One of the core elements of digital transformation: seamless connectivity and integration.

      Today, many enterprises are embarking on digital transformation—either already in the midst of it or well on their way. Yet few can clearly articulate the true value of digitalization. Is it about reducing costs and boosting efficiency? The results often fall short of expectations. Is it about improving operational productivity? Again, the evidence is mixed...
Many enterprises have embarked on digital transformation, yet the results have been underwhelming—often leading to widespread dissatisfaction within the organization, with increased blame-shifting and finger-pointing that only adds to employees’ workloads. Is the root cause systemic or managerial? In my view, the answer is straightforward: from the very outset, these organizations failed to grasp the core mission of digital transformation.
One of the core tasks of digital transformation is to seamlessly connect and integrate technology with business operations.
Many enterprises embarking on digital transformation initially pin their hopes on a suite of application systems and software to solve all their challenges. However, the result is that each system ends up with its own distinct architecture and data model, creating “system silos” that further complicate applications and business processes, leaving users constantly switching between disparate systems and tools.
Only by carefully planning and establishing comprehensive standards and rules prior to building information systems can seamless integration among disparate systems be achieved. Only with a standardized data platform and well-defined data standards in place can technical and business data flows be effectively interconnected, enabling data to move across systems according to established rules and thereby create value. Otherwise, the chaotic and fragmented data within each system will remain confined to its own database, devoid of any real value—and the very purpose of digital transformation will be lost. Yet today, most enterprises embark on digital initiatives with the wrong starting point: they rush to build individual systems first, only to realize later that data cannot flow freely between them, at which point they finally attempt to address system-to-system data integration and establish data standards. This approach is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive but also makes it exceedingly difficult to overhaul workflows that business units have long since institutionalized and become accustomed to, resulting in persistent challenges in data integration and business process consolidation. Ultimately, this leads to “data blockages” and “system silos.” That is why many organizations find that the more they pursue digital transformation, the more complex and difficult it becomes: despite deploying numerous systems, operational efficiency often fails to improve significantly. When the initial direction is misguided, the true value of digitalization gradually recedes into the distance. Therefore, one of the core objectives of digital transformation is to achieve horizontal data connectivity across all application systems and to enable the seamless fusion of data among them.
The integrated mindset of technology and business must permeate the entire digital transformation process and the software lifecycle, rather than being confined to a single stage. This process encompasses project initiation, solution selection, implementation, go-live, operations and maintenance, and after-sales support. Throughout this journey, the IT department serves as the “interpreter” between technology and business, acting as the bridge for communication between the enterprise and the software vendor. Therefore, during software implementation, the IT department must collaborate with the vendor to align solutions and capabilities, jointly driving the successful deployment of the system; internally, it must work closely with business units to identify pain points and align requirements, thereby collectively advancing digital transformation initiatives.
Enterprises must manage their business systems with an operations-oriented mindset, a process that requires the seamless integration of technology and business—aligning methodologies, coordinating initiatives, establishing robust policies, ensuring effective implementation, leveraging data, and unlocking value. The IT department supports business units in addressing technical requirements, while business units translate standardized data into tangible digital value.
ASIMCO’s digital transformation of Camshaft started with comprehensive strategic planning. Just as a building must have a solid foundation, the initial planning established standardized basic data that could be shared across systems to avoid redundant work. Internally, the company leveraged PLM product data as the foundation for ERP and MES systems, creating a complete set of interconnected data interfaces to ensure the authority and maintainability of a unified standard data set within the company.
In summary, it is clear that the process of digital transformation in enterprises is inherently one of integration. This integration requires openness; openness, in turn, demands inclusiveness; and inclusiveness fosters symbiosis. There is no single, isolated “core” led by a particular department—instead, the core of integration spans multiple departments and ultimately the entire organization. Only when all stakeholders reach a unified digital consensus can digital transformation initiatives be successfully implemented.