Rethinking Digital Transformation: Why Speed Isn’t the Same as Change

During the pandemic, organizations were forced to adapt faster than ever before. We all scrambled to set up remote teams, virtual workflows, and new digital systems and we called it digital transformation.

But here’s the thing: most of what happened wasn’t transformation at all. It was an acceleration.

We didn’t reinvent how we worked, we just did the same things, faster and cheaper. True digital transformation isn’t about speed. It’s about reimagining what’s possible.

The Comfort Zone of Efficiency

For over a century, organizations have worshipped one principle: efficiency. Everything from our business models to our management structures has been built to optimize performance, standardize processes, and reduce costs.

This religion of efficiency has shaped how we think about success. We design systems to scale, automate, and control. And technology has been the perfect enabler of this mindset. It’s helped us streamline operations, cut down on errors, and move at lightning speed.

But let’s be honest, efficiency isn’t transformation. It’s maintenance. It keeps the machine running, but it doesn’t change what the machine does.

The Pandemic Didn’t Transform Us It Exposed Us

When the world went into lockdown, the narrative was: We’ve entered the age of digital transformation. Suddenly, every company was going remote, every meeting was on Zoom, and every dashboard was tracking digital metrics.

But did we really transform?

What most organizations did was accelerate existing practices. They digitized meetings. They automated tasks. They built more dashboards. These were incremental improvements, not fundamental changes. We took the same processes and just made them faster.

It’s like taking a horse and feeding it steroids to make it run faster when what we actually need is to build a car.

From Horse to Car: A Shift in Thinking

The difference between improvement and transformation is the difference between a horse and a car.

• Improvement makes the horse faster and it optimizes.

• Transformation builds a car it reimagines.

That’s what true transformation looks like: a leap from one paradigm to another. It’s not about technology for technology’s sake. It’s about fundamentally redefining how we create and deliver value.

Real transformation means asking bold questions:

• What if our business model could change completely?

• What if we rethought how value flows through our organization?

• What if technology allowed us to serve people in ways that weren’t possible before?

This kind of transformation requires courage. It means disrupting what’s familiar. It means trading predictability for possibility.

Embracing Uncertainty and Experimentation

When I first started experimenting with hybrid presentations and new technology setups, I didn’t know what would happen. Would the sound fail? Would the audience engage? It was uncomfortable but it was also exciting.

That’s what transformation feels like. It’s uncertain, unpredictable, and full of experimentation. And yet, that’s exactly where innovation lives.

Organizations that embrace uncertainty are the ones that discover new ways forward. They don’t just react to change, they create it.

Beyond Automation and Optimization

If there’s one takeaway from this conversation, it’s this:
We can’t automate our way to transformation.

Technology can help us move faster, but if we’re running in the wrong direction, speed won’t save us. What will? A complete rethink of how we operate, how we serve customers, and how we build resilience in the face of uncertainty.

True transformation happens when we stop asking, How can we be more efficient? and start asking, How can we be different?

The Real Digital Transformation

At its core, true transformation isn’t about technology, it's about people, creativity, and courage.

It’s about leaders who are bold enough to rethink everything.
It’s about organizations that stop chasing efficiency and start chasing meaning, innovation, and resilience.

So the next time someone in your organization says digital transformation, ask them:
Are we just trying to make the horse run faster?
Or are we finally ready to build the car?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why is digital transformation no longer optional?

Digital transformation isn’t optional because technology is evolving faster than ever. Businesses that don’t adapt risk becoming irrelevant. It’s not just about new tools, it's about rethinking how we create value, serve customers, and stay resilient in an unpredictable world.

Q2. Why does 70% of digital transformation fail?

Most digital transformations fail because companies focus on technology, not people. They chase efficiency without changing culture or behavior. True transformation requires mindset shifts, experimentation, adaptability, and a willingness to rethink how work gets done.

Q3. What is the difference between AI and digital transformation?

Digital transformation is about reimagining how a business operates using digital tools. AI is one of those tools it learns, predicts, and automates. While AI enhances processes, transformation goes deeper, reshaping strategies, business models, and customer experiences.

Q4. What are the main goals of digital transformation?

The goals include improving customer experience, increasing efficiency, enabling innovation, and building agility so businesses can quickly respond to change and new opportunities.

Q5. What is the future of digital transformation?

The future lies in human-centered transformation where technology empowers creativity, personalization, and sustainable innovation instead of just improving efficiency.

About the Author:

Shawn Kanungo is a globally recognized disruption strategist and keynote speaker who helps organizations adapt to change and leverage disruptive thinking. Named one of the "Best New Speakers" by the National Speakers Bureau, Shawn has spoken at some of the world's most innovative organizations, including IBM, Walmart, and 3M. His expertise in digital disruption strategies helps leaders navigate transformation and build resilience in an increasingly uncertain business environment.