Category: Digital Transformation

Let’s Get Digital

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From monetizing how customers choose to shop, through to making better, faster decisions and reducing your business costs; digital transformation holds the key

EPOS rollout is not only responsible for handling sales (not something anyone is keen to get wrong); it also gives a real-time assessment of your inventory and customer behaviours. 

ERP implementation is the heartbeat of your business. From concept to bag; it orchestrates all your business processes and ultimately defines your company’s success.

 Web replatforming can be incredibly beneficial and takes advantage of fresh, more apt tech. It’s your digital shop window and (done well) allows you to supercharge digital business (hello revenue).

 Warehouse Management System is the cornerstone of omnichannel retailing. Multiple selling channels require effective, efficient inventory management. The result is pleasingly streamlined costs, a holistic and extended view of your stock and a consistent view of your customers that drives loyalty and a positive customer experience. 

Cloud First Delivery is a shift in mindset. It provides the opportunity to accelerate business value swifter than its on-premises sibling as you can access the latest and best tech available without the maintenance of the technology stack.

 CRM has evolved over the past three decades from a customer database that allows you to send marketing messages and emails to a tool that is critical to understanding your customer irrespective of how they choose to shop. It is the key to loyalty and ultimately the lifetime value of your customers. 

Enterprise Agile Practice; we have seen the need for business agility thanks to Covid-19, and the need to adapt quickly to consumers’ ever-changing behaviours and demands (forced or unforced). An agile mindset provides the tools to deliver a new leadership approach and drive new cultural and whole-business change at scale.

But, what do they all have in common?

Firstly, these initiatives bring your online and offline customers together. It provides a consistent experience for shoppers, bonds them to your brand and allows you to maximise revenue and spend. Customers choose many different ways to shop and we have all witnessed first-hand just how quickly that can change. This ‘single view’ allows you to create the expected flexibility and better serve your customers regardless of where or how they approach you. Think, happy, loyal, motivated customers. 

Secondly, they all apply technology, process and cultural change to transform how you make business decisions, make the correct business decisions faster and do business for less. This is game-changing for any business. Labour costs, NI contributions, operational costs, raw materials – the costs of doing business keeps rising whilst revenues have taken a serious hit. Digital transformation reduces the costs of doing business and delivers the agility and foresight to lead the market and your industry. There is a reason why the likes of Google, Amazon and Apple lead the way. From diversified revenues to a unilateral digital-first experience – they have the agility to change whenever the market demands it. Thankfully, you don’t need their budget to deploy successful digital transformation.

And the final thing that they all have in common is our ability to deliver them successfully. Having delivered digital transformation for many leading brands over the last two decades, we know our stuff. 2020 saw more digital transformation than in the previous decade. Companies literally scrambled to inject the agility necessary to survive the pandemic and its ongoing effects on the economy and our habits. But many digital transformations flounder due to fuzzy definitions, a lack of knowledge and poor execution. 

But will we burn through your cash and baffle you with science?

Not our style. We approach things a bit differently. 

At Digital Fabrique Development, we work with you to identify your goals. We then collaborate with a small but precise consortium of expert and niche companies to ensure we meet them. We don’t work with flashy types who watch the clock and drain your pockets. It’s not ethical and it’s not our style. We work with people who love what they do and know the value of real digital transformation. There is no pretence, no hidden charges – just an honest, expert approach with complete transparency about what we are doing and the niche experts we knit together to ensure the outcome of your transformation programmes.

If you want to release value both quickly and incrementally throughout your business, why not give us a shout to discuss how we can help?

[email protected]

Digital Transformation 101

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Because we’re really nice and helpful, we’ve summarised the key questions and answers around digital transformation and the opportunities it can unlock for your business. No mystique, no buzzwords – just concise, transparent and effective – much like any good digital transformation…

1. What is digital transformation?

Digital transformation isn’t (or shouldn’t be) a complex process. Adopting an agile methodology and a customer-centric approach, we review and revise your organisation to enhance core activities and ensure all functions assist your business goals. 

2. What are the main areas of digital transformation?

A successful digital transformation focuses on four key areas: your business model, your business processes, technology and cultural change. From people to processes, everything is measured, tested and reviewed using data.

3. Why is digital transformation so important?

Without digital transformation, businesses do not have true agility. Digital transformation allows you to successfully weather customer trends, diversify revenue streams, conquer new markets, deploy the correct technology and make the right decisions. It can and does cement the future of your business. 

4. Who is responsible for digital transformation?

In the absence of a transformation department, we have found that the Chief Information Officer (CIO) typically takes responsibility for driving innovation as a company shifts towards digital. As organisations mature on their journey, new executive roles such as the Chief Digital Officer (CDO) and the Chief Customer Officer (CCO) will also have a hat in the ring. They are keen to transform towards a customer-centric aligned business model while adopting a more lean, more agile organisational structure. 

5. How do you lead a digital transformation?

Honestly. That is the short answer. The long answer is more complex. Transformation runs through the veins of your organisation, touching every person and department. The CEO is impartial and invested but lacks time to oversee a successful digital transformation. An impartial, independent partner with a strong record delivering transformation initiatives ensures your delivery remains strategic, effective and aligned to your business goals. 

6. How much does a digital transformation cost?

Digital transformation has caught some bad press over the years for being flashy, expensive and confusing. That’s not our style. It can cost the big bucks (depending on who you use), but it doesn’t have to. Offering a competitive and holistic service, we only provide resources where you need them, when you need them.  Our engagement is productivity-driven not time-driven. For info and pricing, give us a shout at [email protected]

7. Has Covid-19 accelerated digital transformation?

In a word, yes. Digital transformation has been the difference between the businesses who have weathered this plague like a pro and those who have suffered or sadly closed. The last six months have produced more digital transformations than in the previous decade. Digital transformation is the only whole-business solution that yields the agility necessary to effectively respond to changeable customer trends, tech and even the odd global pandemic. 

8. What are the top trends for digital transformation in 2021?

Digital transformation is set to continue, with 86% of businesses reporting a rise in customer acquisition costs. 5G mainstream (should) finally go live. Customer data platforms (CDP) are set to explode with IBM stating that ‘bad data’ already costs US businesses approximately $3 trillion annually. Hybrid clouds (that combine public and private clouds) are seeing significant investments from Amazon, Google, IBM and Oracle. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) is being trialled in firewalls following a 600% rise in cloud attacks this year. Plus, remote working is due to outlast Covid-19.

9. How do you develop a digital transformation strategy?

Great question (if we do say so). A strong digital strategy is pretty much fundamental at this point. It starts with whole-business support from board to store level. Industry is fast-paced and tech-heavy. Understand, analyse, research. Where are you right now? Where do you want to be?  Where are the gaps in your internal capabilities? What is preventing you from going faster? What is your budget? Create a digital roadmap and test and keep testing your input and outcomes. Or, we can do it for you #justsaying

10. What is a digital transformation specialist?

A digital transformation specialist will hold unique knowledge on how to translate your strategic goals into a programme of work that seeks to implement solutions leveraging existing and upcoming tech to stay ahead and compete. They understand the importance of process adaption and change management all of which is underpinned by good governance. They are (or should be) exceptional communicators and organisers – taking ownership and keeping it strategic and simple. 

11. Why is cultural change important?

A successful digital transformation demands real change. Your company culture is the very essence of that. Democratisation – removing command and control of decisions yields greater flexibility and inclusion. Everybody is on the same page working towards a common goal, regardless of their department or role. 

12. Why do businesses still use terminology such as “business vs. IT”?

Product teams create an entirely different approach to traditional project management. Where project management focuses on the output, product teams focus on the outcomes. This fresh ‘product’ approach yields cross-functional teams who deliver greater customer value and collaboration; it is a simple recognition that there is only one business. 

13. What is the difference between Digital transformation vs. IT transformation?  

Digital transformation execution is vital and as discussed, it is strategic and outcome-focused. It impacts all parts of the organisation adopting change through its very core.  IT transformation is a complete overhaul of an organisation’s information technology (IT) systems focusing on IT priorities as opposed to customer’s needs. 

14. Why do so many companies fail to execute their transformation goals?

There can be several reasons why a business will fail or stall when executing their digital transformation. Poor execution is the most common reason. Executive leadership and strategic challenges lead to many digital transformation fails within the first six months. Leaving legacy organisational designs in place also causes problems. Every element and department must be transformed to achieve whole-business improvement.

15. Why has retail (vs. other sectors) led the way on digital transformation?

When you look at how consumers acquire products, virtually every part of their shopper journey is digitized. Bricks and mortar are in steady decline, with the vast majority of shoppers never entering a store. Even those still hankering for that touch and feel experience often stake out items beforehand. Retailers can shrewdly use this data to entice and encourage purchasing and brand loyalty and reduce the risk of a competitor swiping the sale at the last minute. 

Any more questions? We are more than happy to answer them – give us a shout. 

A One-Size Digital Transformation Team? Not if You want it to Work…

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So, you’ve decided to unify your business via digital transformation. Now what? 

Perhaps you’re migrating to the cloud, diversifying revenue streams, removing risk, revolutionising contact centres, data centres, your supply chain, or all of the above. One thing is for sure; you want to remove waste and drive profitability throughout your organisation. But do you need an ERP expert, a change management expert, an APP and WMS developer, an eCommerce expert? 

The answer? It depends a great deal on you.

Anyone who’s had a good crack at digital transformation knows that without the right structure and expertise, things can get really messy really quickly. The pressure is on. Expectations are high. The transformation must release value across your organisation both quickly and incrementally. Waste has to go. Entire processes, departments and attitudes must be revamped – not for the sake of it – but to achieve real transformation with real results. The kind that makes your FD elicit a rare smile. 

The truth is, one company cannot deliver all of your digital transformation needs, albeit they may promise otherwise. Much like the very finest of symphonies, you need a strong conductor and a litany of digital experts to bring your transformation together in perfect harmony.  

The approach must be agnostic. The only agenda – your successful transformation. Everyone must work together. A diverse array of disciplines is required to deliver your unique vision with absolutely zero prejudice to any one department, discipline, or person. 

Ensuring you have carefully selected, impartial and exhaustive expertise saves a lot of time – and we would know. Having delivered digital transformation for many successful businesses – we are big enough to admit we have already made the mistakes and learned the lessons. 

So, what made their digital transformations so successful? 

Humblebrag alert – we did. Or should we say our fresh approach to digital transformation did. 

We don’t pretend to possess every skill-set necessary to deliver a digital transformation as unique as each client. Your people, your vision, your budget – you’re a one-off. Providing the same transformation and expertise just doesn’t work. Real transformation demands that the big picture is broken down into precise manageable chunks with the relevant expert at each helm. What we do is insert the correct expert into the correct role and manage and deliver your digital strategy and business goals. Sounds simple, right? But this is not the traditional or standard approach. Sadly, many businesses have found this out to their detriment tens of thousands of pounds later.

At Digital Fabrique Development, we work with you to identify your goals. We then collaborate with a small but precise consortium of expert and niche companies to ensure we meet them. We don’t work with flashy types who watch the clock and drain your pockets. It’s not ethical and it’s not our style. We work with people who love what they do and know the value of real digital transformation. There is no pretence, no hidden charges – just an honest, expert approach with complete transparency about what we are doing and the niche experts we knit together to ensure the outcome of your transformation programmes.

For a digital transformation as refreshing and successful as it is transparent, why not give us a shout?

The Land of Lost Departments…

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Digital transformation is super slick, super sexy and super high-tech, right? That’s certainly part of it. But a lot of digital transformation makes the same common wasteful mistake…

Sales and marketing – they’re directly connected to the tills and client satisfaction. But actually, those dusty departments behind the scenes aren’t so dusty after all. 

Think of digital transformation and you think of increased profitability and revenue, enticing customers and sales. APP development, web improvements, or the in-store experience jump to the front of the queue. But real transformation runs through the veins of your entire business – from your front to back office and everywhere in between. Sure, your new APP might be increasing sales upfront. But it’s all for nothing if the back office is eating the profits.

2020 has seen many businesses take a serious sales hit. Yet the costs of doing business remain static or invariably increase – eroding your bottom line. It’s been a turbulent ride, that’s for sure. But even when you’re up against pandemics, it doesn’t have to be. 

Internal inefficiencies are the blockade to your business. Staff waste time and pull in different directions; processes are not collaborative and harmonised, systems are antiquated and held together by a shoestring. Inefficiencies (in a nutshell) consume the profits you are keen to achieve. Businesses might think, ‘what has HR got to do with CX?’ Fact: Great CX demands a great team, great processes – you get the idea. Every department needs to shape up, get on board and transform the way it works for whole-business improvement.

Without addressing internal inefficiencies, true transformation can’t take place and it’s a common and expensive mistake we see time and time again. 

Finance, logistics, HR – your back office is the backbone of your business. Antiquated systems, processes and procedures are the enemy. It is no coincidence that those thriving this year have undergone a strong digital transformation, diversified revenues, improved profitability and removed waste. Either that or they’re in the hand sanitizer game. To stay agile and sail through choppy waters with finesse – you need to ‘pivot’ faster than your industry and competitors. That simply isn’t possible with redundant layers of legacy processes and admin weighing down every management decision. Many businesses struggle to ‘pivot’ at all or too late and their P&L shows it.

As a business, how can you find a way to be more efficient – more cost-effective? Trim the fat and adopt agile processes and a framework that empowers staff. Create clear accountability, clear communication and a common goal – all underpinned by data-driven insights to continually adapt and evolve. While a pandemic is extreme, trends, tech and needs chop and change like the weather. Can your business chop and change with them?

Shiny tech is not the answer in isolation. Integrating digital capabilities such as automation, real-time analysis and reporting allow you to identify waste and reduce the costs of doing business…

It all sounds great, but where to start?

1) Be honest, if one of your strategic goals is to reduce the operational cost of doing business, then (honestly) review the cost centres within your business 

2) Review functional areas and heatmap the capabilities; identify the gaps, inefficiencies and duplication where change is required  

3) Create a transformation roadmap/plan for these prioritised areas

4) Create a diverse cross-functional team to execute the roadmap in bite-sized chucks – keeping it well managed and tight

5) Explore and trial niche digital solutions that can address these areas – digital is changing rapidly; small niche tech could solve a very specific problem (don’t be afraid to embrace innovation)

6) Measure – learn – adapt – move on to the next priority

We understand that transformation requires many moving pieces, niche solutions, experts and your own people to come together to deliver a shared goal. At DFD, we deliver a clear, proven framework and orchestrate your unique programme of projects and workstreams. 

Providing the right resources (only where you need them), clear communication and governance; we skip the complex and entirely swerve the bureaucracy.  

Welcome to digital transformation that leaves you with an entirely new business capability – the ability to continuously improve and stay lean. Pivot, don’t pivot – you’re now an entirely agile business holding the reigns and primed for the future. 

It might be October, but we don’t do scary costs either. 

For a successful digital transformation that improves your entire business, why not give us a shout?

Banish Excess and Get the Job Done – This is the Fresh approach to Digital Transformation Engagements

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Brands shy away from digital transformation for two reasons: 1) cost and 2) delivery.

These are both good reasons. Yes, we just said that.  

Your permanent teams have their existing roles and responsibilities to worry about. Designing and executing a successful digital transformation is not part of their repertoire and (even if it were) is a full-time job in itself. Traditional DT consultancies caught some bad press. Long-winded, confusing and expensive often springs to mind. Unless you are a huge business with vast resources, the costs can be off-putting. Even if you do have the resources, you don’t need to spend tens of thousands on a successful DT and why should you anyway?

Utilising an intermediary to deliver your digital transformation can be hit and miss, time-consuming and a little dicey with IR35 employment legislation. 

But get past all of this and the rewards are big. Really big. Plus, as a pandemic sweeps the planet – can you even afford not to be digital? 

So, what (exactly) does a successful DT do? In a nutshell, it delivers the agility to weather Covid, Brexit, the competition, customers trends and anything else hurled at your business. Amazon, Netflix, Google – they all know the exponential value of successful DT. They have built an empire on it. And (fortunately) you don’t need their budget to enjoy strong results. 

If you could remove the uncertainty from your business, what would that do?

The difference between successful and unsuccessful digital transformation is in expertise and execution. You need a tight network of experts who have delivered for Missguided, River Island, Arcadia, Jack Wills, Mothercare, Ideal World and more (aka know their stuff). You need a flexible resource model tailored to your unique business aims. We even upskill your internal teams before we hand back the reigns. You need a managed, transparent service that accounts for the resources, expenditure and outcomes. You need pricing that reflects a job well done and not glossy offices and flash cars. In short, you need a transformation that is strategic, effective and optimises your business across every digital platform. 

The specifics:

1) Enjoy a closed network with all its benefits, confidence and first-hand experience of how to successfully get the job done

2) Utilise a lean model – handpicked and tight knit – rather than 100’s of consultants and their fees

3) A strong focus on the right cultural fit – it gets the right results

4) There is no minimum engagement period so you only pay for what you need

5) No expensive offices, flashy cars, or overheads – we pass on these savings directly to you

6) IR35 is also deftly taken care of as we define our engagement and outcomes upfront. 

That is how we deliver a successful digital transformation that removes the uncertainty, relieves the risk and allows you to scale, pivot and predict with the agility that 2020 demands. 

To read how we delivered the digital goods for Missguided and more, please click here.

DFD is an independent team of experts in digital transformation. We deliver a successful DT that aligns smart technology, your business, your people and your processes to drive greater value for customers and your team. 

New business, maximised profits, diversified revenue streams, brand equity – everything is possible with the right approach. Whatever your goals, we deliver real change that achieves your core business capabilities. 

For a successful digital transformation that cements your future, why not give us a shout?

Is Your Business Capable/Covid-Proof/Brexit-Proof/Bulletproof ?

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If 2020 has highlighted anything, it’s the irrefutable need to know what is and isn’t important to your business. Once those business capabilities are nailed down – Covid, Brexit and anything else a bit crazy is plain sailing.

Change has happened. It will keep on happening. The only thing you can control is how your business handles it.

People bandy around the term ‘business capability’ a fair bit. The trouble is it can mean one thing to one person and something different to another. Is invoicing a business capability? Is supply-chain? A business capability is simply what your business can do. Forget the how or the who (for now).

It sounds simple. But once you map and collate the components of a capability – the people, processes and systems used to deliver it – cross-departmental confusion ensues. Without a common consensus and clear focus, the likes of Brexit, Covid, or whatever comes next on life’s erratic menu – will throw you a big business curveball. No one is comfortable with the number of retailers who have gone into administration since Covid-19 hit. But just like any business risk – it can be mitigated.

Your business capability model contains the competencies critical to your operation. By identifying your core capabilities (let’s be honest not all capabilities are equal), you yield a razor-sharp focus that prioritises what your business can do. Your transformation can begin.

Is everyone in your organisation focused on what you actually do as a business?

We know how tough it is to harmonize your business model, processes, tech and people. Everyone needs to (not only be on the same page but) understand your business capabilities regardless of what is happening in other parts of the organisation.

Your capability framework is (quite simply) critical to long-term success. It is logical, intuitive and deftly steers your organisation to profitable pastures.

So, what will you unearth?

1) Gaps or weakness ensuring you understand and can mitigate any risks

1) Duplication – where are the inefficiencies in your operation which are hindering the business?

2) A common language throughout your business that aligns business objectives, people, departments and productivity

3) A reduction in cross-departmental friction and politics

4) A Shift in focus to continual improvement by prioritising the right process and system improvements

5) An objective blueprint which identifies what is strategically important to help facilitate fast decision-making

6) How to keep project scope lean (focus on what you need to do)

Once your framework is sharp, you have a clear focal point to begin your transformation journey and deliver what your business can do. That could be selling clothing worldwide, taking online bets, or putting people up for the night (hospitality).

DFD is an independent bunch of experts in digital transformation. We can help clarify a common understanding across your organisation on where your risks and opportunities lie and your focus needs to be. We remove the politics, the naysaying and hair curling costs and deliver a transformation that ensures your business is united, focused and here to stay.

You might want to conquer new markets, diversify revenue streams, or ensure the future of your organisation.. Whatever your goals, we deliver real change that achieves your core business capabilities.

For a successful digital transformation that effects real results, why not give us a shout?

Consumers Vs 2020: The Results are in…

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Whilst ‘pivot’, ‘transition’ and ‘new norm’ top the charts for most overused (and mildly irritating) words of 2020; no one can deny that businesses have been hit with a hammer blow by Covid-19.

It’s happened. Life has changed. Once a formerly relaxing saunter to meets friends, shop and grab lunch; the decision is now plagued by masks, restrictions and concern.

Shoppers crave the old ways (in terms of relaxation, spend and free movement) but demand the new. They seek a clear demonstration that you empathise and understand their needs. They want safety, a relaxed experience, sustainability and smart technology to support the cultural shift and their enjoyment.  

One thing is for sure: 2020 has taught us we need to be ready; we need to listen and we need the agility to give consumers precisely what they want and need if we plan to stick around.

The monumental rise in eCommerce has left e-tailers happy. But local neighbourhoods have spoken. Friendly, convenient, safe shopping experiences are sought. The entrepreneur leader – empathic to consumer desires – has a significant opportunity to give consumers exactly what they want.

No one wishes to remain glued to their sofa forever. Pure play eCommerce takes the lions share but it will never replace the human element of shopping, socialising and experience. Demand, travel restrictions, localised lockdowns and uncertainty will all push towards the next phase in retail – a high street rejuvenation for those who can unify consumer desires, safety, smart tech and the process improvements fit for the future.

Welcome to unified commerce.

Unified commerce doesn’t rely on eCommerce, tech, or bricks and mortar. It deftly combines them all. It offers the best of digital and physical assets to proactively engage with your customer in the way that they crave. For example, a customer should be able to begin shopping with you on their tablet at home, select the sale items they love from your APP on the train and then pick up exactly where they left off on arrival at your store. The assistant knows what they are looking for and makes recommendations to this effect. Cue happy customer. Frustration is banished, their customer journey is successful and they are far less likely to seek a competitor as you have interpreted and delivered at every step. Understand your customer. Build the bond. Make the sale. Digital in-store innovation can also deliver the much-needed convenience and safety aspects of the shopping experience – making it easier and safer to buy.

It’s immersive, well managed and specifically relevant for each and every customer. From your stores to social, all channels are connected, everything is purposeful, measured and effective. Oh, and sales tend to go up. A lot.

Is this where we baffle you with buzzwords and ask you to hand over fistfuls of cash? No.

Call us crazy, but excessive expenditure and soulless spreadsheets are not our thing. We value digital transformation that yields the agility to weather trends and change (even global pandemics). We look at your entire business. How do you work? What works well? What doesn’t? Where is the waste? How can we deliver your vision?

A DFD digital transformation is underpinned by agile methodology and swiftly releases value quickly and incrementally. We aren’t watching the clock. We aren’t talking a good game. We are watching results. We are creating processes that work. Resources are applied only where you need them when you need them. Our engagement is productivity-driven and we have witnessed exceptional results for the big brands we have transformed.

Missguided, River Island, Arcadia all entrust Digital Fabrique Development to get the job done and implement the correct digital action. Action that yields a sustainable, strong, profitable business of the future – whatever the ‘new norm’ looks like.

For a successful digital transformation without the hefty price tag, why not give us a shout?

eCommerce and the BIG Benefits of Replatforming

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Performance issues are a thing. A website thing. From creating a poor customer experience through to preventing sales – your website shoulders hefty responsibility.

In such a competitive digital environment, your website is your modern-day shop front. Only instead of promising a few hundred in physical footfall, it can attract thousands or even millions in potential eCommerce trade.

Just as a strong website can boost sales and profits, so can a slow or outdated one impair them. Online giants Amazon found that 100 milliseconds of latency cost them 1% in sales. Doesn’t sound too much, right? Well, that translated to a loss of $1.6 billion every second. Google VP Marissa Mayer spoke at the Web 2.0 conference about speed, user experience and customer satisfaction. Google found that a half-second delay in search results resulted in a whopping 20% drop in traffic.

Your throughput might not be up there (yet) with Google or Amazon, but for any digital business – every second counts.

But is web development too slow, too costly and too inflexible to meet business demands and changes in customers’ shopping behaviours?

Apple, Amazon and Netflix think so. They have moved away from monolithic architecture for these very reasons. Monolithic architecture is tightly coupled, rigid and does not allow for agile development. This led to slow deployment, slow problem-solving and ultimately a slow time to market – every e-tailers worst nightmare.

The solution? Replatforming and breaking up your monolithic architecture into small, discrete services that are easy to manage allows you to increase your services and change direction as and when you wish to.

Introducing microservice architecture.  

Microservice architecture is now the preferred, modern choice for the leading eCommerce players. Built around simplicity and agility; microservice architecture allows you to easily build and maintain web and APP development, yields effortless integration with innovative tech such as AI and personalisation, and keeps you one step ahead of the competition.

Website replatforming means your business capability is no longer dictated or restricted by rigid tech. You have the ability to scale, enhance and build the service offering your customers demand.

The key benefits of website replatforming:

1) Move to a microservices architecture

2) Eradicate site performance issues

3) Move to the cloud and easily auto-scale to manage peaks and promotions such as Black Friday

4) Capture further sales and revenue

5) Rewrite your website with modern code allowing for responsive customer interactions – thus waving goodbye to site/mobile issues

6) Enhance CX

7) Modernise your brand

8) Tap into innovation that is cost-effective

Digital Fabrique Development is a fresh approach to digital transformation trusted by Missguided, River Island, Jack Wills, Arcadia and more. Our focus is on a bit more value and execution, and a bit less talking. With over two decades of experience in delivering eCommerce solutions and website replatforming that utilises leading microservice architecture; we provide your business with the infrastructure to stay competitive, stay agile and scale. 

Is your existing website putting the breaks on your business? If so, why not give us a shout?

Digital Transformation: All Talk and no Walk?

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Traditional digital transformation consultants produced too much of said glazed expression. The dialogue was confusing and the results patchy. The other issue? It can cost the big bucks…understandably putting off many a retailer. It was a little too much talk and expense for our tastes. So, in 2013, we decided to do it ourselves. Only better.

Retailers know the value of successful digital transformation but struggle to connect the dots and elicit real tangible value both quickly and incrementally. Whether you are buying a sofa or some new shoes, life is digital. Bricks and mortar stores have been in steady decline for years – this isn’t news. But Coronavirus was a sucker punch for those who hadn’t already made the successful digital leap. From retail and hospitality to gaming and transport – 2020 has not been kind. Many have scrambled reactively and suffered financial losses but conversely, those in a strong, agile and diverse position have thrived.

Successful digital transformation is the difference.

Having spent 20 years within retail and eCommerce, we have created, led and delivered digital transformation for some big brands. From cost savings and increased revenue YOY through to increased market share and launching overseas – there is no doubt digital transformation can get you where you want to be.

So, is it all modern tech and digital platforms? No.

Real digital transformation focuses on three key areas:

YOUR BUSINESS MODEL | PROCESS CHANGE | SMART TECHNOLOGY

From board to store level, real change needs real support. Stalled projects, time constraints, expense and lack of expertise are just a few of the hurdles. So, how do we do it better?

Well, firstly we know our stuff. From change management, board presentation and setting up agile processes through to waste elimination and implementing the right tech – we have you covered. But it is our values and approach that set us apart. Our emphasis is on a bit less talk and a lot more execution. Execution derived from real experience, understanding and expertise. Offering a competitive and holistic service, we only provide resources where you need them, when you need them. Our engagement is productivity-driven not time-driven. We 100% believe in what we do and have witnessed exceptional results for the leading brands we have transformed (we shamelessly namedrop below). We take accountability throughout the execution of your project to ensure its success and deliver a digital transformation that is simple, strategic and valuable. For a little more detail on the how and who, please click here.

The retail environment is unforgiving, highly competitive and highly changeable. Customer expectations, trends and technology are ever-changing. As 2020 continues to twist, turn and test us – Digital Fabrique Development can help diversify, fortify and future-proof your business so that you are not only ready for the next twist, but prepared and bulletproof.

We have delivered successful digital transformation for River Island, Missguided, Arcadia, Jack Wills and more.

For a bit less talk and a lot more value, why not give us a shout?

Under the Hood of Successful Digital Transformation

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Let’s be honest, we would all like to reach more customers and build a business model that stands strong when faced with COVID-19 and the many other challenges thrown our way… 

From getting products quickly to market and waste reduction through to conquering new markets and diversified revenue streams; there are compelling reasons why retailers are looking at the bigger picture.

As we bounce back and adjust to the twists and turns of 2020, retailers are keen to review the store experience, safety measures, how they can learn from customers and ultimately encourage spend and satisfaction.

The digital experience is king (or queen), both online and in-store. Aligning the digital and the physical with your audience, their needs and your brand builds a formidable customer base and attracts more happy customers. Just look at McDonald’s. How many of us still pay with a person? They aligned the digital and in-store experience, met customer demand and improved the ICX. But what about a more complex model? Introduce production lines, supply chain, a blurred brand and leaner budget, and real expertise is needed to pull everything together.

Does the big picture mean big bucks? It can do. But it doesn’t have to. What it should do is improve your entire business model and release value at pace. However, not all digital transformation is equal. We have seen the good, the bad and the downright expensive. Without clear knowledge, experience and (super importantly) execution – the results will spend not save. So, what does a successful DT look like?

Your Digital Strategy

Essential to success, your digital strategy allows you to reach your target market effectively, use the platforms they prefer and wave goodbye to the competition. Analysing your data, business model, behaviours and goals; DFD translates the results into actionable intel and measured initiatives via product-driven methodology. In simple terms, your digital strategy and its execution are flexible and tested at every step of its journey to ensure it delivers.

Agile Programme Management

Agility; bandied around a lot but with good reason. Changeable environments such as social distancing (no one predicted that one), new launches, new customer trends and endless competition require the agility to revise your initiatives as and when the market demands it. Our agile delivery management provides the knowledge and infrastructure to proactively respond with that much-needed agility.

Business Capability Analysis

Fresh digital competition is always emerging which begs the question, is your tech meeting your existing requirements and future goals? But focus purely on shiny tech and you miss a critical step: process analysis. What obstacles are within your organisation? What is wasting time and resources? From leading tech to working processes, we produce qualitative data on how your processes are performing and make and lead robust recommendations for change.

Cultural Change Agents

Dave is one of the best ops managers you have had, but he is adverse to change and happy with his existing methods. Plus, what’s in it for him? Change is just upheaval he can do without. The hypothetical Dave is rarely alone in this thinking. Real change needs real support and is an essential element of successful Digital Transformation. We help you to drive real change within your organisation in a structured, educational way so that ‘Dave’ and all staff are change advocates and the magic has no blockade.

Digital Fabrique Development blends the right knowledge, experience and execution to DT that big brands such as Missguided, River Island and Arcadia have trusted to conquer fresh markets, improve YOY growth, wipe waste and enhance the ICX. From EPOS and in-store Wi-Fi through to customer analysis and modern store initiatives – we can help you release value quickly and incrementally without alarming your FD.

For a bit less talk and a lot more value, why not give us a shout?