Digital transformation remains a critical journey for organizations, though our research reveals an interesting paradox. While 75% of organizations consider themselves digitally mature, the reality shows many have only scratched the surface of true digital capabilities. In this post, I’ll share some of the biggest obstacles to digital transformation.
Visibility and Control
The heart of successful information management lies in visibility and control. Our research indicates only 53% of organizations have basic visibility into their document sharing patterns. Most struggle with unstructured data, which accounts for approximately 90% of enterprise information. This lack of visibility creates significant challenges for IT decision-makers trying to implement meaningful changes.
Security Concerns
Security remains a paramount concern in information management. One in five IT leaders report experiencing breaches due to employee error, highlighting the risks of manual processes and insufficient controls. As organizations handle increasingly sensitive data, the need for robust security measures becomes more critical.
Regulatory Landscape
The regulatory environment continues to evolve, particularly in Europe. The upcoming EU e-invoicing mandate and new accessibility requirements for digital documents present both challenges and opportunities. Organizations must adapt their information management strategies to ensure compliance while maintaining operational efficiency.
Fragmented Systems
Traditional enterprise information management has created unintentional silos. Inbound and outbound information typically exist in separate systems, while departments handle accounts payable, contract management, and customer communications in isolation. This fragmentation limits efficiency and creates barriers to effective information utilization.
Strategic Considerations for Overcoming Obstacles to Digital Transformation
- Consolidate information management. Our work with one of our customers in the Netherlands exemplifies the power of unified information management. The company faced challenges with multiple legacy systems handling customer communications. By implementing a consolidated solution, we helped them streamline their operations, improve customer experience, and create a more efficient archival process that met strict regulatory requirements.
- Conduct a risk assessment. Risk assessments must drive prioritization in information management initiatives. Leaders need to evaluate current vulnerabilities, compliance requirements, and security considerations before embarking on transformation projects.
- Manage scope. Implementation doesn't require a "big bang" approach – organizations can adopt a staged strategy that minimizes disruption while delivering consistent value.
The Future of Digital Transformation
The future lies in unifying systems and enabling employees to focus on high-value tasks through automation. By automating administrative work and creating seamless information flows, organizations can unlock new levels of efficiency and innovation.
At Canon, we've demonstrated this through over 2,700 successful implementations, drawing on three decades of industry expertise to guide organizations toward their optimal information management future.
This blog post is based on an original AIIM OnAir podcast. When recording podcasts, AIIM uses AI-enabled transcription in Zoom. We then use that transcription as part of a prompt with Claude Pro, Anthropic’s AI assistant. AIIM staff (aka humans) then edit the output from Claude for accuracy, completeness, and tone. In this way, we use AI to increase the accessibility of our podcast and extend the value of great content.
