Digital transformation is no longer a dream; it’s happening right now. Businesses and whole business models are being rebuilt and geared toward a digital audience. In the mess that migrating entire enterprises can create, Joe Weinman seeks to help businesses navigate through it all.

Weinman, a digital strategist and author of Cloudonomics: The Business Value of Cloud Computing, talked with John Furrier (@furrier) and Lisa Martin (@Luccazara), cohosts of theCUBE, from the SiliconANGLE Media team, during OpenStack Days: Silicon Valley 2016 about the digital market.

What is digital?

The word digital gets thrown around a lot, but few take the time to actually define it. Weinman described it as the products, processes, and architectures being digital. Products and services have moved closer toward utilizing the Internet of Things, and managing customer relationships has also become digital.

“They’re not just smart, they’re connected,” he said about digital products and services.

The old vs. the new

As enterprises migrate from the physical to the digital, they must also consider changing the way things are done. Processes and architectures are being updated, but what’s the focus? One thing most analysts can agree on is something Weinman described as “CEO buy in.” The CEO determines what projects get approval and when they’ll be implemented. But it seems things are changing.

In the past there were the “tech guys” and the “core business group.” Now those two sectors have to work together seamlessly to deliver “unparalleled customer value,” said Weinman. To have the greatest impact enterprises must deliver value, cost efficiency, and a positive customer experience.

Find your drive

Weinman commented on the success of OpenStack, saying it has proven to be a credible contender on the market. It is a unique service that is offered at at premium value and allows users to fix and expand their architecture.

This success is not only attributed to the amazing service it provides, but also to the commitment it has to consumers. Weinman believes enterprises should ask, “What are we trying to do?” as they move into the digital space. And OpenStack knows what they were doing.

Companies have to start with their digital strategy, not with their technology, when moving to digital spaces. Implementing the right strategy early on can help with real-world issues like usage spikes and performance differentiations later down the pipeline, according to Weinman.

Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE and theCUBE’s coverage of the OpenStack Days: Silicon Valley 2016.

Photo by SiliconANGLE