Solutions Beyond Products Empowering People, Driving Innovation
Turning a traditional business that focuses on products into one that values combined solutions comes with challenges in various areas like business development (BD), internal training, business relationship management, financial considerations, and operational aspects. We want to stress that transforming a business to be more people-driven involves combining value-driven business development and business relationship management, driven by people and supported by technology. This approach creates a dynamic and responsive business environment, enhancing customer solutions and contributing to sustainable business value through continuous innovation, efficient operations, and adaptable strategies.
How People Play a Vital Role in the Digital Transformation of Business Development
- Creative Thinking
People bring creativity and innovation crucial for implementing new models and strategies. - Human Insights
Understanding market dynamics, customer behavior, and industry trends relies on human insights. - Adaptation to Technology
Individuals play a crucial role in adapting to new technologies and adjusting strategies accordingly. - Relationship Building
People establish stable relationships with customers, partners, and stakeholders, focusing on connections rather than products or tools. - Communication Skills
Business development and operations require human connection, trust, and effective communication skills. - Technology-Driven Communication
While technology aids communication, it’s people who drive the value proposition and experience. - Problem Solving
Business development often involves overcoming complex challenges, with people at the center. - Customer-Centric Approach
People understand the importance of a customer-centric approach and tailored products and services. - Human Judgment
Making strategic decisions based on an understanding of the landscape relies on human judgment. - Team Collaboration
Team collaboration is crucial for aligning efforts across different departments and functions. - Change Management
People play a vital role in managing organizational changes during digital transformation. - Continuous Improvement
Individuals contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, staying current on industry trends. - Sense of Ownership
A people-centered approach fosters a sense of ownership and commitment to goals. - Networking
Networking, both online and offline, is built on personal connections and human interaction. - Feedback Interpretation
People interpret feedback in a nuanced way, gaining insights for continuous improvements. - Understanding Cultural Context
Individuals bring an understanding of the cultural context, a crucial skill for successful global business development.
In navigating the complexities of business development during digital transformation, individuals‘ expertise, adaptability, and interpersonal skills are key. These qualities complement the capabilities of digital tools and are supported by modern technologies.
Example transformation to solutions with Agile and DevOps.
- Switching from a product-focused to a solution-focused mindset can be challenging. Teams used to selling standalone products may struggle to understand and deliver integrated solutions.
- Implementing agile methodologies can face resistance from teams accustomed to traditional project management approaches. Agility requires cultural change, collaboration and iterative development.
- Integrating DevOps practices for faster and continuous delivery can come with challenges related to existing legacy systems, skills gaps, and traditional development and operations teams‘ resistance to change.
- Upskilling and retraining existing staff to adapt to Agile and DevOps practices can be time-consuming and may require significant investment in training programs.
- Understanding and incorporating customer needs into solution development can be a new concept for product-focused companies, and the transition may take time.
Example transformation to disruptive services with Lean and ITIL.
- Implementing lean principles in service delivery involves eliminating waste, optimizing processes and increasing efficiency. This may require a major reevaluation and redesign of existing workflows.
- Aligning existing business processes with the Lean and ITIL frameworks requires a comprehensive understanding of the current state of the organization and a strategic approach to change.
- The transition from product-based revenue models to service-based models can have an impact on financial structures. Calculating total contract value (TCV), distinguishing between calculated and actual margins, and adjusting financial reporting practices can be complex.
- To ensure operational efficiency in service delivery, processes must be optimized, automation implemented and resources managed effectively. Existing operational structures may need to be changed.
- Building and maintaining strong external relationships with customers as a service provider requires a proactive BRM approach. This shift may require new skills and a change in the way customer interactions are managed.
At BestExperts we aim to emerge as your business initiator and sales enabler, specialized on tech startups or technology players entering new markets. Within our assessment and initiative program, we are prioritizing a strong foundational pipeline and drive partner opportunities, evaluating the potential for a mid-term-plan in the first months to success, protecting ventures and driving business initiatives.
