Genesis and key elements of the mechanism of digital transformation of industrial enterprises

Abstract

Aim. To study the peculiarities of different approaches to the construction of the mechanism of digital transformation of industrial enterprises and to identify the key elements, the creation and (or) development of which is necessary for the realisation of successful digital transformation.Tasks. To study the Russian and world experience in the field of building the mechanism of  digital transformation of enterprises; to generalise and systematise various approaches; to form an integral set of key elements, the transformation of which is necessary to ensure competitiveness in the digital environment.Methods. The subject of the study are mechanisms, models and methods of digital transformation of enterprises developed by large global and Russian companies, mainly consulting companies. The analysis takes into account the presence of a clear system of principles (priorities), substantive aspects, structuring of various mechanisms by stages and elements of digital transformation, the level of specificity of proposed solutions, as well as additional features (for example, the presence of a model for assessing the digital maturity of the enterprise).Results. The key elements of the mechanism of digital transformation of an industrial enterprise are identified: digital strategy, business model, digital core and digital technologies, operating model, people and organisational culture, orchestration. It is shown that when developing a digital strategy, it is necessary to maximise the use of the enterprise’s competitive advantages (e.g., developed partner network, unique equipment and technologies, a wide range of goods and services, customer databases, etc.), as well as ecosystem opportunities. To increase the flexibility of the strategy, it is proposed to focus on the concept of strategic priorities. Emphasis is placed on the importance of aligning digital strategy with the operating model of an industrial enterprise. As a promising direction of digital transformation, the creation of a “digital core” of the enterprise, which unites all information systems, applications, services and data through the cloud in order to integrate technological and organisational aspects of digital transformation across the entire value chain, including partners and customers, is highlighted.Conclusions. The presented developments can serve as a reference point for managers of industrial enterprises developing and implementing digital transformation programmes.