Global Digital Enterprise Survey 2019: Foreword by DXC and LEF

Welcome,

We expect 2019 to be a turning point for many organizations. Decisions you make in 2019 will determine your ability to execute on digital strategies. That’s because digital transformation has now become more than just a good idea. It’s a pre-requisite for every organization planning to compete and survive in the 21st century.

Business and technology leaders are embarking on their most rapid, dramatic and sophisticated transformation in decades, investing in technologies such as cloud computing, mobile and applications. But they’re also exploring emerging technologies and architectures that include artificial intelligence, machine learning, the internet of things, serverless computing and more.

To explore this issue on the ground, we recently commissioned The Economist Intelligence Unit to survey more than 600 senior executives at large organizations worldwide. We wanted to know what these leaders consider their most important business drivers for digital transformation, key technologies, their organizational changes, and more.

Here’s just some of what our survey has found:

• Organizations are investing more. Over 80 percent of respondents expect to increase their investment in digital technologies in the next 12 months.
• Digital delivers profit. More than two-thirds of respondents say their organization’s profitability has increased over the past 3 years thanks to its digital strategy. Nearly three-quarters expect it to rise in the next 3 years. Our customers say putting together a strong business case still remains challenging, but is central to their success.
• Cultural transformation is fundamental to going digital. At least 40 percent of respondents say important initiatives include organizational change, identifying breakthrough strategies to recruit and train digital talent, a strong commitment from C-level executives and activating a digital task force.
• Digital transformation is a competitive game-changer. More than 70 percent of senior executives expect their digital strategies to lead to greater agility. More than 75 percent say a modern IT infrastructure positions their organization to produce stakeholder value.
• Most organizations are still taking baby steps. While digital transformation can deliver value by bringing together data and analysis, most organizations are still in the early stages of adopting such a strategy. Fewer than one in three respondents say their business units are “digitally enabled.”
• No matter where you are on your journey, this research will help you compare your progress and goals with those of other executives and organizations. The transformation to digital is not an end state. Your competitors are continually evolving their digital strategies. Everyone must continue to evolve and move forward. We hope you find the report an informative and helpful guide as you continue to drive change in your organization.

Jim Smith
Executive Vice President, Digital Transformation
and Customer Advocacy, DXC Technology

Richard Davies
Managing Director, Leading Edge Forum
and Digital General Manager, DXC Technology

See the complete survey results.