Technology has been a driving force in the business world, especially in recent years. When the world turned upside down due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, businesses scrambled to quickly transition to operating remotely, resulting in operation digitization across the globe. Aside from the remote work transition, the focus on high tech has been a trend that doesn’t show any sign of slowing.
The so-called “Amazon effect” has not only impacted manufacturing, but has people wanting everything faster and more automated. As a leader in your organization, it is important to make sure your company is implementing digitization initiatives to keep up with the times and not fall behind your competitors.
WHAT IS DIGITIZATION?
We hear the term thrown around often, but what does digitization really mean? Digitization refers to the process of converting non-digital data, information, and operations to a digital platform to increase accessibility for both employees and customers.
This can be anything from scanning a physical paper document and converting it to a PDF, to transforming paper applications to emails. Digitization is the umbrella term for the connections between the physical world and the digital world.
Although sometimes used interchangeably, digitalization is actually different from digitization.
In terms of business operations, digitalization most often means to enable, improve or transform business operations, functions, processes, or activities by leveraging digital technologies and a broader use and context of digitized data, turned into actionable knowledge with a specific benefit in mind.
INVESTING IN TECH FOR PRODUCTIVITY
As the leader of a business, you are always searching for ways to increase worker productivity without decreasing the quality of the work produced. Investing in technology to improve productivity and automation is the way to go. Technology is becoming more advanced every day. Investing in digitizing your operations will keep your organization ahead of the game and lead to increased productivity overall. This can include investing in automation, artificial intelligence, and data analysis initiatives.
AUTOMATION IN THE WORKPLACE
Introducing automation initiatives into your organization is an excellent way to improve your team’s productivity across the board. Business automation tools use technology to take manual labor out of day-to-day processes, SAVING TIME, EFFORT, and MONEY. Not only will this improve the company as a whole, your team members will be relieved from redundant or repetitive tasks, and have more time and effort to focus on the job they were hired to do.
Automation tools are available for almost every sector of a business, including marketing, accounting, processes, and human resources.
Although automation can’t replicate the creative process, many marketing automation tools exist to help businesses generate leads for sales engagement. Some softwares can automate email marketing as well as social media scheduling, which makes it easier for the marketing team to reach consumers and analyze data.
When it comes to accounting and bookkeeping, businesses can save time on accounts receivable, accounts payable, billing, collections, credit card applications, data backup, and more by using automation tools.
Using these tools can make the process much simpler for your accounting department, leaving less room for errors.
Business process management includes things beyond basic automation. This includes automatic order entry, email automation, file transfers, and distribution.
Although it includes the word “human” in its title, some human resources processes can be automated as well. A human resources management system can assist your HR department in daily tasks like payroll and benefits, but also more complex processes like compliance and performance reporting.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
According to IBM, artificial intelligence “leverages computers and machines to mimic the problem-solving and decision-making capabilities of the human mind.”
We’ve all seen artificial intelligence integrated into our everyday lives in recent years, from Apple’s Siri in the palm of our hands to Amazon’s Alexa assisting us in our homes. In the business world, this type of technology can help make operations more efficient in marketing, sales, human resources, and more.
Artificial intelligence and digital transformation can help your team in various stages of a business process, like design, execution, and delivery.
DATA ANALYSIS
Having top tier data and analytics practices is an essential key to running a successful business. Digitizing these practices can streamline your business’ operations and be utilized in diagnostics, preventive and prescriptive analytics, predicting residual life of equipment, predicting run lengths of catalysts, statistical process control, and more. Automating your data analytics practices can propel your company into higher intelligence and data practices.
EFFECT OF DIGITIZING YOUR BUSINESS’ OPERATIONS
Digitizing your business’ operations can improve your internal and external business practices. These initiatives can help streamline your productivity in all sectors, including management, marketing, human resources, and accounting. As the world becomes more digital each day, your organization should as well. These incremental changes will ensure a smoother, more digitally integrated business process overall.
