Digital transformation can quickly become ineffective without clear focus, as Kamala Manju Kesavan explains. The key is understanding what you are trying to achieve—whether it’s cleaning up your tech stack or solving customer problems. A well-defined strategy and clear goals are essential for success.
While there might be ideal situations where you can refresh your tech stack and address customer issues simultaneously, a solid digital transformation strategy is all about efficiency—whether it’s in decision-making, data utilization, or overall organizational sustainability.
Kesavan, a director of software engineering at a leading fintech provider, emphasizes the importance of being customer-centric in digital transformation efforts, while also aligning technology and business objectives. She notes that organizations need to evaluate their current tech infrastructure and identify any gaps. From a business standpoint, it’s crucial to understand how a digital strategy can contribute to achieving business goals. These elements must merge for digital transformation to succeed.
With a background in engineering and management roles across retail and tech, Kesavan knows the value of having expertise in both areas. As the Berlin School of Business & Innovation points out, combining knowledge of management and technical fields helps managers make informed, balanced decisions. Kesavan agrees, noting that in management, it’s important to take a broader view and also include strategic thinking. While being detail-oriented and hands-on in technical roles is vital, understanding the bigger picture is essential for leading teams effectively.
She stresses the importance of asking the right questions and reaching out to the right people when necessary. “I need to know what’s happening,” she says, explaining how these practices have shaped her leadership approach.
Her technical background plays a critical role when it comes to decision-making, especially when working with engineering teams or architects. Kesavan recalls two cloud migration projects from her retail experience. In one, her experience with SQL and Oracle Database helped guide her decisions. In the other, she realized that rather than rebuilding an entire system, it would be more efficient to rebuild a specific application and connect it to a third-party tool, enabling a faster market launch.
As a manager or leader, Kesavan reminds us that the goal isn’t to be the most technically skilled person in the room but to create an environment where your team can thrive. “You need to connect the dots,” she adds, highlighting the importance of understanding what other teams are doing.
Another critical aspect of digital transformation is utilizing data effectively. Kesavan explains that data should always be the starting point, and raw data needs to be cleaned and structured before it can be analyzed. From there, you can make tactical, strategic, or operational decisions based on the insights gathered. “We have to get the data, review it, and then make meaningful connections with it,” she says, acknowledging that it’s a big task.
At one point, Kesavan worked on a project to improve customer satisfaction by analyzing production defects. By identifying patterns in the data, she was able to solve core issues and introduce new features. She points out that sometimes customers may not know exactly what’s wrong, but they can identify the problem, which is why it’s essential to interpret the data effectively.
Sustainability is another vital factor in digital transformation, particularly in the long term. Digital transformation and sustainability must go hand in hand, as the ITU emphasizes. This includes considering the carbon impact of new technologies and creating a circular economy by improving e-waste management. Research shows that focusing on sustainability can also improve your organization’s appeal to potential Gen Z employees.
At the upcoming Digital Transformation Week North America, Kesavan will discuss digital transformation as a strategy for sustainability. She emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for the impact of your actions. The first step is to understand how energy is being used, then figure out how to reduce the carbon footprint and impact the local community positively. This approach helps identify opportunities for improvement and develop a plan for implementing sustainable practices.
