Digital transformation often sounds like a buzzword - but it is the key to sustainable project success. And the best thing is that it can be implemented in a structured and step-by-step manner.
Whether in plant engineering, automotive development or turnaround projects in the chemical industry, project management is under pressure. The challenges are becoming more complex - time pressure, a shortage of skilled workers, increasing demands for transparency and traceability.
What is needed now? A clear digital roadmap.
Before you digitize tools or processes, you need clarity:
Which processes are already digital?
Where are there currently media disruptions?
What information is available in Excel, email or on paper?
Who are the key stakeholders?
🎯 Goal: A common understanding of the current maturity level of project management among all those involved.
Tip: A workshop with project managers, controlling and engineering often uncovers a surprising number of manual loops.
Not everything has to be digital right away. Set clear goals, e.g:
Real-time transparency on project progress
Reduction of manual reports
Standardized risk management
Integration of external partners
Important: Goals should be measurable, achievable and relevant.
📌 Example: "We want to record all project milestones and deviations digitally - in a system that is accessible to all partners."
Digital transformation needs the right foundation.
The tool should:
✅ fit in with existing processes
✅ Be scalable
✅ Be able to integrate external partners
✅ Offer visualizations and live data
✅ Support compliance & documentation
💡 Best practice: software solutions such as COMAN offer precisely this combination - especially for complex industrial projects
It's not about bringing Excel 1:1 to the web.
Instead:
Simplify workflows
Automate data flows
Record status messages with system support
Provide reporting and forecasts at the click of a button
🧠 Think digital first - not "we do it like before, only on a tablet".
The best software is useless if nobody uses it.
Therefore:
Get users on board at an early stage
Offer training and onboarding
Clearly define roles and responsibilities
Make quick wins visible
🎯 Goal: Create acceptance - because transformation is also a cultural change.
No big bang. Start with a manageable project, e.g:
a conversion project in the plant
a system retrofit
a turnaround in a sub-area
Important:
Define KPIs beforehand
Build in feedback loops
Record learnings
Digital transformation is not a sprint - but an agile process
Is the pilot working? Then the rollout follows:
Expand to other projects and locations
Set up interfaces to ERP, BI or DMS
Develop templates and standards
Take governance & compliance into account
💡 Advantage: You benefit from experience - and avoid legacy issues.
Digital transformation in project management doesn't have to be a mammoth project.
With a clear roadmap, the right tools and an open mindset, you can achieve it:
✅ More transparency
✅ Faster decisions
✅ Less frictional losses
✅ Better collaboration - internally & externally
Want to know how your project management can make the digital leap?
👉 Make an appointment now and leverage potential together.