What is a digital stack and how does it impact your digital business?
A digital stack is a set of technology solutions and practices that support today's digital business models. The term was first coined in the late 1990s to describe the use of multiple digital technologies to drive digital business. In 2015, digital stack economics, a new set of levers to drive digital business, was added to the definition. The increasing focus on digital business and software development, coupled with rapid changes in technology and business models, create pressure for companies to redefine their offerings, organize their operations, and modify how they deliver services and products to customers. The Digital Stack Accelerator helps executives, business leaders, and others to evaluate their digital stack to understand its value to their organization.
What is a digital stack?
A digital stack consists of technologies, methodologies, and technologies. Each part of the stack plays a role in supporting digital business models and functions. For example, the application development stack is a set of technologies and methodologies that enable software developers to build and modify applications, while the data stack ensures data is protected, integrated, and stored in a secure manner. The platform stack is a collection of services and processes that enable companies to deliver digital services. The platform stack connects to other technology stacks through a robust communication and collaboration architecture to manage and support the flow of information throughout an organization.
What is the importance of the Digital Stack Accelerator?
The Digital Stack Accelerator includes:
- Helping you analyze your digital stack and your industry to better understand your strengths and where you can add value.
- Providing you with self-service access to: Best practices and recommendations for how to maximize your digital stack.
- Best-practice guides to simplify and accelerate digital stack design.
- Leverages a suite of interactive tools to streamline digital transformation and reduce the risk of digital transformation efforts.
The toolset is not a training course or checklist. It does not make any product recommendations. It does not provide advice on the technologies you should use or on the type of digital transformations you can perform. It does not substitute for internal programs or expert assistance. However, it can help you generate a lot of valuable and actionable information that can help you with your digital transformation initiatives.
Who should Use a Digital Stack Accelerator?
Digital Stack Accelerator is available for both in-person and online learning, but it is especially valuable for executives and senior managers responsible for defining, developing, and executing their digital transformation initiatives. The Digital Stack Accelerator can also be used by IT executives responsible for standardizing technology, creating a strategic business vision, and planning for business process changes.
"A digital stack is the backbone of the business. You must first know how your stack is connected, what each part does, and how to optimize performance," said Kelda Butler, vice president and chief education officer at CEB."
"The Digital Stack Accelerator provides an objective view of the different layers of the stack, as well as their current state, to help you understand the most cost-effective digital transformation options and accelerate your initiatives."
"The Digital Stack Accelerator is particularly useful for executives looking to accelerate digital transformation and reduce the risk of digital transformation efforts," said Geraldine Tan, digital transformation leader at GE."
"It provides the critical knowledge and insights executives need to identify and improve digital investment and risk profiles for critical initiatives." As an independent engineering firm, we help clients focus on business growth and agility," said Jeremy Berman, principal engineer at Addison Group."
"With the Digital Stack Accelerator, we can provide subject matter expertise and implementation support as clients initiate digital transformation initiatives." We're particularly interested in the Accelerator because it will give our managers the tools they need to help accelerate digital transformation within their organizations," said Nancy Palley, chief operating officer of Katalyst."
"The toolset gives our leadership team access to best practices, best practices for technology choices, and other foundational information so that they can act on those learnings immediately and ensure that their organizations are well positioned to scale digital investments and improve the bottom line."
Why is this Digital Stack Accelerator toolset specifically helpful to digital transformation leaders?
The Digital Stack Accelerator is specifically valuable for digital transformation leaders because it combines actionable learning and tools into one comprehensive program, instead of having you pick from the mass of tools available. The toolset is also structured to be accessible and practical, helping you integrate relevant concepts and strategies into your business so that you can quickly determine how they will impact your business and establish plans for how to maximize those benefits.
"The rapid pace of technology and change over the past few years has made it difficult for a business to consistently remain on the leading edge," said Joseph Van Horn, vice president and practice leader at CEB.
"Digital transformation leaders must become the thought leaders and enablers of this transformation, and they must engage with other business leaders to take tangible steps to continue their businesses' evolution. This knowledge and framework is a practical tool designed for use by senior management across a wide range of industries and sectors."
"Digital transformation is becoming a business imperative, as companies recognize that they are building or buying new technology faster than they are able to use or benefit from it," said Kim Cameron, vice president, product leadership, CEB. "A tool like the Digital Stack Accelerator provides leaders with the information, guidance, and practical expertise they need to help them act faster, more effectively, and in ways that create meaningful business impact."
