Digital transformation isn’t just about adopting technology. It’s about orchestrating change; layer by layer, system by system toward a more intelligent enterprise. And in that process, where you begin can make all the difference between quick wins and costly stalls.
At our AI and automation company, we’ve partnered with dozens of enterprise clients across manufacturing, consumer goods, and retail. We’ve seen firsthand how a smart sequence—starting in the right place—can accelerate momentum, win internal champions, and drive meaningful ROI early. Conversely, starting in the wrong place often leads to bloated timelines, employee resistance, or underwhelming results.
So let’s unpack why the starting point of digital transformation matters more than most organizations think and how you can pick the right one for yours.
The Digital Domino Effect
Every business function is connected. Change in one area ripples through others. That’s why digital transformation rarely happens in a straight line. But the sequence still matters.
Imagine a manufacturing company struggling with supply chain volatility. Starting their transformation in predictive maintenance might sound exciting, but if their order-to-cash process is still manually stitched together, they’ll never have the real-time data to make predictive models effective. Start with automating that commercial backbone, and suddenly they can surface operational data that fuels downstream improvements.
This domino effect is often overlooked. Too many leaders jump into siloed initiatives—think AI pilots in customer service or RPA in finance—without stepping back to see how process flows, data readiness, and interdepartmental friction all intersect.
Three Criteria to Choose Your Starting Point
From our work in the field, we’ve identified three factors that signal a smart entry point for transformation:
1. High Friction, High Visibility Processes
Start where there’s pain. Processes that drain time, frustrate employees, or slow customer response are often ripe for automation or AI augmentation. These also tend to have strong executive visibility, which helps build buy-in.
2. Strong Data Foundations
AI needs data like engines need fuel. Starting in areas where structured, clean, and available data exists like supply chain management or ERP-driven workflows can accelerate time-to-value and reduce implementation risk.
3. Cross-Functional Impact
Aim for impact that touches multiple departments. When one transformation unlocks value for sales, ops, and finance simultaneously, it’s easier to justify investment and scale learnings.
A Real-World Example: Automated Recruitment
We recently partnered with a national self-service retail chain facing long lead times in hiring store staff. Instead of leaping into customer-facing AI, we recommended beginning with a focused automation solution in HR; specifically, candidate registration within SAP SuccessFactors.
Why? Because talent acquisition was blocking store expansion, and it was a process with repetitive, rule-based tasks ideal for automation. We built a custom AI-powered automation agent to streamline registration, reduce errors, and integrate seamlessly with SuccessFactors. The pilot, launched in one region, improved processing time by over 60%.
The lesson? Starting small and strategic creates proof points that build trust and unlock bigger investments later.
Why “Start Anywhere” Is a Myth
There’s a popular mantra in digital transformation: “Just start.” While well-intentioned, it’s dangerously simplistic.
Random acts of digital don’t add up to transformation. They lead to fragmented tools, shadow IT, and confusion. Instead, start with a plan. Choose a launchpad that aligns with business goals, has measurable outcomes, and can scale sustainably.
This is where we bring value. Our approach blends deep technical expertise with business process fluency. We don’t just build AI solutions—we help you map the journey, sequence it intelligently, and deliver results at each stage.
Whether it’s deploying AI agents to handle procurement anomalies, automating sales order management, or running capability-building workshops for your teams, we tailor the sequence to fit your reality—not someone else’s roadmap.
Momentum Is a Strategy
Where you start shapes what you learn, how your people engage, and how fast you move. The right starting point builds credibility. It unlocks quick wins. And most importantly, it creates momentum, which is the most underrated resource in any transformation.
So if you’re looking to go beyond surface-level digitization and build something truly adaptive, start with strategy. Start with sequencing. And if you’re not sure where to begin? That’s what we’re here for. Contact us to discuss how we can optimize your enterprise processes.