Rethink. Reinvent. Transform. As executives maneuver today’s uncertainty, and as new disruptions seem to emerge daily, leaders are no longer focused on simply surviving the storm. They are living these three words to navigate the waters of unprecedented change.

In fact, nearly three-quarters (73%) of C-suite executives surveyed by Accenture have a cost transformation initiative under way or are planning one within six months.

But how can they harness the full potential of that cost transformation? By pointing their compass toward zero. Zero-based transformation looks beyond the present and doesn’t rely on the past to chart the future. Instead, it takes a holistic approach to cost transformation, starting with a clean sheet to:

The value of asset reallocation and freed funds? They can be used to invest in the strategic priorities that drive growth and to develop new capabilities that build resilience and agility for the future.

Zero-based transformation is not a budgeting exercise. It’s about deeply understanding costs across the business and aligning to the priorities that will create value. To succeed, it must be an integral part of the organization’s design, driven by technology, integrating sustainability and empowering talent.

Transformations of the past—and their failures—can stay in the past. Today, cost transformations themselves are transforming, starting at zero. What are the keys to success? In our experience, there are four:

Leaders are thinking about today’s cost transformation in terms of growth, resilience and competitiveness. As they face today’s disruption and volatility,a zero-based approach can help leaders rethink their business to move beyond cutting costs—and set a course toward a cost transformation that breathes new life into their future.

Learn more about zero-based transformation’s role in funding new strategic priorities—read the full report here.