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Digital Business Transformation: How Established Companies Sustain Competitive Advantage From Now to Next
Fuel your business' transition into the digital age with this insightful and comprehensive resource Digital Business How Established Companies Sustain Competitive Advantage offers readers a framework for digital business transformation. Written by Nigel Vaz, the acclaimed CEO of Publicis Sapient, a global digital business transformation company, Digital Business Transformation delivers practical advice and approachable strategies to help businesses realize their digital potential. Digital Business Transformation provides readers with examples of the challenges faced by global organizations and the strategies they used to overcome them. The book also includes discussions Perfect for anyone in a leadership position in a modern organization, particularly those who find themselves responsible for transformation-related decisions, Digital Business Transformation delivers a message that begs to be heard by everyone who hopes to help their organization meet the challenges of a changing world.
- GenresBusiness
224 pages, Hardcover
Published January 13, 2021
55 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Nigel Vaz
2 books2 followersNigel Vaz is the CEO of Publicis Sapient, the digital business transformation company, focused on helping companies survive and thrive in a world that is increasingly digital. With expertise spanning strategy, product, experience, engineering and data, Publicis Sapient helps businesses sustain relevance by adapting to change and capturing value through digital.
In more than 20 years with the company, Nigel has acted as a strategic advisor on complex transformation initiatives with clients across geographies and a range of industries including financial services, automotive, retail, consumer products, and telecommunications, media & technology (TMT).
Named by Consulting Magazine as a Top 25 Global Leader, Nigel advises some of the world’s largest businesses on their transformation initiatives. Publicis Sapient clients include Carrefour, Goldman Sachs, Marriott, McDonald’s, Nationwide, Nissan and Unilever. Prior to Sapient, he was a successful entrepreneur – co-founding a public company with interests in internet consulting and connectivity solutions.
In addition, Nigel is a member of the Executive Committee of Publicis Groupe and serves as the Global Lead of Digital Business Transformation. He is President of the IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising), a board director of The Marketing Society and an inductee of the BIMA Digital Hall of Fame.
He is a regular commentator in broadcast and print media including the BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, CNN, the Financial Times and Wall Street Journal, and author of numerous articles on business transformation, technology, brand experience and culture.
Nigel authored the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post bestseller Digital Business Transformation – How Established Companies Sustain Competitive Advantage from Now to Next, based on years of partnering with clients to harness the power of digital.
In more than 20 years with the company, Nigel has acted as a strategic advisor on complex transformation initiatives with clients across geographies and a range of industries including financial services, automotive, retail, consumer products, and telecommunications, media & technology (TMT).
Named by Consulting Magazine as a Top 25 Global Leader, Nigel advises some of the world’s largest businesses on their transformation initiatives. Publicis Sapient clients include Carrefour, Goldman Sachs, Marriott, McDonald’s, Nationwide, Nissan and Unilever. Prior to Sapient, he was a successful entrepreneur – co-founding a public company with interests in internet consulting and connectivity solutions.
In addition, Nigel is a member of the Executive Committee of Publicis Groupe and serves as the Global Lead of Digital Business Transformation. He is President of the IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising), a board director of The Marketing Society and an inductee of the BIMA Digital Hall of Fame.
He is a regular commentator in broadcast and print media including the BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, CNN, the Financial Times and Wall Street Journal, and author of numerous articles on business transformation, technology, brand experience and culture.
Nigel authored the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post bestseller Digital Business Transformation – How Established Companies Sustain Competitive Advantage from Now to Next, based on years of partnering with clients to harness the power of digital.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 25, 2021
The author clearly knows his stuff and there are useful insights throughout, but this is all relatively well-trodden ground.
And if this all about a transformation of your business, then it's a shame it isn't a transformation of the decades-old business book formula - buzzwords, acronyms, 2-by-2 matrices and case studies abound, which doesn't make for a compelling read. Here this was exacerbated by the author somewhat preaching to the converted (so using a lot of jargon) and case studies that often seem more like adverts for his business, and which, as they don't use real company names, are hard to appreciate.
On the positive side, it's good to see a book written post-Covid and which uses insights from our collective experience there, in particularly the speed of transformation, to illustrate its points.
Interesting also that the author is a fan of Ray Kurzweil's Law of Accelerating Returns, and of course Covid has taught us all about exponential growth. Although per Kurzweil, the Singularity is less than 25 years away, which rather makes one wonder why we humans are bothering to build businesses now.
Perhaps a book best taken as a reference handbook than read cover to cover, although most of the key concepts can be found here: https://principus.si/2021/04/10/nigel... - for example:
Six things that leading digital businesses consistently do very well.
The first quality that they share is to have a very clear idea of what need they are serving or what problem they are solving and for whom.
Digital businesses are also very quick to understand the value to the customer of what they do. They are very clear on what the benefit of their product or service is to the user. They also understand the value to their business.
A digital business will quickly go from “we are creating this much value for the customer” to “here is the value to us in our business and here is how we can be valued”.
Leading digital businesses focus on designing the experience. They understand that there is a direct link among value to the customer, value to the business and quality of the experience
They are applying data, AI and machine learning to keep pace with changes in customer expectations and needs.
They are powered by engineering. Even more important than that, their engineering capability and mindset provide them with the final quality of a leading digital business: the ability to continually refine themselves using their data and inputs.
And if this all about a transformation of your business, then it's a shame it isn't a transformation of the decades-old business book formula - buzzwords, acronyms, 2-by-2 matrices and case studies abound, which doesn't make for a compelling read. Here this was exacerbated by the author somewhat preaching to the converted (so using a lot of jargon) and case studies that often seem more like adverts for his business, and which, as they don't use real company names, are hard to appreciate.
On the positive side, it's good to see a book written post-Covid and which uses insights from our collective experience there, in particularly the speed of transformation, to illustrate its points.
Interesting also that the author is a fan of Ray Kurzweil's Law of Accelerating Returns, and of course Covid has taught us all about exponential growth. Although per Kurzweil, the Singularity is less than 25 years away, which rather makes one wonder why we humans are bothering to build businesses now.
Perhaps a book best taken as a reference handbook than read cover to cover, although most of the key concepts can be found here: https://principus.si/2021/04/10/nigel... - for example:
Six things that leading digital businesses consistently do very well.
The first quality that they share is to have a very clear idea of what need they are serving or what problem they are solving and for whom.
Digital businesses are also very quick to understand the value to the customer of what they do. They are very clear on what the benefit of their product or service is to the user. They also understand the value to their business.
A digital business will quickly go from “we are creating this much value for the customer” to “here is the value to us in our business and here is how we can be valued”.
Leading digital businesses focus on designing the experience. They understand that there is a direct link among value to the customer, value to the business and quality of the experience
They are applying data, AI and machine learning to keep pace with changes in customer expectations and needs.
They are powered by engineering. Even more important than that, their engineering capability and mindset provide them with the final quality of a leading digital business: the ability to continually refine themselves using their data and inputs.
August 13, 2021
A very good shorthand synopsis for leadership to understand the importance and impact of change.
I like the premise comparing linear change of the early 20th century with the accelerated changes now being exponentially driven by behavior, technology, access to funds and knowledge, and new business models. The look at history to establish sequential changes evolving into multifaceted changes and how changes that happened over long periods of time now happen with increasing speed.
This book refers to catch phrases like”bhag” , “connected” and “disruption” that feel dated by the time they are published. But, the direction that businesses need to transform to retain value in a changing world hold true.
The book provides insight to assessing which capabilities can be transformed for digital delivery that buyers will value - “competitive advantage does not come from technological capabilities alone: it comes from an integrated set of capabilities, what you are able to create with those capabilities, and a culture that embraces change.”
4 forces of connected change: customer behaviors, technological change, business models, and societal impact.
“One of the biggest challenges for established businesses is knowing what to let go of and what to keep” Do they wait to react to changes or proactively prepare for change? In most cases their customers have already moved on. Data has leveled the playing field. Technology has provided direct access to what customers want. If you are still trying to justify the old ways, you are destined to fail.
“In the age of the customer, a successful organization needs to embody and articulate a clear reason to exist, in line with customer needs.” To remain relevant and protected from competitive risk.
Hurdles to change include: top-down decision making, organizational silos, legacy technology, short-termism, talent shortages, values and culture, and “not invented here” to overcome these, you must anchor in outcomes.
Most companies are great at their core business but not at reimagining the future of their business as digital.
6 things a business must know or do well to succeed: the problem you solve, it’s value to the customer, it’s value to the business, a seamless experience, powered by engineering, and refined using data and AI.
I like the premise comparing linear change of the early 20th century with the accelerated changes now being exponentially driven by behavior, technology, access to funds and knowledge, and new business models. The look at history to establish sequential changes evolving into multifaceted changes and how changes that happened over long periods of time now happen with increasing speed.
This book refers to catch phrases like”bhag” , “connected” and “disruption” that feel dated by the time they are published. But, the direction that businesses need to transform to retain value in a changing world hold true.
The book provides insight to assessing which capabilities can be transformed for digital delivery that buyers will value - “competitive advantage does not come from technological capabilities alone: it comes from an integrated set of capabilities, what you are able to create with those capabilities, and a culture that embraces change.”
4 forces of connected change: customer behaviors, technological change, business models, and societal impact.
“One of the biggest challenges for established businesses is knowing what to let go of and what to keep” Do they wait to react to changes or proactively prepare for change? In most cases their customers have already moved on. Data has leveled the playing field. Technology has provided direct access to what customers want. If you are still trying to justify the old ways, you are destined to fail.
“In the age of the customer, a successful organization needs to embody and articulate a clear reason to exist, in line with customer needs.” To remain relevant and protected from competitive risk.
Hurdles to change include: top-down decision making, organizational silos, legacy technology, short-termism, talent shortages, values and culture, and “not invented here” to overcome these, you must anchor in outcomes.
Most companies are great at their core business but not at reimagining the future of their business as digital.
6 things a business must know or do well to succeed: the problem you solve, it’s value to the customer, it’s value to the business, a seamless experience, powered by engineering, and refined using data and AI.
December 31, 2022
Thought provoking but a little lacking on the specifics and case studies. Some tools and frameworks presented but most of the book is spoken in large, non-specific, generalities.
September 15, 2024
Nigel Vaz mentions the importance of purpose-driven strategies, however this aspect is not given the depth it warrants. In an era where consumers, particularly younger generations, prioritize social responsibility and ethical practices, companies must integrate purpose at the core of their digital transformation efforts. This omission could lead to transformations that lack ethical grounding and long-term sustainability.
Human-Centric Approach
Although the book discusses organizational culture and employee engagement, it could further explore the human-centric aspects of digital transformation. Understanding the human impact, from employee well-being to consumer trust, is crucial for a holistic transformation approach.
Long-Term Sustainability
The book focuses heavily on immediate and short-term strategies for competitive advantage. A more robust discussion on the long-term sustainability of digital transformation initiatives would provide a more balanced perspective.
Human-Centric Approach
Although the book discusses organizational culture and employee engagement, it could further explore the human-centric aspects of digital transformation. Understanding the human impact, from employee well-being to consumer trust, is crucial for a holistic transformation approach.
Long-Term Sustainability
The book focuses heavily on immediate and short-term strategies for competitive advantage. A more robust discussion on the long-term sustainability of digital transformation initiatives would provide a more balanced perspective.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews