Innovation & digital transformation: companies that have won the bet
The digitization of the most diversified markets by Swiss and foreign companies continues to make headlines on business pages, in specialist magazines, and even in the news for unicorns.Real estate, tourism, fashion, finance, life sciences, education, healthcare, the food trade: all these sectors have been "disrupted", with convincing results in terms of services to citizens and businesses, as well as an often unprecedented increase in sales for these new economic players. So who are the companies that have taken advantage of digital transformation and succeeded in multiplying their revenues by innovating their business models?
+200% sales in 2016 compared to the previous year, +150% orders, number of customers tripled in one year and more than 50 countries reached: this is the calling card of LanieriItaly's leading fashion tech company. Riccardo Schiavotto and Simone Maggi 's company has succeeded in combining the quality of "Made in Italy" with the appeal of "made-to-measure fashion" and new e-commerce trends, such as the customization of men's shirts and suits via a 3D configurator. For Lanieri, 2016 was also a year of strong international growth, with over 30% of sales generated outside Italy (in France, the USA and Germany).
But what are the keys to successfully transforming your own business digitally? According to Betrand Duperrin, Head of Digital Transformation at Emakina France, digital begins with the back-office revolution. A company's "sustainable transformation" involves digitizing the production chain and involving every employee in the change process. Without these elements, any attempt to transform the customer experience and personalize the product and service portfolio risks only producing a "Wahou! effect" destined to disappear after a few months. Innovation in existing markets means opting for original, viable solutions. Such is the case with Bonobos, an American company specializing in men's clothing for all body shapes. Launched in 2007 by two Stanford graduates, Bonobos achieved sales of over $100 million in 2016, Bonobos invented the concept of a zero stock connected boutiqueThe customer makes an appointment online with a "personal shopper" for a one-hour customized fitting session, followed by delivery within 24 hours.
Digital transformation is far from being a practice relegated exclusively to start-ups and young entrepreneurs. With the launch of the strategic plan entitled " La Poste 2020: Conquering the future" the French La Poste Group aims to acquire more than 2 million new customers between 2017 and 2020. To achieve this goal, La Poste has earmarked investments of €550 million for digital projects between 2016 and 2019. This approach to innovation and the change management of postal services and customer relations carried out by expert subsidiaries Docapost, Mediapost and Start'inPost earned the French Group the Grand Prize at the 2017 Trophées de la Transformation Numérique.
In Switzerland, Visilab takes first place in digital innovation. Winner of the 2017 Digital Award, the Geneva-based optician generated sales of 237 million francs in 2016. Thanks to its omnichannel project, the Swiss company worked on a profound transformation of its information system and transformed the eyewear purchasing experience for its customers. Using an augmented reality application, customers can try on frames directly online or via an in-store application. At the same time, Visilab is showing the way to "commerce 3.0 " by pursuing its major e-commerce project: the integration of online sales and physical points of sale.
Many examples of digital transformation are available to entrepreneurs aware of the profound changes underway in our economy. However, while the CEO remains the essential leader of digital transformation, it is first and foremost a corporate transformation, which must be carried out with the utmost conviction by all members of General Management. A willingness to innovate in your business model, a sensitivity to the technologies best suited to improving productivity and the customer experience, an openness to innovation, training your staff in new working methods and tools: the coordination of these factors will determine the success of your gamble!
Source: Ondaco