Concept paper based on practical learnings of starting a digital
business
Simplifying the


Complex
Journey of


“Truly Digital”
Enterprises
Path to choose and Role of the
Digital Business Owner
26/02/21
1
Shriram Viswanathan


• Chief Business Officer and Co-Founder
SCIKEY


SRKay Consulting Group


• Deputy Vice President


Sears IT and Management Services India


• General Manager


Wipro Technologies


• Manager,


Mphasis


• Project Manager,


Tata Infotech
Highlights


• B. E. Electronics Engineering from University of Mumbai


• Last 4-5 years in building a B2B and B2C product/platform
business


• Holds a joint patent for SCIKEY MindMatch algorithm


• 3 decades of IT industry experience, Expertise in Project
Management, Delivery Leadership to large client engagements


• Instrumental in integrating captives into IT services, worked in
captives, builds captives for large clients
Extra curricular activities and hobbies


• Cricket,


• Badminton


• Passionate about Tech and Innovation
Confidential
We will cover
26/02/21 3
What is
“Digital”
business?
Why is it
complex?
How
organizations
are
approaching
it?
Is your
Digital vision
complete?
Customer
Experience
Checklist
What is a ”Digital” Business?
• Consumers


• Buy, Work, Live – almost everything is intertwined


• Flexibility


• Profound and rapid changes are happening


• New Behavioral trends


• Cross channel experience


• Consumers/Clients/Customers have embraced it


• Continue to work with newer ways/apps/systems


• Uses technology as a COMPETITIVE advantage


• Internal and external operations


• Adapt constantly


• Time to Market is in seconds and minutes
BUSINESS


AGILITY
26/02/21 4
Why is


“Truly Digital”
complex?
26/02/21 5
Rate of Change is Rapid (in seconds)
• Simultaneously happening


• Consumer Behavioral changes


• Continuous Innovations


• Constant Disruptions


• Relentless Optimization


• Data is generated and analyzed
• Can you shape/influence it?


• Do you know them?


• Do you know your market is changing?


• How is cost to consumer being reduced?


• Can you serve in a Hyper-personalized fashion?


26/02/21 6
3 Dimensions of “Digital Strategy”
26/02/21 7
3 Dimensions of “Digital Strategy”
26/02/21 8
How are companies approaching it?
Managemen
t


Focus
Strategy IT Strategy
Experiment with startups and
Deliver value to business
Truly Digital Business
Fully
optimized


Cost
Structure
Costs
$$$
Transformation
al
System Integration and
Rollouts


Data Transformation
Digital Transformation




Data Aggregation




Cloud Adoption/Scaling
Online Customer Acquisition


without face-to-face Sales Reducing


Cost
Structure
Customer Data Real-time decision
making
Data Secuuirty and GDPR
Hyper-personaized
Data driven approaches
Operational Lights-ON support
Digital


Service Providers
Customer facing , AI enabled
BOTs, answering queries etc
Traditional


Cost
Structure
Internal


Employees
External
Ecosystem


and Consultants
Customer


Experience
26/02/21 9
Management


Focus
Strategy IT Strategy
Experiment with startups and
Deliver value to business
Truly Digital Business
Fully optimized


Cost Structure
Costs $$$
Transformationa
l
System Integration and
Rollouts


Data Transformation
Digital Transformation




Data Aggregation




Cloud Adoption/Scaling
Online Customer
Acquisition


without face-to-face Sales
Reducing


Cost Structure
Customer Data Real-time
decision making
Data Secuuirty and GDPR
Hyper-personaized
Data driven approaches
Operational Lights-ON support
Digital


Service Providers
Customer facing , AI
enabled BOTs, answering
queries etc Traditional


Cost Structure
Internal


Employees
External
Ecosystem


and Consultants
Customer


Experience
Enablers
1
2
3
4
1 – ARCHAIC Approach


2- Experimenting


3 – Digital Transformation attempts


4 – Success limited to small areas


Many paths
26/02/21 10
Management


Focus
Strategy IT Strategy
Experiment with startups
and Deliver value to
business
Truly Digital Business
Fully optimized


Cost Structure
Costs $$$
Transformation
al
System Integration and
Rollouts


Data Transformation
Digital Transformation




Data Aggregation




Cloud Adoption/Scaling
Online Customer
Acquisition


without face-to-face
Sales
Reducing


Cost Structure
Customer Data Real-
time decision making
Data Secuuirty and
GDPR
Hyper-personaized
Data driven approaches
Operational Lights-ON support
Digital


Service Providers
Customer facing , AI
enabled BOTs,
answering queries etc Traditional


Cost Structure
Internal


Employees
External
Ecosystem


and Consultants
Customer


Experience
Enablers
5
5 – The most circuitous yet rewarding path
Practical Learning
26/02/21 11
26/02/21 12
Source: Gartner
3 ROLES


Digital Strategist


Digital Marketing


Digital Business Unit Leader
5 elements to address


1. New Digitally enabled Business Model


2. Product and Service Portfolio


3. Information as an Asset


4. Technology


5. Content, Media and Channels
Identify your


Digital Business Vision Owner
• Client/Customer Acquisition


• Drone’s eye View of entire Digital Business


• Marketing


• Real-time Data Science and Metrics


• Pricing and Revenue


• Program Management & Planning


• Product Management


• Technology Oversight


• External Ecosystem Integration and
Collaboration
Digital Business


is much more than


IT Transformation /


Digital Transformation
26/02/21 13
Program


Mgmt &


Planning
Product


Management
Technology


Team
Marketing
Client


Dashboards


And


Reporting
Tech


Operations
Content


Mgmt
Product Pricing
Digital
Business
Vision
Owner
Client facing


Apps
Business


Operations
Data Science
Customer
Data driven


Innovation
26/02/21 14
Program


Mgmt &


Planning
Product


Management
Technology


Team
Marketing
Client


Dashboards


And


Reporting
Tech


Operations
Content


Mgmt
Product Pricing
Digital
Business
Vision
Owner
Client facing


Apps
Business


Operations
Data Science
Customer
Data driven


Innovation
Prog 1
Prog 2
Prod 3
Prog n
CX and UX
Release Mgmt
Self-help/


Support
External


Content
Internal


Content
Monitor
Channels
Branding
Hits
Misses
Shriram
Technology


Team
Client


Dashboards


And


Reporting
Tech


Operations
Data Science
Cloud


Operations
Security
Data driven


Innovation
Filter/


Chimney
ML and AI
26/02/21 15
Digital Economy has fully arrived
26/02/21 16
Source: https://www.i-scoop.eu/can-survive-age-integration-collaboration
Sample Case Study
17
Feature Flags – Hyper Personalization
2/26/21 18
Source: https://medium.com/swlh/feature-flags-how-to-decouple-code-from-features-b36b59792e0c
Business Agility in Action
26/02/21 19
Our focus
What was achieved with that focus
1. Zero downtime


2. Instant Rollbacks


3. Controlled release to


different markets


• City Specific


• Region Specific


• Country Specific


• UserID specific


• Role specific


• Domain Specific


• Internal Users


• Admin Users
4. Controlled deployment


• Different features
available for different
people


• Different rates/slabs/
Pricing for different
clients


• Currency Specific


• Choice of Local Operator/
Payment system


• Hyper-Personalization


Grey Areas Introduced


1. Debugging for issues was huge


2. Number of feature flags
increased exponentially


3. Different environments had
different features enabled


4. Feature flag as a CI was
compromised


5. Rollbacks were easy – So many
Collaborating with
• Cloud Providers


• Programmable Media
providers


• Web Scrapers


• SMS operators


• WA integration channels


• Email Providers


• Email bounce/validity
checkers


• Cloud Optimizer Software


• Payment systems


• Resumé Parsers
26/02/21 20
• GDPR consultants


• Legal consultants


• Country specific law
firms


• Content Providers


• Marketing Consultants


• Digital SEO consultants


• Social Media
Consultants


• DevOps


Tech startups Consultants Various Experiments
• Machine Learning


• Gaming Companies


• AI logic - continuous


• Test Automation Suites
Self-Evaluation checklist for Digital
Business
• Bold Vision?


• Resilient Architecture?


• Process to celebrate Failures?


• Collaborate with Startups?


• Speed to Customer in minutes?


• Rollbacks instantaneous?


• Integration with other players?


• Consistent Branding?


• Self-healing systems?


• IT and business are not separate
26/02/21 21
• Real-time everything


• Customer Acquisition


• Customer Service


• Data


• Decisions


• Changes in environment


• Feedback


• Connected Customer
Experience


• Anticipation


• Hyper-Personalized
Takeaways
• Make a Strategy


• Razor sharp focus on


Customer Experience


• Experiment with
Innovators


• Collaborate with
Disruptors


• Automate everything


• Don’t do everything


• Get Experts/Consultants
•Embrace


• Failure (Celebrate it)


• Real-time Data


• New Human Trends


• New Startups


• New ways of doing
things


• Innovative yet Reduced
Pricing


26/02/21 22
Shriram
Viswanathan




Founder


23
http://www.linkedin.com/in/shriramviswanathan

Simplifying complexity of Digital journey

  • 1.
    Concept paper basedon practical learnings of starting a digital business Simplifying the 
 Complex Journey of 
 “Truly Digital” Enterprises Path to choose and Role of the Digital Business Owner 26/02/21 1
  • 2.
    Shriram Viswanathan • ChiefBusiness Officer and Co-Founder SCIKEY 
 SRKay Consulting Group • Deputy Vice President 
 Sears IT and Management Services India • General Manager 
 Wipro Technologies • Manager, 
 Mphasis • Project Manager, 
 Tata Infotech Highlights • B. E. Electronics Engineering from University of Mumbai • Last 4-5 years in building a B2B and B2C product/platform business • Holds a joint patent for SCIKEY MindMatch algorithm • 3 decades of IT industry experience, Expertise in Project Management, Delivery Leadership to large client engagements • Instrumental in integrating captives into IT services, worked in captives, builds captives for large clients Extra curricular activities and hobbies • Cricket, • Badminton • Passionate about Tech and Innovation
  • 3.
    Confidential We will cover 26/02/213 What is “Digital” business? Why is it complex? How organizations are approaching it? Is your Digital vision complete? Customer Experience Checklist
  • 4.
    What is a”Digital” Business? • Consumers • Buy, Work, Live – almost everything is intertwined • Flexibility • Profound and rapid changes are happening • New Behavioral trends • Cross channel experience • Consumers/Clients/Customers have embraced it • Continue to work with newer ways/apps/systems • Uses technology as a COMPETITIVE advantage • Internal and external operations • Adapt constantly • Time to Market is in seconds and minutes BUSINESS AGILITY 26/02/21 4
  • 5.
  • 6.
    Rate of Changeis Rapid (in seconds) • Simultaneously happening • Consumer Behavioral changes • Continuous Innovations • Constant Disruptions • Relentless Optimization • Data is generated and analyzed • Can you shape/influence it? • Do you know them? • Do you know your market is changing? • How is cost to consumer being reduced? • Can you serve in a Hyper-personalized fashion? 26/02/21 6
  • 7.
    3 Dimensions of“Digital Strategy” 26/02/21 7
  • 8.
    3 Dimensions of“Digital Strategy” 26/02/21 8
  • 9.
    How are companiesapproaching it? Managemen t 
 Focus Strategy IT Strategy Experiment with startups and Deliver value to business Truly Digital Business Fully optimized 
 Cost Structure Costs $$$ Transformation al System Integration and Rollouts 
 Data Transformation Digital Transformation 
 
 Data Aggregation 
 
 Cloud Adoption/Scaling Online Customer Acquisition 
 without face-to-face Sales Reducing 
 Cost Structure Customer Data Real-time decision making Data Secuuirty and GDPR Hyper-personaized Data driven approaches Operational Lights-ON support Digital 
 Service Providers Customer facing , AI enabled BOTs, answering queries etc Traditional 
 Cost Structure Internal 
 Employees External Ecosystem 
 and Consultants Customer 
 Experience 26/02/21 9
  • 10.
    Management 
 Focus Strategy IT Strategy Experimentwith startups and Deliver value to business Truly Digital Business Fully optimized 
 Cost Structure Costs $$$ Transformationa l System Integration and Rollouts 
 Data Transformation Digital Transformation 
 
 Data Aggregation 
 
 Cloud Adoption/Scaling Online Customer Acquisition 
 without face-to-face Sales Reducing 
 Cost Structure Customer Data Real-time decision making Data Secuuirty and GDPR Hyper-personaized Data driven approaches Operational Lights-ON support Digital 
 Service Providers Customer facing , AI enabled BOTs, answering queries etc Traditional 
 Cost Structure Internal 
 Employees External Ecosystem 
 and Consultants Customer 
 Experience Enablers 1 2 3 4 1 – ARCHAIC Approach 2- Experimenting 3 – Digital Transformation attempts 4 – Success limited to small areas Many paths 26/02/21 10
  • 11.
    Management 
 Focus Strategy IT Strategy Experimentwith startups and Deliver value to business Truly Digital Business Fully optimized 
 Cost Structure Costs $$$ Transformation al System Integration and Rollouts 
 Data Transformation Digital Transformation 
 
 Data Aggregation 
 
 Cloud Adoption/Scaling Online Customer Acquisition 
 without face-to-face Sales Reducing 
 Cost Structure Customer Data Real- time decision making Data Secuuirty and GDPR Hyper-personaized Data driven approaches Operational Lights-ON support Digital 
 Service Providers Customer facing , AI enabled BOTs, answering queries etc Traditional 
 Cost Structure Internal 
 Employees External Ecosystem 
 and Consultants Customer 
 Experience Enablers 5 5 – The most circuitous yet rewarding path Practical Learning 26/02/21 11
  • 12.
    26/02/21 12 Source: Gartner 3ROLES Digital Strategist Digital Marketing Digital Business Unit Leader 5 elements to address 1. New Digitally enabled Business Model 2. Product and Service Portfolio 3. Information as an Asset 4. Technology 5. Content, Media and Channels
  • 13.
    Identify your 
 Digital BusinessVision Owner • Client/Customer Acquisition • Drone’s eye View of entire Digital Business • Marketing • Real-time Data Science and Metrics • Pricing and Revenue • Program Management & Planning • Product Management • Technology Oversight • External Ecosystem Integration and Collaboration Digital Business is much more than IT Transformation / Digital Transformation 26/02/21 13
  • 14.
  • 15.
    Program Mgmt & Planning Product Management Technology Team Marketing Client Dashboards And Reporting Tech Operations Content Mgmt Product Pricing Digital Business Vision Owner Clientfacing 
 Apps Business Operations Data Science Customer Data driven Innovation Prog 1 Prog 2 Prod 3 Prog n CX and UX Release Mgmt Self-help/ Support External Content Internal Content Monitor Channels Branding Hits Misses Shriram Technology Team Client Dashboards And Reporting Tech Operations Data Science Cloud Operations Security Data driven Innovation Filter/ Chimney ML and AI 26/02/21 15
  • 16.
    Digital Economy hasfully arrived 26/02/21 16 Source: https://www.i-scoop.eu/can-survive-age-integration-collaboration
  • 17.
  • 18.
    Feature Flags –Hyper Personalization 2/26/21 18 Source: https://medium.com/swlh/feature-flags-how-to-decouple-code-from-features-b36b59792e0c
  • 19.
    Business Agility inAction 26/02/21 19 Our focus What was achieved with that focus 1. Zero downtime 2. Instant Rollbacks 3. Controlled release to 
 different markets • City Specific • Region Specific • Country Specific • UserID specific • Role specific • Domain Specific • Internal Users • Admin Users 4. Controlled deployment • Different features available for different people • Different rates/slabs/ Pricing for different clients • Currency Specific • Choice of Local Operator/ Payment system • Hyper-Personalization Grey Areas Introduced 1. Debugging for issues was huge 2. Number of feature flags increased exponentially 3. Different environments had different features enabled 4. Feature flag as a CI was compromised 5. Rollbacks were easy – So many
  • 20.
    Collaborating with • CloudProviders • Programmable Media providers • Web Scrapers • SMS operators • WA integration channels • Email Providers • Email bounce/validity checkers • Cloud Optimizer Software • Payment systems • Resumé Parsers 26/02/21 20 • GDPR consultants • Legal consultants • Country specific law firms • Content Providers • Marketing Consultants • Digital SEO consultants • Social Media Consultants • DevOps Tech startups Consultants Various Experiments • Machine Learning • Gaming Companies • AI logic - continuous • Test Automation Suites
  • 21.
    Self-Evaluation checklist forDigital Business • Bold Vision? • Resilient Architecture? • Process to celebrate Failures? • Collaborate with Startups? • Speed to Customer in minutes? • Rollbacks instantaneous? • Integration with other players? • Consistent Branding? • Self-healing systems? • IT and business are not separate 26/02/21 21 • Real-time everything • Customer Acquisition • Customer Service • Data • Decisions • Changes in environment • Feedback • Connected Customer Experience • Anticipation • Hyper-Personalized
  • 22.
    Takeaways • Make aStrategy • Razor sharp focus on 
 Customer Experience • Experiment with Innovators • Collaborate with Disruptors • Automate everything • Don’t do everything • Get Experts/Consultants •Embrace • Failure (Celebrate it) • Real-time Data • New Human Trends • New Startups • New ways of doing things • Innovative yet Reduced Pricing 26/02/21 22
  • 23.