By Sydney Metzmaker
When agencies take on data modernization or implement a new technology platform, the instinct is often to think big. Leaders picture massive platforms, advanced integrations, AI at scale, and dashboards that can answer any question. The vision is inspiring—but it can also feel overwhelming. Too often, that “big bang” approach stalls before it ever delivers value.
The teams that succeed approach data modernization and digital transformation differently. They start small.
Starting small isn’t about lowering ambitions. It’s about focusing on the single use case that matters most first—the one that will deliver visible value quickly. That could be streamlining a recurring report that currently takes weeks for multiple teams to assemble, or consolidating the most painful data silos around a critical mission.
This approach works because it builds momentum on three fronts:
Instead of trying to automate or improve everything at once, you start by doing one thing well.
A sweeping digital transformation or data modernization initiative may look impressive on paper, but without user adoption, it becomes infrastructure without impact. Agencies can spend years integrating systems and deploying tools, only to find that people are still working in spreadsheets or relying on side processes.
The lesson is clear: access to data doesn’t drive the mission—adoption does. And adoption comes when users see immediate value in their day-to-day work.
The first small win creates the foundation for scaling. Once a team, department, or entire agency sees value from one use case, it becomes easier to identify the next. The roadmap builds itself, guided by real impact and user demand. Leaders shift from selling the idea of modernization to responding to requests for more of it.
Over time, those small wins add up to a comprehensive transformation. What started as a focused pilot evolves into a culture of data-driven decision making. And because the journey was built on adoption from the start, the change is durable—not just another technology initiative that fades after deployment.
Modernization isn’t about how much technology you deploy on day one. It’s about how effectively you can drive change that lasts. Starting small ensures that your first step is one of real impact, building the momentum, confidence, and trust needed to win big over time.
The path to lasting modernization and digital transformation doesn’t begin with everything—it begins with something. Start there.