Digital Transformation: A Strategic Game Changer

As far as coaches go, my dad was old school. He coached me from little league through high school baseball. When my turn came to be coaching my son’s baseball teams, I drew upon the lessons he taught me, some of which shaped my career path later in life. We practiced the skills, learned the rules of the game and fundamentals of how to play. My game strategy was instinctual, built on decades of my playing and previous coaching experiences.  I took pride in keeping the opinions of parents and other coaches at arm's length.    

After a rocky start to one season in particular, I approached a parent that had been scoring our games and asked them for the scorebook. I was surprised to learn they had been doing so using an app on their iPad. I was instantly amazed by the streams of data they had for every player from every game that we had played that year. A few hours with the data was all I needed to spot patterns and make connections to how our team could better compete and win. Armed with this information, we implemented simple, data-driven rules: don’t swing at first pitches, always steal second base on the first pitch, and prioritize the first out of every inning. The results were transformational. Confidence soared, performance aligned with strategy, and this team of nine year old boys executed with excellence, going on to win the city championship. (After that year we went on to win several more thanks in part to the data that showed us the keys to our success.) 

That experience taught me the transformative power of digital tools through leveraging data and technology to drive results—a principle that continues to guide how I make decisions, determine strategy and provide coaching to my teams. 

A few hours with the data was all I needed to spot patterns and make connections to how our team  could compete and win.  

It’s essentially the same thing we do with our clients at SolidCAD. As a technology and consulting firm, we work directly with a company’s leadership team not just to identify areas for improvement, but with an eye to understanding the data that affects operational outcomes. A lot of our solutions come down to the effective management of digital tools and platforms that our customers have invested in—ensuring they’re making the most of their investments.  The digital data helps leaders understand where they’re achieving the expected results, or where they need to improve to be more competitive. 

Complex concerns such as the rising costs of materials due to inflation, the targets related to climate change and sustainability, and the labour productivity crunch are top of mind for C-level leaders. Solving these issues requires a coordinated approach not only to acquiring and implementing the right tools, but also understanding how to extract the most value from them. 

The promise of digital transformation pays off 

The idea of digital transformation holds a lot of promise for companies, whether they’re striving to keep up with the pace of change or to maintain a competitive edge. The pandemic nudged and dragged many enterprises into embarking on a digital transformation journey or diving deeper into their existing investments. And for some, it’s paying off. According to a Harvard Business Review report, “between 2018 and 2022, digital leaders achieved average annual total shareholder returns of 8.1 per cent vs. 4.9 per cent for laggards.” 

Across our many sectors of expertise—from architecture and construction to automotive, mining and consumer products—we’ve helped companies invest in upgrading their business processes with digital solutions that have enhanced productivity and collaboration, and maximized the end-user experience.  

It’s not enough to be reactive to change—you need to optimize your ability to plan for it and continuously manage it. 

With the forward-thinking leaders we’ve partnered with, one thing has become clear: it’s not enough to be reactive to change—you need to optimize your ability to plan for it and continuously manage it. The data points to this too: statistics show that the most digitally mature companies have had a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of two times others in their industry. As more sophisticated technology emerges, CAGR increases are expected upwards to five times, according to estimates by McKinsey. 

The key to getting the most out of your investment from digital transformation comes down to one thing: commitment to continuous improvement. But how to get there? 

From implementation to analysis—and action 

Any transformation requires following a playbook that lays out a strategic approach to get the most out of your technology investments. You can’t manage what you can’t measure, but collecting data is only one step on the spectrum. And you can’t always move ahead just by implementing tools. You have to effectively leverage the benefits those tools bring, and especially the ability to derive intelligent insights in order to effect change.  

Staff must be trained on the tools and empowered to use the intelligence they glean strategically to deliver value. For example, each business unit’s targets must align with the company’s overall goals, which are set by senior leaders. And despite holding responsibility for decision-making, c-suite executives often partner with outside consulting firms that have deep expertise in key areas. This enables them to gain a broader view of how the organization can further optimize its tech investments to promote a culture of continuous change.  

Analyzing our baseball team’s performance stats led to the implementation of a feedback loop to empower the players. Rather than me needing to give repeated assessment and instruction, I set up a system that enabled the players to understand and act on the strategy, based on the data. Our teams, whether little league players or architects and engineers, all have different strengths and motivations. Giving them the tools to make adjustments can lead to creative and unexpected improvements in results. 

Data takes the emotionality out of decision-making, allowing for a more nuanced discussion based on qualitative information. And data-driven tools can empower individuals and teams to make more informed decisions, improve performance, and drive success without constant oversight. 

A personalized plan from strategy to results 

Every team expects its leaders to put them in a position to be successful. This is why a strategic approach to transformation is the key to continuous growth and improvement. You never know when an important team member may not be able to perform or where hidden potential can reveal itself, given the right feedback and support.  

The complexity of today’s projects—especially massive multi-year infrastructure and building developments—is on the rise. One client we worked with—a window manufacturing company—wanted to capitalize on new opportunities to complete high-end custom projects for a large condo development. They wanted to produce windows in more organic shapes. That meant they had more specific needs in terms of the quality, which included critical structural integrity.  

Yet the company’s data was sitting in silos on various software platforms and in programs instead of seamlessly integrated in one spot so it could be easily accessed to deliver on client expectations.  

By partnering with the company to understand its goal and the steps required to fulfill them, we were able to create tailormade solutions to integrate its data, enabling it to expand its offerings in a seamless manner. This will help drive value and build loyalty with its customers.  

Winning the city championship felt a bit like a Disney movie. But it also opened my eyes to the power of data-driven decision-making. It showed me, firsthand, that it wasn’t just about how well the kids could swing or throw a ball. It was about getting curious about data patterns—and then tying them to strategy.  

In sports and in business alike, your teams want and expect to win. By getting the digital tools, access to the data and strategies right, companies vastly improve their odds. Success is no longer about chance—it becomes a matter of strategic action. It’s the same strategy we use at SolidCAD to consistently support our clients and help them achieve exceptional outcomes.