Digital Transformation: Still a Work‑in‑Progress, Even for Big Names
Despite the lightning‑fast pace of tech change, a fresh Dell Technologies Digital Transformation Index finds most organisations are still stuck in the “early adopter” phase. A whopping 78 % of business leaders say every part of their company should buckle down and tackle digital transformation— 71 % of them in the UK echo the same sentiment.
Customers Aren’t Waiting Around
- More than half of the firms (51 %) worry they’ll fail to meet shifting customer demands within the next five years (the UK sits lower at 22 %).
- Nearly one in three (30 %) still fear being left behind— 19 % in the UK.
Who Was Asked?
Intel, Vanson Bourne and Dell teamed up to survey 4,600 directors and C‑suite execs from medium‑to‑large companies worldwide, scoring how aggressively they’re pushing their digital agendas.
Emerging Markets Lead the Pack, Developed Nations Lag Behind
India, Brazil and Thailand top the global chart for digital maturity. In contrast, Japan, Denmark and France lag, earning the lowest scores. The UK lands a respectable 19th spot—just ahead of Germany (24th) but behind Russia (17th) and Spain (14th).
Emerging markets also feel more confident: 53 % say they can disrupt rather than get disrupted, while only 40 % of developed firms share that optimism.
Plot Twist: The Index Goes Two‑Year‑Back
The second edition of the DT Index builds on the library’s first 2016 launch. Despite a rise in “Digital Adopters,” the top tier of leaders remains stubbornly low. Roughly 39 % of businesses still sit in the two least mature categories (Digital Laggards and Digital Followers). Michael Dell, chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies, warns: “Soon we’ll all be digital organisations—so start modernising now.”
Benchmark Snapshot: Where You Stand Now
- Digital Leaders (5 %) are already dead‑centered on digital culture.
- Digital Adopters (23 %) have solid plans, budgeting and innovation.
- Digital Evaluators (33 %) are gradually slipping into the tech zone.
- Digital Followers (30 %) barely have a game plan.
- Digital Laggards (9 %) still feel the “no‑plan” blues.
Barriers and Confidence Crystals
Almost everyone (91 %) is blocked by stubborn challenges. The main obstacles are:
- Data privacy and security concerns.
- Budget and resource shortages (especially in the UK, where 41 % cite this as the number one barrier).
- Lack of in‑house skills.
- Regulatory changes.
- Digital culture immaturity.
Stranger than typical, 49 % of organisations worldwide fear failing to prove trustworthy in the next five years—dropping sharply to 16 % in the UK. Meanwhile, 32 % doubt their own compliance with regulations like the GDPR (UK: 31 %) and 33 % question internal data protection capabilities (UK: 26 %).
What’s the Plan?
Leaders are prioritising workforce, security and IT. 46 % are building in‑house digital skills—like coding for all staff—and the surge from 27 % in 2016 is now 49 % globally. The UK sees this rise from 27 % to 49 % over two years.
Key tech investments for the next 1‑3 years:
- Cybersecurity
- Internet of Things
- Multi‑cloud environments
- Artificial intelligence
- Compute‑centric strategies
Future‑Proofing: A Case Study
Draper, a Dell Technologies client, is shifting from pure defence research to commercial champs like biomedical science. “Technology lets us push today’s toughest problems—whether it’s infrastructure or biotech—without a complete digital makeover.” said Mike Crones, CIO of Draper.
