A good start is half the battle. As cliché as that sounds; especially in digital transformation, it is absolutely true. With a well thought-out start you lay the foundation for a smooth implementation and possibilities for expansion throughout the organization. But although you work in three phases, you already take Structure and Scale into account during the Start. They are inextricably linked. This is how you shape this phase of your digital transformation, with examples from practice.
Mendix distinguishes three phases in the digital transformation of organizations: Start, Structure and Scale. (link to previous blog) With each phase you get one step further and build on the previous one, working simultaneously with the 5 P's that enable the transformation: People, Process, Platform, Portfolio and Promotion. The right people in the right place, smart processes to safeguard information and designs, a centralized approach for working quickly and consistently, thoughtful prioritization and structure, and clear communication of successes to keep everyone on board. They are important in every phase.
Begin with the best foundation: Start
This phase is all about starting small but structured to gradually get the whole organization on board with the transformation. This is where you can show the added value of the approach. The first Mendix solutions that work, that people get excited about and that taste like more.
Your first project should really make a difference. This can be the accelerator for all follow-up projects. For one thing, because it is the basis (also structural) for subsequent applications. It shows the potential of the system and draws people on board. Therefore, you have to start well-founded with the right project that offers all possibilities for the next phases (Structure and Scale). Therefore you take into account the right preconditions, such as infrastructure, a business case as well as the right stakeholders and the right team.
The 4 steps of the Starting Phase
There are few projects that are started so off the cuff and become a success. Therefore, it is smart to work incrementally and be aware of the goals you want to achieve.
- Define your vision for the project and set goals (preferably Smart)
- Assemble a development team with the right knowledge and experience
- Deliver the first Mendix solution
- Share the success of the solution and thus generate internal PR
The role of The New Wave IT
Those three phases and those 5 Ps are of course very interesting, but how do you put them into practice in the organization? That's where the expertise of a specialist adds value. The New Wave IT guides companies in their digital transformation. We go through the three phases together, taking into account those so important factors that make success possible. We do this as a team. We start with an initial application, build it out using generic components and can scale up to a successful implementation throughout the organization. In doing so, we think along from the first idea. We set up an IT strategy together and ensure its successful deployment.
Start in practice
At a mobility company with fleet solutions, they had already started using Mendix. Two applications were running, but challenges arose, especially in terms of scalability. They wanted to know how they could use Mendix better and get more out of it. To deploy Mendix effectively and scalably, it is good to go back to basics. In other words, the Start-up phase. We developed a strategy here that was first about the deployment and focus of the platform, to eventually digitize operational processes.
With the running applications, we looked at their design. How can you make this more logical and sustainable, and how do you include user-friendliness for the end user? With a logical component structure, they will soon be able to scale up easily.
Mendix in Retail
We came in contact with a retail party that still had its own IT party. So they did a lot of in-house development here. They were looking for an application that would provide insight into the financial performance of the various operating companies, both by business unit and at the holding company level. The application should provide insight and management information. Mendix offers plenty of opportunities for this. We developed an IT strategy for this organization and set up the first Mendix application. Again, at the Start we already took into account the phases that would follow. This way we create a growth model for the digital transformation.