In the ever-changing digital landscape, the evolution of Digital Native Businesses (DNBs) is not just a trend but a necessity. As businesses scale, their technology platforms must evolve to meet the demands of an increasingly competitive and digitally savvy market. Let’s delve into the transformation journey of DNBs and explore the critical aspects they need to consider as they evolve their platforms.

Digital Native Businesses, born and bred in the digital realm, have disrupted traditional business models. They leverage technology as their core strength, connecting with customers globally and innovating at a pace unimaginable a few years ago. From e-commerce giants revolutionizing online shopping experiences to tech startups reshaping entire industries, DNBs have set new benchmarks for success.

The digital landscape has shifted dramatically over the years. What once worked for a startup may not sustain its growth as it scales. The rise of cloud Industry 4.0 technologies has opened up new possibilities and challenges. While DNBs have always been a pioneer in adopting these new technologies, especially cloud, they are tasked with not just keeping up but staying ahead of the curve to maintain their competitive edge.

Scaling Challenges Faced by DNBs

As DNBs grow, they encounter several challenges that demand a strategic evolution of their technology platforms. What is cost effective and maintenance free at the beginning isn’t anymore as you scale up the operations.

• Customer Experience – Scaling should not compromise customer experience. DNBs need to ensure that as they grow, their platforms continue to deliver seamless, personalized experiences to users. Moreover, early-stage customers acquired by new & better customer experience continue to expect the platform to deliver better experiences continuously. Tracking and driving customer journey can become a significant challenge with the processes of a smaller size.
• Scalability – Traditional systems often struggle to handle the increased workload and user demands. Scalability becomes a pressing concern as businesses expand. With the increase in scale, the team size also scales and this generates a need to maintain efficiency and effectiveness at scale.
• Data Management – Managing vast volumes of data becomes complex. DNBs must invest in robust data management solutions to derive valuable insights and drive informed decision-making.
• Cybersecurity – With growth comes increased susceptibility to cyber threats. DNBs must reinforce their cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data and maintain customer trust.

Transformational Needs of Scaling DNB Platforms

• Instrumentation – Keeping the lights on is always the first priority. Implementing the right instrumentation is essential to get visibility into all functions of the business – customer experience, platform management and financial control.
• Leveraging Data – The value of data cannot be understated. Data-driven business operations allow scaling without losing control or visibility. Artificial intelligence and data analytics empower DNBs to derive actionable insights from vast datasets. Predictive analytics can anticipate customer needs and market trends, enabling proactive decision-making.
• Assess Architecture – Most DNBs start off on cloud using services that allow them to get off the ground quickly, maintain less, respond to user demand changes dynamically. Rarely do the technology choices made at the start stand the test of scale. DNBs often run into trading off cost for maintenance or performance. Its prudent to assess your platform architecture keeping the changes in demand and optimize for cost and current maintenance needs without going away from the fundamental agility that got you there in the first place.
• Implementing Modern DevSecOps Practices – Embracing DevOps practices fosters collaboration between development and operations teams. Continuous integration, continuous delivery, and automation streamline processes and enhance efficiency. DNBs must invest in advanced cybersecurity tools and practices. Implementing encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular security audits fortify digital defenses against evolving threats.

Embracing the Future

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, Digital Native Businesses must be proactive in transforming their platforms. Embracing scalable, secure, and innovative technologies is not just a choice but a necessity for sustained growth and relevance. By evolving with the times, DNBs can not only meet the challenges of scaling but also pave the way for a successful future in the digital age.

PSI has been a growth enabler for many Digital Native Businesses supporting their transformation initiatives. With our co-creation model, we allow DNBs to focus on customer & market instead of the technology.

Written By: Anurag Setia