Obstacles to Digital Marketing Transformation

The roadblocks to digital marketing transformation

The evolution of digital marketing is no longer an add-on; rather, it is essential to business sustainability. 

When seeking to transition, businesses face various obstacles that hinder business efficiency and put brands at risk of being left behind in the digital age. 

But what precisely are the barriers to the transition of digital marketing?

 Let’s take a look.

Lack of knowledge and skills

Lack of skills or knowledge is one of the most obvious barriers to the transition of digital marketing. An organization needs to recognize that for workers to be able to carry out the necessary transformational actions, they need to have access to the requisite training, certifications, and courses.

In order to stay up with the needs of a continuously changing digital landscape, your talent must be able to upskill themselves. Although the initial expenditure may be high, as you can better meet customer requests, the ROI from your transformation will increase over time.

Problems with data management

Trying to transform digitally might be difficult without access to reliable and accurate data. One of the first steps that must be taken into consideration is having a clear grasp of objectives and tangible insights into what your clients want and need.

To create precise estimates of your finances and future objectives, the organization must work collaboratively. 

Any organization must have a road map that details the channels it plans to use for exploration and the technologies it will require to accomplish so. Everybody in a company needs to be clear about the direction the company wishes to take and devote their time to future developments in accordance with that direction.

Budgetary constraints

When planning for a digital transformation, organizations neglect to include the cost of new IT systems and personnel training. 

Whenever a new system is integrated with an existing one, unexpected difficulties can always arise. 

The major budgetary constraint is a lack of planning, which may be helped by thoroughly reviewing your transformation strategy and taking into account every potential stumbling block. Good luck with your efforts to implement digital transformation!

Resistance to organizational change

Many businesses are adamant about changing their approach because they adhere to the adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it.” 

With this mentality, digital transformation is impossible, and being resistant to change will cost you in the long run. 

Netflix and Blockbuster would serve as an illustration of this. While Blockbuster was regarded as an innovative company, it never updated its business strategy. With a more cutting-edge and adaptable solution, Netflix pounced on this chance, forcing Blockbuster into bankruptcy. What functions today might not function tomorrow.

Politics and Power Battles

Politics and power battles are sad facts of the business world. Self-interest and ego can cause problems.

In order to maintain control and authority, decision-makers who set the pace of change inside the organization may unconsciously impede development if they lack confidence in their capacity to lead the digital marketing revolution.

Determine which milestones in the process inspire and scare people if you feel that certain people or departments are impeding progress. Utilize this information to develop buy-in along the way with a more strategic approach to change management.

Accountability

Everything is now measurable thanks to developments in marketing technology. For marketers who have never had to answer for marketing KPIs like subscribers, prospects, conversion rates, and sales, it might be difficult.

The need to demonstrate the value of marketing initiatives is becoming more and more important, according to the 2021 CMO Survey(Open Link in new window). 58.7% of marketing executives said that CEOs and CFOs are putting more pressure on them. 

The majority of reports use quantitative tools to help them report on the short-term effects of marketing expenditures, but revealing the long-term effects still mostly relies on qualitative analysis.

In order to consistently demonstrate the value of marketing to CEOs, CFOs, and the rest of the executive team, marketers must establish excellent analytics understanding and capabilities.

In Conclusion

Businesses and individuals with flexibility, dynamism, and transparency have the chance to redefine industries, overthrow leaders, and disrupt markets.

The people who are willing to step outside of their comfort zones, let go of their worries and concerns, take chances, and create extraordinary personal and corporate brands will make up the next generation of leaders.

How are you going to get there?

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By Esther Oyugi