3 Examples of Successful Digital Transformations

To succeed, businesses must constantly adapt to consumer demand, sharpen their strategy to stand out from competitors and keep up with market developments. In the 21st century^E century, the digital transformation has therefore become an essential step in stimulating their growth in an increasingly competitive market, increasing their turnover and allowing them to remain efficient in the face of ever more demanding consumers.

Here are 3 examples of companies that have successfully completed their digital transformation to inspire you.

1. Société Générale

A pioneer in digital transformation, the Societe Generale is committed to digital technology by focusing on the collaborative aspect and by focusing on its collaborators to drive change. Its digital strategy aims to “develop everyone's skills and digital experiences, reinvent the banking relationship and build the bank of tomorrow.”

To do this, it has set up an important program to equip collaborative tools and it is betting on the development of digital skills internally, the attraction of IT talent, new working methods and human resources.

To do this, it has in particular put in place several actions:

• SC Communities : created in 2013, it is the company's social network that connects employees and allows the sharing of knowledge and best practices. It includes forums, polls, wikis, questions and answers, and event organization. In short, it is a place for exchanges and sharing where innovative ideas are born.
• Participatory and stimulating experimental project (Peps) : at the beginning of 2013, all employees were called upon to imagine the bank of tomorrow. It is a success and several ideas have already been deployed in the field.
• The “Digital for all” program : launched in 2014, this program allows all group employees to take part in the digital transition, in particular by equipping all workstations with collaborative solutions, by providing touch tablets and by strengthening network infrastructures. The objective is for employees to develop new uses and new services for customers.
• Tomorrow's HR : in 2015, Société Générale participated in the first HRackathon, the aim of which was to invent a mobile application capable of transforming the relationship between recruiters and candidates. The group is also working to improve the working environment by promoting mobility within the group and teleworking. Finally, the bank is innovating in the field of training by launching new tools such as e-learning courses, MOOCs and a coaching application.

2. Air France

To succeed in its digital transformation in less than five years, Air France did not skimp on resources by creating the Digital Factory in December 2017. This 700 m² space², located at the company's headquarters in Paris-Charles de Gaulle, is presented as a place for the acceleration and incubation of digital projects in the service of Air France's businesses.

Employees are supported in digital transformation using tools, methods and expertise, such as a creativity room where employees can do design thinking and ideation workshops, or a prototyping room where new technologies are tested.

The Digital Factory has two missions:

• accelerate business projects thanks to a center of expertise,
• promote the acculturation of employees by offering a place for exchange and sharing open to all.

With the Digital Factory, Air France wants to become a more digital and more innovative company. Projects are tested in real conditions before being delivered. In the first year, twelve projects were thus delivered. They have improved the travel experience of customers as well as the operational performance of the company.

3. La Redoute

Almost every household has known the La Redoute catalog, the reference for mail order sales (VPC). At the beginning of the 2010s, this former wool mill founded in 1837 was on the verge of bankruptcy, competing both by ready-to-wear players such as Zara, Mango and H&M, and by the rapid growth of e-commerce start-ups, such as Vente-Privée, Zalando or Amazon, which cut prices and offer an irreproachable service to consumers.

The company then embarked on an incredible digital transformation based on four main axes:

• The offer: La Redoute had to completely rethink its offer by refocusing on clothing and home furnishings (furniture and decor). It has thus developed its own identity, a “French style” sold at accessible prices and renewed regularly.
• The customer : in order to adapt to new consumer behaviors, La Redoute abandoned its catalog in 2015. It has therefore developed its website and its mobile site to attract younger and more connected customers. It has also opened physical stores, real connected showrooms where salespeople are equipped with tablets.
• The service : improving the customer experience has become a priority for La Redoute. The company first redesigned its delivery service in order to deliver orders within 24 hours. It has also started to personalize the shopping experience by offering its customers a personalized offer and content. A team is working on the development of tools to anticipate new uses such as Artificial Intelligence, a personal assistant, voice control, etc.
• Corporate culture : employees had to switch from VPC jobs to e-commerce, which required numerous adaptations. Training, recruitment of new skills, collaborative mode of operation, change of premises, organization and management. It was also necessary to restore their confidence in the company and re-motivate them. In short, digital transformation has been a real cultural and human transformation of the company.

Conclusion

To succeed in your digital transformation, you must give yourself the means and not neglect the cultural and human aspect.

These three French companies are great examples of successful digital transformations. There are many others out there. Do not hesitate to be inspired by it to make yours a success.