and retain digital experts. They quickly become frustrated with the lack of commitment to digital transformation and leave for more forward-thinking companies.
The Harsh Reality
Here’s the truth that many don’t want to hear: In today’s business environment, there’s no such thing as a successful “digital-also” strategy. It’s digital-first or obsolescence.
Companies clinging to a digital-also mindset are like fish trying to climb a tree – they’re expending enormous energy on an approach that’s fundamentally misaligned with the realities of the modern market.
The digital-first approach isn’t just about technology; it’s a complete paradigm shift in how you think about your business, your customers, and your future. It requires courage, commitment, and often, a complete overhaul of your organizational structure and culture.
The kicker: the pain of transformation is temporary. The pain of irrelevance is permanent.
Companies that fully commit to a digital-first strategy may face short-term challenges, but they’re positioning themselves for long-term success. They’re building the agility, innovation capacity, and customer-centricity needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
On the other hand, those wavering with a digital-also approach are slowly but surely paving their path to obsolescence. They may see short-term stability by clinging to traditional methods, but they’re sacrificing their future relevance and competitiveness.
The choice is clear, but it’s not easy. Going digital-first means embracing uncertainty, challenging the status quo, and sometimes making difficult decisions about legacy systems and processes.
But remember this: In the digital age, the riskiest strategy is trying to avoid risk altogether.
So, ask yourself: Are you truly committed to digital success, or are you just paying lip service to it? Are you building a culture that can adapt and thrive in a digital-first world, or are you clinging to outdated paradigms?
The answers to these questions will determine whether your company is positioned to lead in the digital future or destined to be a cautionary tale of digital hesitation.
The digital revolution waits for no one. It’s time to go all in. Want some help? Reach out and Get Heroik! We offer a free project planning tool, and a free tailor-made business roadmap.
