The Great Digital Transformation

Reimagining the Future of Customer Interactions

Published by Forbes Books
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
LIST PRICE $24.99

About The Book

Dare to dream

Creating a website and digitizing processes may have seemed cutting edge at one time; but technologies have continued to advance, and retailers must keep up. Gerard Szatvanyi, an entrepreneur and founder of OSF Digital, a leading Salesforce partner, knows firsthand what it takes to remain on top (and not become obsolete) in today’s connected retail world. Global brands and companies of all sizes have turned to him, time and again, to help them through their own digital transformation journeys. Thanks to the expertise of Szatvanyi and his team, these retailers have been able to avoid the red. Better yet, they have built systems that support customer interactions and enable an integrated, experience-driven path forward.

What does it take to digitally transform? Szatvanyi is aware of the obstacles, and he doesn’t shy away from tough topics in the retail space, including the challenges surrounding stores and misunderstandings about remote work. Rather, in an approachable “around the fireplace” style, he extends his hand and invites readers to sit back with him and dream. After all, with the technologies available today, the possibilities are nearly endless. Szatvanyi points out that the starting line is not a budget review or the development of a to-do list. Rather, it’s a thinking exercise; a conversation, if you will, about what could be.

In his pragmatic way, Szatvanyi turns the complicated topic of digital transformation into easy-to-digest segments. What other strategy allows you to play video games for a few hours and try on headsets? Yet that’s exactly what Szatvanyi advises. Doing so can help readers understand the potential of these technologies. After engaging in up-and-coming channels, it’s often easier to imagine ways to use them to interact with customers. With personal examples and case studies sprinkled throughout, readers shift from thinking about new ways to live and work to seeing them in action.

Szatvanyi lays out:

• What digital transformation is

• How to be customer-centric

• Ways to create mobile experiences

• The purpose of on-the-ground stores

• How to engage in video

• Guidelines to give employees meaningful tasks

• Ways to reimagine remote work

• What to know about headless commerce

• How to target a niche market

• Why building a community matters

• How to capture data the right way

• Best practices for setting up teams and systems

After presenting concepts, Szatvanyi shares practical guidelines to weigh the costs and benefits of new implementations. The book maintains a focus on revenue generation and improved profit margins. In every chapter, Szatvanyi lists questions to help readers re-think their current practices and re-imagine their business. These takeaways make it easy for organizations, regardless of their available resources or budgets, to take steps forward. Readers will be inspired to start their own digital transformation journeys and lead their brands toward a bright, profitable future.

About The Author

GERARD SZATVANYI is the founder and president of OSF Digital, a leading global commerce solutions and digital transformation company. Throughout his career as an entrepreneur and visionary, he has been a thought leader for the intersections of life and work, laying out trends and upcoming shifts in the tech industry. Szatvanyi is also the president and chief technologist at eSkill, the market leader in pre-employment testing which offers standard and customized hiring assessments. His first book, The Great Digital Transformation, guides readers through the steps to take to reimagine the way they interact with customers to enhance experiences, which can ultimately enable companies to improve their profit margins. Based in Hong Kong, Szatvanyi regularly travels the globe and shares his knowledge with up-and-coming entrepreneurs.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Forbes Books (April 4, 2023)
  • ISBN13: 9781955884457

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Raves and Reviews

“I’ve known Gerry Szatvanyi for more than ten years in various roles centered on digital transformation. He has walked the road to transformation and has stories, advice, and best practices to share, best practices gathered through working with many world-class companies. In his book, you will find lots of examples and wise pieces of advice to understand more about what is essential to succeed in a changing world”
—Guy Gauvin
Chief Operating Officer, Coveo

“Brands and retailers must digitally transform their customer interfaces to survive and thrive. These same consumers experience innovation driven by cutting-edge apps and services in media, entertainment, communication, education, and more. They expect and require the same level of customization, ease of use, and pleasure in their commerce experiences. Their patience for friction is very low. Gerry Szatvanyi and OSF Digital have been at the forefront of helping many global brands innovate their methods for digital interaction with customers. Digital transformation is Gerry’s strength. His technical expertise coupled with a worldwide customer base innovating across customer experience has informed his expertise and knowledge. This book does a great job of sharing those insights in an enjoyable read.”
—Rand Lewis
Cofounder and Managing Partner, Delta-v Capital

The Great Digital Transformation is a must-read for any executive who’s trying to understand the practical realities of a digital transformation. Gerry Szatvanyi, CEO of OSF Digital, has been at the forefront of the evolving digital revolution for companies, customers, suppliers, and employees. His lessons learned from working with the world’s biggest brands are essential reading for anyone driving meaningful change to the way brands are experienced in the modern world.”
—Jeff Rich
Managing Director, PlumTree Partners

“The startups that I’ve led in the past were all about digital transformation, specifically with AI and IoT. My collaboration with Gerry allowed me to have an insight into how Gerry thinks, and I can say that his book is the culmination of his personal experiences in hands-on operation, disruptive innovation, and strategy. Gerry is an amazing advisor on the new technologies you must understand to give you the confidence to ask the right questions and drive change that delivers both short-term results and long-term competitive advantage.”
—Cyril Brignone
Cofounder, Vecitice

“eSkill is all about digitally transforming the recruitment selection process, going from paper or less-performant systems to state-of-the art assessment tech. As CEO of eSkill, I’ve collaborated with Gerry in leading this digital transformation, which has enabled our clients to accurately assess millions of candidates globally and digitally transform their talent management processes.”
—Eric Justin Friedman
Founder and CEO, eSkill Corporation

“If you are planning or already executing a digital transformation then you have to read The Great Digital Transformation. Authored by Gerry Szatvanyi, the book is a reflection of his real-world experience leading companies through the digital transformation journey. Gerry is a technologist, entrepreneur, and leader who was driving digital transformation even before the term itself was commonly used. So take advantage of Gerry’s years of experience to enhance the journey for yourself and your company.”
—David Northington
Board Member, Adviser for HighGrowth Tech Companies

“This book is a must-read for anyone engaged in a digital transformation vision and strategy. Over the years, Gerard and OSF have worked with world-renowned brands and helped them reinvent their customer engagement model to meet customers exactly where they are. This book is packed with actionable insights from digital and commerce gurus.”
—Fabrice Talbot
VP of Products, Salesforce

“I had the incredible chance to meet Gerry Szatvanyi more than a decade ago. Starting to work with him and his OSF team on our first flagship ecommerce sites, Gerry quickly became a true business partner and a friend. Having a sincere consumer-centric approach and constantly challenging my team and I to reinvent ourselves, he was a cornerstone for our enterprise digital transformation program. Gerry is a passionate and visionary digital entrepreneur full of common sense. No wonder why his enterprise OSF developed at such a pace. His book is full of practical ideas and is definitively a must-read for anyone who wants to engage his business in a true digital transformation.”
—Rejean Demers
CIO Global Travel Retail, L’Oréal

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