THINK BIG, START SMALL, AND SCALE FAST

In this video, we explore why a thoughtful, step-by-step approach is essential for successful digital transformation. Think big, start small, and scale fast is more than just a motto—it’s a proven strategy to achieve impactful change by building on small wins.

Digital transformation is driven by people and processes, and only proven processes should be scaled. We’ll look at examples where this strategy was overlooked, like Nest’s 2016 update that left customers quite literally out in the cold, and FoxMeyer’s story—a major pharmaceutical distributor in the 90s that aimed for a rapid IT overhaul. Investing $35 million in an ambitious SAP system, they faced an unrealistic timeframe, a misaligned workforce, and, ultimately, disastrous results as order processing dropped by over 95%.

From these examples, we emphasize that digital technologies are tools, not the goal itself. Transformation requires a clear purpose, people-centric approaches, and adaptable processes. Once improvement efforts are underway, using a flywheel approach can help sustain and drive continuous progress.