There are indications that digital transformation projects largely fail to meet the expected results. In the context of such failures it is important to analyze if the definition of desired results and value is correctly established during the start-up phase of such projects. This is particularly important in digital transformation projects with a pronounced focus on improving resource efficiency. This paper explores how proper specification of desired results in digital transformation projects with emphasis in resource efficiency can improve the projects’ outcomes. The results obtained are qualitative in nature, but insightful, and are based on findings from four technical workshops with industrial 6 companies and 2 higher education/technology transfer institutions, engaged in a joint project with heavy innovation and technological development efforts. The workshops identified barriers and opportunities for resource efficiency specification practices, aiming to reduce the high failure rate of digital transformation projects. The first workshop explored how desired "improvement"in production systems is specified, while subsequent ones examined how the desired increase of the Value/Resource ratio (V/R) is specified, and its impact on technical solutions for this objective. The final workshop discussed successful digitalization projects that increase V/R, even when the questions from the previous workshops remain unanswered. Key success factors included stakeholder collaboration, needs identification, flexibility in solutions, experience, competence, and luck. The findings underscore the importance of stakeholder interaction, adaptive decision-making, collective competence, and the ability of technology implementers to discern the ’desired value’ from the customer’s perspective even as this value is not specified by the customer.