"We want to do digital transformation" is one of the most frequent phrases in initial conversations with clients. And also one of the vaguest. Digital transformation is not a project with a start and end — it is a continuous process of improving an organisation's digital capabilities. To navigate that process with criteria, you first need to know exactly where you stand.

At ALEK we use a 5-level digital maturity model that allows us to diagnose an organisation in approximately 90 minutes of structured conversation with key stakeholders.

The 5 levels of digital maturity

0
Initial — Manual processes dominant
Operations depend mostly on manual processes, paper, email and spreadsheets. No integrated systems. Information is fragmented.
Characteristic signal: "To know last month's sales you have to ask several people."
1
Basic — Isolated digital tools
The company uses digital tools (CRM, ERP, accounting software) but they are not integrated. Data is manually duplicated between systems.
Characteristic signal: "We export the CRM to Excel to cross-reference it with accounting data every week."
2
Developing — Partial integration
Main systems are partially integrated. Some automated workflows exist. Critical data is digitally available but decision-making remains reactive.
Characteristic signal: "We have a dashboard, but nobody looks at it because it doesn't update in real time."
3
Advanced — Active automation
Critical processes are automated. Systems are integrated and data flows in real time. Operational decisions are data-driven. The team has internal technical capacity.
Characteristic signal: "When a customer has been inactive for 30 days, the system automatically launches the reactivation workflow."
4
Optimised — Data-driven and AI-enabled
The organisation uses predictive models and AI to anticipate situations and optimise decisions. Data is an actively managed strategic asset.
Characteristic signal: "Our model predicts with 85% accuracy which customers will churn in the next 30 days."

The diagnostic questions we always ask

  • How long does it take to know what your sales were the previous day?
  • How many different systems does your team use to manage an order from start to finish?
  • How many people spend time on tasks that could be automated?
  • Can you predict today what your sales will be next month?
  • What happens when the person responsible for a key process is on holiday?

Real digital maturity is measured by organisational behaviour, not by the catalogue of tools contracted. A team that makes data-driven decisions without sophisticated tools is more digitally mature than one that has all the tools in the world but still makes decisions by intuition.