No matter what your situation may be, the same rule applies: automating a bad process doesn’t magically turn it into a good process. You need to look at your business operations holistically. Sometimes digital transformation can involve making difficult choices, embracing a new business model, or even completely rethinking how you do business.

Changing your operations affects the people connected to your organization. Depending on what you’re doing, you may need your employees, your customers, your vendors, or all of them to get on board with the new ideas and processes. Change is hard, and odds are good that some people won’t like it, particularly at first. Be prepared to experiment and pivot when you run into budgetary, personnel, or other hurdles.

When it comes to digital transformation, small businesses often have a huge advantage: agility. The smart use of technology can help small businesses remain competitive, but first you need to stop and consider what’s possible.