We live in a time, where technology rewrites the rules. It shapes how businesses run, how customers interact, and even how entire industries evolve. Companies that ride the wave of change grow stronger, while those that hesitate are likely to fall behind. But making that leap toward digital transformation isn’t always easy.

What if the investment doesn’t bring results? What if the team isn’t ready? The questions pile up, and suddenly, innovation feels more like a risk than an opportunity. We’ve seen this crossroads many times at LaSoft, and in today’s article, we’ll talk about these uncertainties so they no longer have to hold you back.

The hidden risks of digital transformation projects

Over the years, we’ve noticed hidden risks of digital transformation projects, and understanding is the first step in steering clear of them. One common blind spot involves team dynamics and communication. When you’re working with external partners or expanding your in-house team, it’s easy for collaboration gaps to appear. Misaligned expectations or unclear priorities can disrupt progress. And even minor miscommunications can cause delays that ripple through the entire timeline.

Another major risk comes from technical and security concerns. Business owners often worry about the security and stability of their solution — especially in industries like finance or e-commerce, where downtime is unacceptable. Questions about data safety, transaction reliability, and scalability aren’t just theoretical. Without proper testing and security protocols, a seemingly successful release can turn into a disaster if the system fails under load.

Lastly, budget overruns and operational delays can sneak up on a project when the processes aren’t smooth. Late invoice approvals or changes in resource allocation can cause unexpected slowdowns. This might sound like a small issue, but it can affect deliverables and erode trust over time. Our experience shows that early transparency and structured updates help avoid these roadblocks.

“A business that aims to grow and stay competitive must focus on innovation and continuously optimize its processes.” — Andriy Tatchyn, CCO

As you can see, digital transformation comes with risks that aren’t always obvious at first glance. But it also offers significant benefits for businesses ready to take that step forward. If you’re interested in exploring this topic further, our article How Digital Transformation Technology Makes Your Business Grow: Real-Case Examples covers insights on how the right strategies can unlock growth and keep projects on track.

What do project managers rely on to analyze risks?

When you’re investing in a digital project, risks don’t always come with a warning label. Challenges like delayed approvals, technical setbacks, or unexpected budget constraints can quietly build up and slow progress. That’s why our approach at LaSoft includes a tool designed to keep everything visible and manageable — a risk register.

It’s a shared document (structured like a table) that evolves alongside the project. It includes key details such as the description of the risk, the potential impact, and the probability of it happening. Each risk is assigned a score that reflects its overall severity. The higher the score, the more immediate attention it gets. A color-coded system — ranging from green for low-risk items to red for critical risks — makes it easy for our project managers to see where focus is needed.

This template applies to all projects, regardless of size or complexity. For example, if a client’s budget approvals are delayed or payment processing changes, the risk register helps us document these issues and outline a clear response strategy. The plan might involve notifying the key stakeholders, adjusting timelines, or reallocating resources to keep things running smoothly. Critical risks that could impact the team’s progress are reviewed with senior team members, ensuring the right people are informed without causing unnecessary stress across the board.

“The project manager holds access to the risk register and shares relevant information based on the type of risk. Not every internal issue needs to reach the client, just as the team doesn’t always need to be informed about financial discussions or budget-related concerns with the client.” — Yuriy Leskiv, Project manager

Regular reviews — usually biweekly or monthly — are a part of keeping the register relevant. Risks that have been resolved are marked and archived, while new ones are added as they arise. This allows our project managers and delivery leads to stay proactive, not reactive.

LaSoft’s key methodologies to safe innovation

According to McKinsey research, around 90% of all organizations are undergoing digital transformation. With numbers like these, companies supporting such a transition must be meticulous in identifying and addressing potential risks to ensure the project’s success. At LaSoft, we understand this responsibility and have developed our own methodologies to deliver positive results.

Assessing risks before starting a project

Communication and alignment during the discovery phase are a priority to minimize risks early on. Our team gathers essential information, analyzes project goals, and outlines key features with attention to detail. Business analysts meet with the client at least once or twice a week, conducting in-depth discussions about functionalities, acceptance criteria, and milestones.

Regular check-ins keep everything transparent and prevent surprises down the line. Clients remain informed every step of the way, observing progress and having the chance to address any doubts that may arise.

For clients who have concerns about various aspects of product development, we reinforce trust with clear, upfront agreements. Whether it’s guaranteeing team stability or outlining fallback plans in case of unexpected events, everything is mapped out from day one. This continuous synchronization allows our team to create a foundation of trust and move the project forward confidently.

Change requests and their impact during project development

During a project, the need for change requests may arise, but the next steps largely depend on the collaboration model. In time-and-materials projects, adjustments are expected, and clients are usually comfortable with refinements as long as timelines and costs are agreed upon. On the other hand, fixed-price projects can be more sensitive — every iteration needs careful consideration to avoid budget overruns or missed deadlines.

When a change request comes in, the first step is understanding why it’s needed. Sometimes, proposals stem from valuable feedback, like input from SEO specialists or early user testing. Other times, they’re driven by design preferences or a sudden creative idea. The important thing is to identify whether the modification is essential for the product’s success or if it can be postponed until later.

Once the reason is clear, we evaluate how the change might affect the overall project flow. Even a minor adjustment can have a ripple effect, adding complexity in unexpected areas. These often introduce new risks — such as disrupting the development timeline, requiring additional resources, or affecting key deliverables. For instance, rewriting a feature mid-sprint can lead to delays that push back a planned release. In some cases, the changes could even introduce technical debt or compatibility issues that need extra attention down the line.

Protecting business data during digital transformation

By default, the LaSoft team designs software with strong security measures in place. But when sensitive data is involved, additional steps are essential. Under certain circumstances, we recommend engaging third-party security experts to conduct penetration testing — simulated cyberattacks that identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them.

Our experts also rely on trusted cloud infrastructure like Google Cloud and AWS to host project information. These platforms provide some of the highest levels of data protection in the industry. However, even with such secure environments, it’s important to tailor the approach to fit each client’s risk profile. For instance, industries like finance or healthcare may require additional measures, such as stricter access controls or more frequent security audits.

When speaking of assets in our toolkit, GitHub’s security features are a part of every project development workflow that identifies vulnerabilities in the code. SonarCloud, for example, helps detect hidden keys or outdated dependencies that might pose risks. In projects that use Docker, we run image scans to ensure the containers meet security standards and are free from common issues.

“When choosing a specific technology, it’s important to consider the level of support, how actively it’s evolving, and the quality of its structure. We also check whether there’s proper documentation available.” — Vasyl Varkholyak, CTO

The potential and risks of AI for business success

New technologies often come with bold promises — but when implemented thoughtfully, they can create real, lasting impact. Artificial intelligence, in particular, has emerged as a powerful tool, and 75% of businesses consider it a way to optimize operations and stay competitive. Just as the internet transformed how companies sell their products and cloud technologies revolutionized data sharing and storage, AI is now reshaping how routine processes are handled.

AI can help companies reduce costs, streamline workflows, and become more efficient. Even so, adopting this technology isn’t without its risks. Businesses must pay attention to challenges like ensuring data privacy, maintaining service quality, and managing the balance between automation and human oversight — and these are just a few examples. Without careful planning, there’s a risk of creating bottlenecks rather than solving them.

One of our recent projects shows just how impactful this technology can be when implemented properly. We partnered with a logistics service company that handles call support for transportation businesses. Their role was to field calls from drivers, gather details, negotiate transport terms, and coordinate deliveries. To optimize the workflow, our client approached us with a clear request: develop an AI system that could manage these calls without compromising service quality.

In just six weeks, the LaSoft team built an AI agent capable of answering calls, providing necessary details, negotiating terms with drivers, and relaying information to human supervisors for final approval. The result is a flexible solution that allows the client to offer their customers multiple options — keeping a fully human team, integrating AI to assist with a portion of calls, or creating a hybrid model where AI takes care of routine inquiries while humans focus on more complex tasks.

Instead of being disrupted by AI advancements, the client is now empowered to offer more competitive, tailored services and future-proof their business.

Close the gap between innovation and fears

Every successful business story starts with a moment of hesitation. The “what if” can feel paralyzing, but those who push forward discover that smart innovations create new opportunities. Of course, unexpected risks can arise at any stage, sometimes creating moments of uncertainty. But that’s exactly why having experienced professionals by your side matters — they step up, face the challenge, and find a way ahead. You don’t need to have all the answers to get started—you just need the courage to begin.

“If a risk occurs and you fail to learn from it, that’s a true failure. But if a risk happens, and you take lessons from it to plan for similar challenges in the future, that’s a win.” — Yuriy Leskiv, Project manager