What does digital transformation mean ?
The term “Digital Transformation” has been overly used these days to describe anything and everything to do with technology in enterprises. While there are several academic definitions that describe “Digital Transformation”, it does not help business users or in some cases even technocrats to understand it fully and its implication on their business area or function.With the advent of several new digital technologies like Social, Mobile, Low-Code, Analytics, Cloud, etc. enterprises have an opportunity to do the unthinkable.There is a huge difference between Digitization and Digital Transformation. Digitization refers to merely bringing your business activities, process, systems, etc online, on the other hand Digital Business Transformation refers to fundamentally transforming your business operations using Digital Technologies.For example, if you used paper-based forms in any of your business processes, Digitization would refer to converting paper forms into electronic format. While that would be a good start, but you are not leveraging the power of technology which is available to you.
Alternatively, transformation would mean thinking of innovative ways by which you could leverage technology to streamline the process completely. In this example, a good start would be to use mobile based capture which would enable document scanning, intelligent data capture at source and authentication using the phone camera, mobile forms and fingerprint scanner on your phone. Thus, there is no need for manual data entry, verification or processing of paper or electronic documents. Now that would be transformation in its truest sense.
Similarly, Digital Technologies provide innumerable possibilities for enterprises to think differently and redefine their business operations as a whole.
Technologies such as Low-Code Platforms, Intelligent Business Process Management Suites, Business Analytics, etc. are built to realize these strategies i.e. Total Digitization and Transformation of your business operations. It’s not about adopting these technologies just because everyone else is doing it, but to create a clear differentiator for yourself and your company’s brand and deliver true value to your customers and partners.IDC’s Top Technology Predictions For 2016 famously emphasises on “Transform or Die” notion. While this may not be true immediately but it would be a slow death of sorts, as your competitors are constantly thinking of ways they can improve their business operation.The question really is, Do you want to be a Thought Leader in your field of business and leverage this opportunity or Be a Follower and play catch-up with them.As always thank you for reading my blog. Do let me know what are your thoughts.
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