2 Min Read – Is your Digital DevOps strategy worth investing in?

We’ve seen a lot of digital initiatives fail because DevOps isn’t considered a core competency. All digital initiatives can and should include DevOps at their core. To really focus on DevOps’ promise, an implementation must deliver DevOps as a digital competitive advantage enabler. Of course, it’s easier said than done.

Difference between “digital” and “digitized”

The key point is that digital products that support digital initiatives differ from systems and products that support basic business processes, which can be “digitalized.” The former must instill characteristics that promote quick invention and evolution by allowing for continuous experimentation and learning. The latter possess characteristics of stability and operational excellence that are optimized by technological improvement.

The problem is that digital products require a different DevOps strategy than those that have been digitised.

Digitalized products are supported by the majority of DevOps methodologies. These tools are designed to promote operational excellence by focusing on strong SDLC governance (branching) and optimizing (automated) for consistent releases at a predefined frequency (sprint cycle). Even if operational excellence is a must-have, in today’s digital firm, it is a given. DevOps for digital must think beyond efficiency and use growth mindset ideas at the core of a digital business.

Also read: How do I get from DevOps to DevSecOps?

Digital products should be designed to generate new revenue streams by providing delightful experiences that cater to the needs of human value. The key characteristics of human value are dynamic, ever-changing, and psychologically complex. These have implications for the very core of a product’s or company’s basic value proposition.

As a result, there are a few questions we need to address. What methods do we use to develop and test new value propositions? How can we figure out what our customers value even if they are unable to articulate their needs? Is it possible to coordinate a DevOps strategy to support such a dynamic business model?

For starters, a digital DevOps approach should include a framework for testing product combinations. We can safely introduce experiments at any moment, or even numerous times each day, using this framework. Consider small releases batch and tiny release experiments. Based on business conditions, these should be business or event-driven.

The experiments’ results should be measured using an analytics platform, which should be the second priority. We accelerate our ability to learn what consumers value by iterating small product experimentation. This enables us to reshape value propositions and create a data-driven product and experience. That’s where you’ll find an actual competitive edge. Product releases are no longer just a collection of features and capabilities. They are now the mechanisms by which we get to know our end-consumer.

Also read: Top DevOps Trends That Will Dominate

So, to sum up. Take your DevOps strategy into thoughtful consideration, as well as the core design concepts and business model it will support. Digital products that operate in highly competitive and rapidly evolving businesses must be willing to experiment, learn, and adapt on a regular basis. Your DevOps competence can be a strategic asset if done right.

Want to maximize value through DevOps strategies that will perfectly suit your business, connect with us here