Digital Transformation
Digital roadmap aligned to business objectives
Development of clear digital strategy with implementation roadmap, ROI-based initiative prioritization, technology investment business cases and executable transformation plan. Strategy that guides WHERE to invest, WHAT technologies to adopt and HOW to generate measurable value.
Strategic Roadmap
Digital strategy: the master plan of your transformation
Digital strategy is the strategic plan that defines how your company will use digital technology to achieve business objectives and create competitive advantage. Answers: Where are we digitally today? Where do we need to be in 2-3 years? What digital initiatives take us there? What is the expected ROI of each investment?
A robust digital strategy includes: current digital maturity assessment, future digital vision aligned to business strategy, identification of digital initiatives (processes, technology, data, culture), prioritization by impact vs effort, implementation roadmap in waves, business cases with projected ROI, governance plan and change management.
Difference with IT plan: IT plan is tactical (what systems to maintain, infrastructure, support). Digital strategy is strategic (how technology transforms business, new capabilities, competitive advantage). Complementary but different levels.
When do you need formal digital strategy?
Starting transformation without clarity on where to start
You know you need to digitally transform but don't know WHAT to do first. Multiple ideas without clear prioritization or calculated ROI.
Limited budget that must be invested intelligently
You can't invest in everything. You need to identify initiatives with greatest impact per dollar invested and execute them in correct order.
Multiple uncoordinated digital initiatives
Each department pushes its digital project without unified vision. Duplication of efforts, disconnected systems, resource waste.
Board/investors demand clear digital plan
Board of directors or investors request articulated digital strategy with demonstrable ROI before approving significant budget.
More digital competition threatens your position
Competitors are digitally transforming and gaining advantage. You need plan to close gap or differentiate digitally.
Scaling company requires digital capabilities
Rapid growth (new markets, products, geographies) requires digital capabilities that current manual operation doesn't support.
8 components of Alternative digital strategy
We evaluate current digital maturity in 5 dimensions: Strategy and leadership, Processes and operations, Technology and data, Talent and culture, Customer and experience. Framework: Scale 1-5 (Initial → Optimized → Differentiated). Benchmarking vs industry.
We understand strategic business objectives, competitive challenges, industry trends, customer expectations. Purpose: Ensure digital strategy is aligned to business strategy, doesn't exist in vacuum.
We define desired digital state in 2-3 years: digital capabilities company will have, digital customer experience, automated processes, data-driven decisions. Co-creation: Workshops with leadership to build shared vision.
We generate portfolio of digital initiatives in 5 pillars: Digital customer experience, Processes and automation, Data and analytics, Technology and infrastructure, Culture and digital talent. Sources: Gap analysis, industry benchmarking, best practices, innovation.
We prioritize initiatives by business impact vs implementation effort. 2x2 Matrix: Quick wins, Strategic projects, Fill-ins, Hard slogs. Prioritization criteria: Projected ROI, strategic alignment, technical feasibility, interdependencies, risk.
We develop complete business case for top 5-10 priority initiatives: Investment (CAPEX + OPEX), Quantified benefits, ROI/NPV/IRR, Risks, Implementation plan. Rigor: Same level of analysis as standalone "Business Cases" service.
We define how digital transformation will be governed: Roles (Digital Committee, Digital Leader, Champions), Approval processes, Monitoring metrics, Governance meetings. Purpose: Ensure disciplined execution and agile decision-making.
Change management strategy for transformation: Stakeholder mapping, Communications plan, Training strategy, Resistance management. Purpose: Digital transformation fails more due to people than technology. Change plan is critical.
How we develop your digital strategy
DISCOVERY AND DIAGNOSIS
Interviews with C-level and key leaders (8-12 people), Digital maturity assessment (questionnaire + evidence), Review of current systems and technology, Analysis of critical processes, Benchmarking vs competitors and industry.
STRATEGY DESIGN
Digital vision workshops with leadership, Identification of candidate digital initiatives, Development of preliminary business cases, Initiative prioritization (impact vs effort matrix), Development of roadmap in waves.
VALIDATION AND REFINEMENT
Strategy presentation to leadership, Incorporation of feedback, Refinement of top initiative business cases, Prioritization adjustments according to constraints, Development of governance plan.
EXECUTIVE PRESENTATION
Preparation of presentation for board/management, Development of executive summary (10-15 slides), Formal strategy presentation, Q&A with key stakeholders, Plan of next steps for execution.
DISCOVERY AND DIAGNOSIS
Interviews with C-level and key leaders (8-12 people), Digital maturity assessment (questionnaire + evidence), Review of current systems and technology, Analysis of critical processes, Benchmarking vs competitors and industry.
STRATEGY DESIGN
Digital vision workshops with leadership, Identification of candidate digital initiatives, Development of preliminary business cases, Initiative prioritization (impact vs effort matrix), Development of roadmap in waves.
VALIDATION AND REFINEMENT
Strategy presentation to leadership, Incorporation of feedback, Refinement of top initiative business cases, Prioritization adjustments according to constraints, Development of governance plan.
EXECUTIVE PRESENTATION
Preparation of presentation for board/management, Development of executive summary (10-15 slides), Formal strategy presentation, Q&A with key stakeholders, Plan of next steps for execution.
TOTAL DURATION: 6-10 weeks
What's included
Strategic Documents
- Complete digital strategy document (40-60 pages)
- Executive summary (2 pages)
- Executive presentation (PowerPoint 20-30 slides)
- Visual transformation roadmap
Analysis and Business Cases
- Digital maturity assessment
- Business cases for top 5-10 initiatives
- Consolidated financial analysis (ROI, total investment)
- Risk analysis
Roadmap and Governance
- Implementation roadmap in waves with timeline
- Initiative prioritization
- Transformation governance model
- Strategy monitoring KPIs
Change Plan
- High-level change management plan
- Stakeholder mapping
- Communications plan
- Training strategy
Benefits
Clarity on where to invest digitally
Prioritization Based on ROI, not opinions
weeks Complete strategy development
Initiatives identified and prioritized
Projected for each initiative
Executable Roadmap with clear next steps
The 5 levels of digital maturity
What level is your company at? Alternative helps you advance 1-2 levels in 12-24 months.
LEVEL 1: INITIAL
Ad-hoc digital, no strategy, Dominant manual processes, Data in silos (Excel), Culture resistant to digital
LEVEL 2: IN DEVELOPMENT
First specific digital initiatives, Some digitized processes, Basic systems implemented, Awareness of digital need
LEVEL 3: DEFINED
Articulated digital strategy, Core processes digitized, Partially integrated systems, Culture accepting digital
LEVEL 4: MANAGED
Digital transformation in execution, Majority of digital processes, Consolidated and analyzed data, Established digital culture
LEVEL 5: OPTIMIZED
Digital differentiation vs competition, Continuous digital innovation, 100% data-driven decisions, Native digital culture
Frequently Asked Questions
Digital strategy is the plan; then comes execution. Alternative does both: (1) We develop strategy (this service): diagnosis, roadmap, business cases, prioritization. (2) We execute initiatives (other services): process digitization, technology implementation, change management, data analysis. Many clients hire strategy first and then Wave 1 execution with Alternative. Others use strategy to execute internally or with other providers. You decide.
Depends. If you have clarity on WHAT to implement, WHY (clear ROI), WHEN (correct sequence) and HOW (governance, change), you may not need complete strategy. However, frequently companies "know what they want" but: (1) Haven't calculated ROI rigorously, (2) Haven't considered better alternatives, (3) Implement in wrong order, (4) Ignore change management. Strategy validates that what you "want" is really what you "need" and is prioritized correctly.
Typically 15-30 candidate initiatives in complete evaluation. Of those, we prioritize top 8-12 for 2-3 year roadmap (you can't execute 30 simultaneously). Initiatives vary in size: some small (2-3 months), others large (12 months). Roadmap balances quick wins with longer-term strategic projects. Important: we don't execute everything at once; in waves according to change absorption capacity.
Good digital strategy has 2-3 year horizon with annual reviews. What DOESN'T change quickly: Business objectives, required digital capabilities, strategic prioritization. What CAN change: Specific technologies, vendors, timelines according to resources. That's why strategy defines WHAT capabilities you need (e.g.: "real-time inventory visibility") not HOW specifically (we don't mandate specific technology that can change). Annual review adjusts roadmap according to context.
Both levels. Strategic level: We identify required digital CAPABILITIES (e.g.: "e-commerce", "BI", "CRM"). Tactical level: We recommend specific technologies/vendors appropriate for your case (e.g.: "Shopify vs WooCommerce vs custom", "Power BI vs Tableau"). We don't sell software licenses or have commitments with vendors; recommendation is objective according to: budget, complexity, industry, internal capabilities. We include comparison of 2-3 alternatives with pros/cons.
Yes, it's possible, especially if you have: (1) Internal team with digital transformation expertise, (2) Available time (6-10 weeks full-time), (3) Proven frameworks and methodologies, (4) Knowledge of industry best practices, (5) Financial analysis capacity (ROI, business cases). If any is missing, external consultant provides: specialized expertise, proven frameworks, objective external vision, industry benchmarking, acceleration (6-10 weeks vs 6 months internally).
Ready to develop your digital strategy?
30-minute consultation. We evaluate current situation and determine if complete digital strategy is appropriate for your case.