Lengthy timelines, rising complexity and shifting goals are eroding confidence in digital transformation, according to new research from VML.
Surveying 4,000 global mid- to senior-level leaders involved in transformation projects, VML found nearly two-thirds (65%) say teams are losing confidence in delivering meaningful value, while 67% admit teams are confused and struggling to stay on track due to shifting priorities and a lack of strategic direction. As programmes evolve, complexity multiplies: 63% report more stakeholders are creating conflicts, slowing decisions and stalling progress.
The study identifies key barriers undermining success:
- Tech complexity: 69% say senior management and budget holders do not fully understand implementing new technology.
- Tiresome processes: 65% say long timescales cause senior leadership and delivery teams to lose focus.
- Planning gaps: 64% of projects start without a clear roadmap or end goal.
- People & change: 83% agree transformation is as much about people as tech, yet 74% say failures often stem from weak change management.
- Shifting goal posts: 74% report objectives change over the course of programmes.
“With technology and complexity evolving rapidly, leaders are under increasing pressure to make costly, high-stakes decisions faster, but legacy digital transformation processes aren’t built for that pace.
“Success hinges on a clearly structured, people-centric approach that brings together the right processes, partners and tools from the outset. A human first approach spans both sides, the customer on one side and the staff on the other. Keeping them engaged, motivated, trained and informed is vital to digital transformation. And, of course, all this needs to be aligned to effectively deliver what the customer wants.
“Ultimately, transformation succeeds when people across an organisation are equipped and empowered to embrace new dynamic ways of working, with the right data at their fingertips to make informed decisions. It’s no easy feat, but once the foundations are laid, the business of transformation can bring an agile flair and long-lasting cultural clout that puts a business in a good place to navigate the next developments in the digital transformation era.” — Jeff Geheb, Global CEO, VML Enterprise Solutions
VML says the full report, “Unlocking the Power of Digital Transformation,” provides detailed insights across 11 areas including strategy, leadership, customer experience, AI implementation and data governance.
VML Enterprise Solutions is the company’s $1.5 billion technology and transformation division, uniting commerce, customer experience, consulting and technology transformation expertise, and leveraging WPP Open’s AI-driven operating system.
