Setting the right priorities for digital transformation

The solution is deceptively simple: conduct a digital maturity assessment and use it as the foundation for a roadmap. This step may sound obvious, but it is often overlooked in the rush to “go digital.” In reality, it is the difference between a scattered set of projects and a structured transformation journey that creates lasting competitive advantage.

Why maturity matters

A maturity assessment establishes a baseline, a snapshot of where your organization stands today in terms of people, processes, and technology. Without this baseline, it is impossible to prioritize effectively or measure progress over time.

Consider the following:

• People – Do employees have the skills and readiness to adopt new technologies? Is leadership aligned on vision and commitment?
• Processes – Are production, quality, maintenance, and inventory workflows optimized, or are they still dependent on manual workarounds like Excel sheets?
• Technology – Are your systems interoperable, scalable, and delivering value? Or are they fragmented, outdated, and difficult to integrate?

These questions may sound straightforward, but the answers can reveal significant gaps that impact the success of digital initiatives.

Turning gaps into goals

A maturity assessment is only useful when it informs action. The next step is to translate gaps into specific business objectives.

For example:

• If quality management processes are immature, the objective could be to reduce defect rates by 20% through guided digital workflows and enhanced quality controls.
• If inventory management is fragmented, the objective might be to increase stock accuracy by 30% with real-time data integration and automated tracking.
• If employee digital skills are limited, the objective could be to launch targeted training programs to build digital readiness across functions.

By linking maturity levels to business outcomes, organizations ensure that digital initiatives are not just “nice to have” projects but strategic enablers of growth, efficiency, and competitiveness.

Prioritizing for impact

Not every gap can be addressed at once. This is where a roadmap becomes essential.

A roadmap provides a structured sequence of initiatives, each building on the last. For instance, there is little value in implementing predictive analytics (Phase 3 of a typical roadmap) if the organization has not yet achieved basic data integration (Phase 1 and 2).

The process of prioritization should consider three factors:

1. Business impact: Which initiatives will deliver the most significant ROI in terms of efficiency, quality, or compliance?
2. Urgency: Are there regulatory or competitive pressures that demand immediate action?
3. Feasibility: Does the organization have the skills, resources, and maturity to successfully implement the initiative?

 This prioritization ensures that limited resources are focused where they can deliver the greatest value.

Lessons from industry

One of the clearest examples of this approach can be seen in OKQ8, one of Sweden’s largest fuel providers. The company faced inefficiencies caused by siloed systems and manual data exchanges via spreadsheets. Instead of rushing into a high-tech solution, OKQ8 first identified the maturity gaps in data integration and process alignment.

By implementing a next-generation Terminal Management System, the company was able to standardize and integrate data flows across production. The result was not only improved efficiency but also better collaboration and customer service. The success of the initiative was due, in large part, to a clear understanding of where they started – and what business objectives they wanted to achieve.

Creating a roadmap for success

A strong roadmap typically follows five steps:

1. Assess current digital maturity – Create a holistic view of people, processes, and technology.
2. Define and align drivers and goals – Ensure that initiatives support core business objectives.
3. Develop a phased roadmap – Sequence initiatives based on maturity levels, business impact, and feasibility.
4. Set KPIs and milestones – Measure progress continuously to validate impact and adjust as needed.
5. Maintain agility through continuous improvement – Treat transformation as an ongoing process, not a one-time project.

When executed correctly, this roadmap ensures that each step creates value in its own right while laying the foundation for more advanced capabilities.

Continuous reflection and adjustment

The manufacturing environment is dynamic. New technologies emerge, regulations evolve, and customer demands shift. This means that a roadmap is not a static plan, it must be revisited regularly.

Continuous maturity assessments allow organizations to track progress, validate alignment with strategy, and adjust priorities in response to changing circumstances. Companies that adopt this iterative approach stay ahead of the curve and avoid falling into the trap of rigid, outdated plans.

Conclusion – from assessment to advantage

Digital transformation is too important, and too resource-intensive to be left to chance. By starting with a maturity assessment, linking gaps to business objectives, and building a phased roadmap, manufacturers can turn ambition into action.

This approach transforms digitalization from a collection of disconnected projects into a coherent journey that delivers measurable ROI and long-term competitiveness.

Reflection: Has your organization taken the time to assess its current maturity – and translated that knowledge into a clear, prioritized roadmap for digital transformation?