Digital transformation cannot be a one-off exercise: here are some strategies to keep the DX momentum going with an agile mindset.

According to Fortune, 94% of the Fortune 1000 companies experienced some form of supply chain disruptions in 2020 as a result of the pandemic. 

However, the uncertain economic environment was inadvertently the catalyst that many companies needed to accelerate their digital transformation efforts, according to McKinsey analysts in 2020.

Yet, one niche group that had already being collaborating and automating within the tech stack via remote-working were more than prepared for this. Organizations are just now realizing what DevOps teams and their agile mindset can bring to the table with regard to digital transformation and business resilience.

DX must go on, pandemic or not

Teams with the right DevOps culture were have been instrumental in business continuity is because maintaining service delivery has always been part of their work philosophy. Furthermore, such teams are used to autonomy and working across a distributed network.

With checks and balances already baked into their workflow, these teams were able to transition to remote work with minimal disruptions, all while keeping the business going.

Now, what companies cannot afford to do is to let this momentum die once the pandemic becomes a thing of the past. But how do we sustain this momentum and generate even more value in the post-pandemic landscape? Consider the following:

  • Spread the DevOps culture: Such an agile culture does not have to exist solely within DevOps teams. For example, agile frameworks like Scrum are becoming more commonplace in organizational tasks, even among teams with little to no links with IT. Understanding and adapting agile principles to other areas of the business can greatly improve the productivity and efficiency of entire teams.
  • Continue to invest in tools and people: Organizations must not forget that people are the ones driving the business. Aside from technology investments, there will also be an increased need for multidisciplinary IT professionals, according to the DevOps Institute. What is relevant now may become obsolete in the near future—sometimes even overnight. Talent with the right agile mindset, on the other hand, form a solid foundation to build upon. Ultimately, what sets a successful organization apart in difficult times is its people, or people with the right agile mindset. The human factor is truly what will withstand the test of time.
  • Continue to accelerate with DevOps: Organizations are shifting en masse to automated software deployment, which brings higher accuracy and practicality at lower maintenance costs. As the world continues to undergo digital transformation, organizations are going to face new challenges and disruptions. Organizations that can leverage the agility of the DevOps methodology and the value it adds to the business—will be able to embrace change well.

    Instead of seeing disruptions as hurdles, the agile mindset causes organizations to identify opportunities. This mindset shift encourages teams to work in small iterations, seek continual feedback and discover areas of improvement along the way. Therefore, DevOps will certainly be in higher demand in the road ahead, but it must also be supported by the right culture where ‘mistakes’ and ‘failures’ are seen as learning opportunities.

    This gives workers the safety and freedom to try new things, experiment with new ideas and learn from these experiences.

Take Roche Diagnostics in China as an example. Thanks to DevOps tools and an agile development environment, the firm was able improve pharmaceutical testing times by 90%, increase product innovations and improve job satisfaction within the team despite urgent challenges to deliver software releases faster and more efficiently, while complying with the very specific quality requirements of the medical industry.