13 Digital transformation enablers [2025]

The race is on to transform and reimagine the way business is done through technology. These shifts have been felt by companies industry-wide and have led to the complete restructuring of entire business models.  

These changes require business leaders to understand the underlying need for these shifts. It also means understanding the scope and time frames they’ll occur. 

Another major starting point for affecting change is understanding exactly how to trigger these transformations. Digital transformation enablers are the tangible tools and technologies that support transformation efforts today. 

This article will explore 13 digital transformation enablers, examining the top tools and technologies driving exciting innovations sector-wide.

1. Employees

The people in an organization are essential cogs that keep things moving like clockwork. Without an engaged and productive workforce, change aspirations are without the manpower to make any tangible impact. 

Silos often occur, where teams and departments do good work but are not encouraged to engage in cross-departmental collaboration and communication. This oversight of leaders can weaken workforce productivity toward achieving a shared vision. Technology is a major enabler of employee transformation, but efforts are null if they aren’t motivated to adopt them.

A McKinsey study found that companies where at least 7% of employees take ownership of a transformation, are twice as likely to outperform their industry’s stock market benchmarks.

2. Business solutions 

As a rule of thumb, technology solutions should always solve business pain points. The main reason for transformation is to improve operations and update outdated processes.

For this, firms must carefully select the right solutions for specific problems. Content managers may need a sleeker CMS or PMS. HR might require software to automate payroll. Moving applications to the cloud can provide room to scale where resources were once limited. AI can track these resources at a granular level, ensuring better optimization and allocation.

Enabling digital transformation isn’t about random investments. It’s about choosing the right solutions for the most pressing problems.

3. Cybersecurity

What’s the point of expanding your tech stack and deepening IT operations if they aren’t properly protected? Digital transformation without strong cybersecurity is a disaster waiting to happen. 

Unsurprisingly, cybersecurity has become a key enabler of digital transformation. Businesses must trust that the technology driving their growth is secure. The risks of data leaks and privacy breaches are too high to ignore. Methods from threat actors are evolving, and failing to mitigate them puts everything at risk. 

Strong cybersecurity measures protect digital assets, safeguard customer data, and prevent financial losses. They also create a stable environment for innovation, letting companies scale without fear. Without cybersecurity at the core, digital transformation is incomplete.

4. Cloud computing

The resources and commitment required for legacy infrastructure strain cost and flexibility. Businesses have traditionally invested heavily in on-premises applications, which relied on dedicated IT teams to manage everything.

For in-house technicians, keeping up with new digital solutions created skill gaps. This led to higher costs, slower deployments, and inflexible systems. These systems couldn’t easily adapt to change.

Cloud computing offers a better solution. It removes the need for constant training and lock-in contracts, so businesses can now scale on demand. They can also reduce costs and focus on digital innovation. Cloud computing enables digital transformation, improves disaster recovery, and makes global collaboration easier.

5. Big Data

In the digital age, data is the highest form of currency. It lets businesses tap into large datasets to extract once-inaccessible patterns and trends. When done right, businesses can leverage big data to inform critical decisions about their people, processes, and technologies. 

This is a game-changer for businesses, with the ability to forecast future events, perform sentiment analysis, and identify pain points. 

Big data can be a crystal ball for predicting change requirements and pivoting strategies. However, it can also be unwieldy for the unprepared. Big data’s sheer volume, variety, and complexity make it difficult to manage. Without the right expertise, the risks and costs of handling it can outweigh the potential value a company can create.

6. Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

In a world where things change at the drop of a hat, time is money. Solutions that increase productivity gains are in high demand. RPA naturally emerges as the ideal solution for this.

RPA allows businesses to create instructions for virtual bots to perform repetitive actions typically done by humans. These bots can automate complex software tasks faster and with greater accuracy.

For example, RPA can automate cybersecurity checks that scan systems for threats or monitor network traffic for potential issues. It can also conduct data entry tasks, letting employees focus on more meaningful objectives. A key enabler of digital transformation, RPA gives firms the agility and speed to run at full capacity and adapt accordingly.

7. Artificial intelligence and Machine learning (AI & ML)

This list would not be complete without mentioning artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). 

It’s a major topic among computer scientists, businesses, and industries and will likely be for some time. AI and ML have even fueled the rise of hyperautomation, which is now being used as a method for transformation.

Hyperautomation pushes automation to new levels. It combines ML, deep learning (DL) algorithms, and other key technologies to manage intricate workflows.

The many upper limits of AI’s potential impacts AI are yet to be seen. AI and ML are upending key business processes and helping them transform in ways other technologies could only dream of.

8. The Internet of Things (IoT)

Before the IoT, business-critical technologies couldn’t understand what was happening under the hood. Now, interconnectivity between digital assets makes data from these tools available to learn from.

The IoT is a network of systems, devices, and physical appliances with sensors. These sensors monitor usage and key stats. The connected devices send data on system performance, both past and present, which provides insights into asset health.

The IoT is an obvious choice when enabling digital transformation. Businesses now have a complete view of their assets. They gain better transparency over resource consumption, allocation, and management. It helps forecast equipment failure and reduce repair costs before they occur.

9. Augmented reality (AR) and Virtual reality (VR)

The digital world now invites netizens into 3D spaces with augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). These mixed reality technologies redefine how we interact with technology, opening the door for businesses to enter the virtual arena.

Instead of risking injury in industrial factories, businesses can offer safer, more innovative training methods using AR and VR. Employees can use VR glasses to simulate and perfect high-risk tasks. AR glasses can overlay instructional guides on equipment, helping workers troubleshoot or assemble parts step by step.

The potential for AR and VR is exciting, and we expect it to remain strong as a digital transformation enabler for some time.

10. Digital Adoption

We’ve already discussed how important employees are to digital transformation success—and success in general. Any transformation will fail if employees do not share the same commitment to change.

Employees need to be onboard and willing to support management’s vision. New technology will always face resistance from the workforce, which is why proactive digital adoption efforts are necessary. Consider offering training and development opportunities to address digital skills gaps. Or perhaps use a digital adoption platform (DAP) to assist users in learning new processes.

Communicating the value of digital tools will also reduce resistance and encourage employees to become active players in transformation efforts.

11. Digital twins 

Much like VR, digital twins replicate real-world objects as interactive 3D models. A key enabler of digital transformation, they link physical and digital spaces, creating endless potential applications.

Digital twins can bring architectural plans to life. Developers can visualize designs, track changes, and inspect flaws in great detail. These digital twins mirror their physical counterparts, able to update in real-time as changes happen.

This adds a new layer of innovative, flexible, and risk-free development. Businesses can refine, test, and optimize product designs without material consequences. Digital twins create a smarter, safer, and more efficient way to develop and improve physical systems.

12. Sustainable digital solutions 

Growth and innovation require businesses to be accountable for their digital impact. Corporate sustainability is rising as firms realize that decisions aren’t siloed and affect more than profits. They must balance the effect on the environment with business goals.

Technology infrastructure, like servers, uses a lot of energy. As the world works to cut its carbon footprint, businesses must act. Many are adopting greener practices to help.

Future-focused firms will prioritize sustainability. This shows they understand their role in protecting the planet. Sustainability will drive digital transformation. It will lead businesses to adopt more eco-friendly practices for a greener future.

13. Adaptive AI

It’s no surprise that AI holds a second mention on this list. Its various designs make it widely applicable and scalable. Adaptive AI is a more advanced form of AI that improves itself over time.

The more data it receives, the better it becomes at learning and making decisions. These models can adapt quickly to data or environment changes, making them ideal for handling unpredictable outcomes. Adaptive AI offers the oversight needed to manage systems efficiently for large enterprises with complex technology ecosystems. 

As a key enabler of digital transformation, adaptive AI helps companies navigate the only constant—change.

Choosing the right enablers for your transformation

Zealous as they may be, research shows that 70% of large-scale transformations fail. 

This may be due to leadership’s lack of vision in promoting change or the growing pressures to invest in various digital technologies. 

Whatever the reason, understanding exactly what enables digital transformation is essential for taking concrete steps toward real change.

The technologies mentioned in this article all play a role in facilitating transformation in organizations today. 

Some will be more prominent in their role, such as AI. Others will use a mix of several different digital enablers in tandem, while other transformations will be more small-scale and have only automation needs.

Knowing which digital transformation enablers will help fast-track progress means revisiting your digital transformation strategy and assessing which enablers can solve business pain points.

This way, change leaders can ensure that every tech investment isn’t random but targeted to solving specific problems and achieving macro business objectives.

People Also Ask

• What are some digital transformation inhibitors?
  Common inhibitors include resistance to change, outdated legacy systems, lack of digital skills, and limited leadership buy-in. Insufficient budget allocation and unclear transformation strategies also hinder progress.
• What are the attributes of a positive digital transformation?
  A positive transformation has clear goals, strong leadership, and a team-oriented culture. It embraces innovation, keeps employees engaged, and adapts using data insights. Regular reviews and flexibility are important for success.
• What is the difference between digital transformation enablers and drivers?
  Enablers are technologies like AI and cloud computing that make transformation happen. Drivers are external factors, like customer needs or market trends, that push businesses to change.