Full Interview Link: L3RN Channel

Introduction: The Shift to Digital in Strategy and Project Management

Digital transformation has moved beyond buzzword status—it’s now a strategic imperative. Organizations globally are racing to adopt tools that streamline operations and close the gap between strategic intent and real-time execution.

In Episode 26 of the L3RN Channel, host Angela interviews Salah Haswah, a senior project management expert, unpacking how digital strategies and project tools are reshaping industry standards, enhancing governance, and empowering data-driven decisions.

What Are “Digital Solutions” in Strategy & Project Management?

Digital solutions span from basic spreadsheets to enterprise-grade platforms, touching layers across the organization:
• Strategy Management – tracking strategic objectives and KPIs
• Portfolio Management – prioritizing projects/investments for maximum ROI
• Program Management – coordinating related projects under unified goals
• Project Management – planning, executing, and monitoring tasks
• Benefits Management – ensuring initiatives deliver measurable value
• Performance Management – tracking both operational and strategic outcomes

A truly effective digital solution seamlessly integrates these areas, bridging strategy and execution.

Why Digital Tools Are a Game-Changer

Digital platforms offer much more than going paperless:

1. Real-Time Data Access – decisions based on fresh insights, not monthly reports
2. Improved Visibility – alignment across all organizational levels
3. Enhanced Stakeholder Engagement – dashboards simplify communication and alignment
4. Increased Efficiency – automation reduces administrative overhead

As Salah emphasizes, reducing management waste is critical to staying competitive in today's business landscape.

Collaboration in the Digital PMO Era

The digital PMO has emerged as a strategic delivery backbone. During the pandemic, digitally mature organizations outperformed peers—centralized platforms kept remote teams connected, transparent, and aligned for fast, data-driven decisions.

Example: A Gulf-based telecom company used a digital PMO to manage over 200 initiatives across regions, reducing weekly review meetings from two hours to just 30 minutes.

AI: From Hype to Practical Advantage

AI’s role in strategy and project management is rapidly expanding. In 2019, 58% of organizations were using AI in at least one business area; by 2024, that figure grew to 78%.

Key use cases include:
• Reference Class Forecasting – predicting outcomes using historical peers
• Strategic Correlation Analysis – evaluating initiative alignment with strategic goals
• AI-Driven Portfolio Optimization – analyzing countless project combinations to maximize returns

Tasks that once required weeks of manual analysis can now be completed in minutes—delivering faster, more informed decisions.

SPM, a Leading Digital Tool for Strategy & Project Management

Salah highlights a leading end-to-end solution shaping the industry:
• SPM (Smart Performance Management) – aligns strategy, performance, and execution, offering customizable dashboards, integration capabilities, and advanced analytics tailored to diverse organizational needs.

Market Growth: The Numbers Speak

The global shift toward digital-first management is backed by impressive market growth:
• Digital Transformation Market – projected to grow from approximately USD 1.07 trillion in 2024 to USD 4.62 trillion by 2030, at a CAGR of about 28.5%.

(Other reports estimate up to USD 4.62 trillion by 2030)

These figures signal a global shift toward integrated, digital-first management ecosystems.

The Gulf’s Push Toward Digital Maturity

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain are accelerating platform adoption under Vision 2030–style initiatives. They emphasize:
• Automating governance
• Enhancing transparency across sectors
• Driving cross-industry collaboration via cloud-based platforms

For regional companies, these tools are not just helpful—they’re essential for competitiveness.

Solving the “One Version of the Truth” Problem

A key pain point is fragmented data across teams. Digital platforms resolve this by:
• Creating a centralized data hub
• Enabling advanced analytics (e.g., Monte Carlo simulations, sensitivity analysis)
• Providing AI-driven optimization to allocate resources effectively

This yields stronger governance, faster issue identification, and higher confidence in decisions.

Best Practices for Implementing Digital Strategy & PM Tools

Maximize ROI with an implementation roadmap:

1. Define Clear Objectives – know what problems you’re solving
2. Engage Stakeholders Early – buy-in is critical
3. Start with a Pilot – phased rollouts manage risk
4. Integrate with Existing Systems – avoid creating silos
5. Train & Support – ensure long-term adoption and competency

Conclusion: The Future Is Integrated and Intelligent

As Salah Haswah concludes, the intersection of digital transformation, AI, and strategy execution is fundamentally changing how organizations operate. Those investing wisely in integrated tools today are far better positioned to adapt, compete, and succeed in tomorrow’s marketplace.