When digital transformation (DX) processes are difficult, this is certainly not always due to technical or budgetary restrictions. In fact, when we search for data points, we've recently seen that only 35% of companies worldwide achieved their DX goals (BCG, 2021) — a sobering figure that shows that a fundamental piece is often missing.
This missing piece? Sometimes this is a thoughtful and proven process approach. Because organizations that do succeed make a smart combination of technology and recognized process optimization methods such as Lean, Six Sigma, Agile and Design Thinking.
What is digital transformation really?
Digital transformation is more than implementing new technology. It's a fundamental review of how organizations create value, supported by digital tools.
It's about:
- Process automation
- Data-driven decision making (which is crucial, as 73% of consumers expect improved personalization as technology advances, Salesforce, 2024)
- New (digital) customer interactions
- Innovative business models
But without a clear process approach, digitization can lead to accelerated chaos instead of measurable improvement.
The power of process methods in DX
Here's how proven methodologies add value to digital projects:
1. Lean: Eliminate waste before digitizing
Lean focuses on eliminating waste and maximizing customer value. In digital processes, Lean helps to identify inefficient processes before they are automated.
- Value Stream Mapping to discover bottlenecks and waiting times.
- Focus on a culture of continuous improvement (Kaizen).
- Minimizing unnecessary steps in digital workflows
Achieve companies with effective change management programs (a pillar of Lean and Agile) medial 143% of expected ROI (McKinsey).
So clean up first, then digitize!
2. Six Sigma: Ensuring Quality and Consistency
Six Sigma is focused on reducing variation and improving the quality of the end product. By using data analysis and the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) cycle, digital processes can measurable and sustainable are being improved.
- DMAIC apply to digital workflows to eliminate errors and rework to reduce.
- Data-driven approach: Organizations that implement Six Sigma correctly see on average, a return of $230,000 per project and an ROI of 4.5 to 6 times on their training investment (Sixsigma.us).
3. Agile & Design Thinking: Flexibility and People Focus
- Agile ensures rapid iteration, continuous feedback and collaboration between teams, which is essential in the rapidly changing digital world.
- Design Thinking puts the end user first and helps design intuitive digital solutions. The goal: better adoption.
Companies that use Design Thinking focus on understanding user needs. This is crucial because 41% of organizations invest in DX without properly examining their customer needs (Prophet, 2019), which often leads to adoption disappointment.
The consultant as strategic process director
As a consultant, you can use these methods strategically in each phase of a digital transformation process:
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Regardless of the role you play in the digital transformation project where you are working as a consultant, it is always interesting to keep the above process methods in mind.
- Lean: try to identify the processes that your project has an impact on and identify waiting times and unnecessary steps.
- Six Sigma: view the product delivered by the project you are working on, what is the amount of rework there? What is the quality of the end product? Does each product have the same level of quality (variation)?
- Design Thinking: make use of Design Thinking techniques when you attend workshops that look for solutions.
- Agile: An agile way of working ensures rapid development of the certain solutions, and rapid feedback loops also help with rapid deliveries.
Practical example: the HR app implementation
Imagine: as a Digital Transformation consultant, you supervise the implementation of a new HR app (paysheet, absences, etc.).
- Lean: You start with a Value Stream Map of the current process. You discover two redundant approval steps and four days of waiting time in the leave application process. These steps are eliminated before digitization.
- Six Sigma: During the test phase, you analyze data. You note that 15% of applications are submitted incorrectly due to confusing input fields. You apply the DMAIC method to analyze the source of error, improve the interface and reduce the error rate to less than 5% (the Six Sigma Standard).
- Design Thinking: You organize workshops with the end users to co-create the interface. By using personas and Journey Mapping, you design an app that is intuitive, which means adoption accelerates by 25% in the first month.
- Agile: You're using Scrum. Each sprint provides a working element. User feedback from last week will be incorporated into the next sprint, so that the solution perfectly meets the need.
Conclusion
Digital transformation is not a goal in itself, but a means of creating measurable value. Integrating Lean, Six Sigma, Agile and Design Thinking enables consultants to:
- Avoiding waste (Lean).
- Guaranteeing quality and ROI (Six Sigma).
- Achieve higher user adoption (Design Thinking).
In short: Optimize first, then digitize. Only then can you achieve sustainable change, satisfied customers and measurable impact.
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