Digital Transformation That Works: A Practical Guide
Digital transformation can sound a lot like digital disruption. Sure, you might know that your technology strategy isn’t the best by modern standards, but it’s a system your teams are familiar with, and, more importantly, it’s getting the job done. Any major change has the potential to overwhelm your employees and push your budget to its limits, which is why many businesses shy away from any real efforts to modernize their digital toolkit.
At Tarkenton, we believe in taking a phased, practical approach to change. In fact, that’s what this guide is all about. Rather than getting bogged down in the details or stressed over the limitless possibilities, we encourage you to take it slow and do what’s right for your organization. Our experience as a true technology and software development partner gives us the skill and the expertise to inspire transformations that are rooted in growth and progress rather than the latest trend-of-the-month.
Digital Transformation Consulting 101
Why do so many attempts at digital transformation fail? For starters, it’s often treated as a one-time overhaul when, in reality, it should be a long-term evolution. Businesses are sold massive, expensive solutions that take months to deploy only to discover that the tools don’t integrate well or their teams aren’t equipped to use them effectively. Leadership is left frustrated, operations are disrupted, and ROI never materializes.
The solution lies in simplifying complexity. This is something Tarkenton excels at. Take our work with this care coaching company as an example. Tasked with transforming the organization’s web app into a faster, more user friendly platform, our teams considered the organization’s unique capabilities (and complexities) to create a simple, streamlined technology experience that now benefits both their clients and their internal team.
We can also take a closer look at the digital certificate program we developed for the University of Georgia. The school’s goal? Being able to offer an actionable, accessible curriculum designed for current and future business owners. Our solution? Simplifying the complexities of small business success while identifying current academic and skills gaps to deliver a fully accessible, first of its kind entrepreneurial training course.
Our process is pretty straightforward, too. Here’s what we recommend to turn ambitious goals into actionable, adaptable technology strategies:
Discovery and Planning
We begin by listening. We want to ensure we understand your business goals, challenges, and current systems as if they were our own. This foundational phase relies on context more than it does actual coding. Without it, the solutions we provide would lack the nuance and specificity required to meet your internal teams and processes exactly where they are.
How you can do it:
Start by auditing your current systems and identifying friction points: where are the bottlenecks, inefficiencies, or outdated processes? Align your leadership team around clear priorities and define what success looks like before investing in new tools or platforms.
Design and Development
Next, we create a roadmap and build the tools you need. From custom software to white label SaaS platforms, we can bring in something totally new or rework your existing infrastructure to create secure, compliant, and cost-effective digital solutions. Our team also works closely with yours to ensure seamless integration across systems.
How you can do it:
Focus on solving one high-impact problem at a time. Look for modular, scalable tools that can grow with your business, and involve your operational teams early so the tools you build or buy fit how people actually work.
Deployment and Evolution
Digital transformation consulting doesn’t end at launch. We roll out in phases to minimize operational disruption, offering training and support every step of the way. As your business grows, we help you refine and scale your technology so it always aligns with your future goals. This approach means you’re not locked into a rigid system. You’re empowered with flexible, forward-thinking tools designed to support progress and minimize unnecessary pauses.
How you can do it:
Don’t try to do everything at once. Pilot new systems with a small group first, measure results, gather feedback, and adjust as needed. Building in time to refine will help you get real buy-in across the organization.
Why Choose Tarkenton as Your Ultimate Technology Partner?
Digital transformation consulting is about two things: trust and technology. Thankfully, Tarkenton delivers both.
- Decades of experience: With over 25 years in enterprise software development, we bring a deep understanding of what works and why.
- Proven team: Our engineers, designers, and consultants are experts at translating business needs into technical solutions that perform.
- A track record of success: From small businesses scaling up to established enterprises ready to modernize, we’ve helped partners across industries streamline operations, strengthen security, and drive customer satisfaction.
- Transparency at every step: We don’t speak in jargon. We speak your language, explaining our strategy, tools, and process in ways that build clarity and confidence.
If you’re looking for a dependable software development partner, Tarkenton is the experienced, technology-forward team you can trust to deliver on time, on budget, and with measurable results.
Ready to Transform Without Disruption?
Partner with Tarkenton and move your technology strategy forward with clarity and confidence. A true digital transformation will inject new life into your business, spurring innovation and opening doors to new opportunities. Let’s start a conversation about how we can help modernize your systems without putting operations on hold.