Digital Transformation · Digital Transformation · Medium · 25-35 min

Digital Transformation of a Traditional Business

Last updated 2026-07-29

What is this case about?

A traditional industrial distributor — manual processes, paper-based ordering, no digital channel — is losing share to digital-native competitors. The CEO has approved a 'digital transformation' but past technology projects stalled because the organization never changed how it works. You're asked to design the transformation so it actually sticks.

Where strong candidates start

  • Anchor on business outcomes — what the transformation must change (share, cost-to-serve, customer experience)
  • Use People / Process / Technology — technology alone won't move the needle without process and people change

More cases