The phrase “digital transformation” has been bandied about so often over the last few years, it is hard to pinpoint what it is supposed to convey.
For some companies, it means implementing new, up-to-date IT infrastructure. For others, it can refer to a five-year business plan with the modern workplace as its centre.
What it does convey is altering your business to suit the digital age. Everyone is online, and customers expect you to be as well.
The road to digital transformation is imperative to delivering efficient service to your customers; in this modern, online world, having the right technological strategy is a must.
What is digital transformation?
Digital transformation is the process of implementing digital technologies into your business to make your day-to-day operations faster and smarter, and to deliver better services to your customers.
This starts not only when you store all your data in a digital form, but begin to mine that data for ways to better serve your customers. That data can help pinpoint patterns in human behaviour when it comes to your business so you can identify processes that work or don’t work. It’s almost like your business’ heartbeat, and can show you exactly where you stand.
The conversion of paper or analog records to digital is the first part of that digitization. It has become more and more convenient for organizations to convert their physical records into digital ones; doing so frees up physical space, ensures the data is protected long-term, and is easier to access.
Why is digital transformation important?
Change is difficult but absolutely necessary to stay alive, especially in the cutthroat business world. You need to be able to keep up with your competitors while delivering services to your customers in the most efficient manner.
The digital age is in full swing, and people expect to be able to access or contact your business in a digital manner; a recent study revealed that 85% of people in the United States prefer to communicate via messages than phone calls, and 65% of customers feel more positive towards businesses that offer digital communications.
It is imperative to operate in a manner that your customers prefer instead of forcing them to use outdated methods – you will be far more likely to lose customers if you do not modernise.
The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic shutdown has been a big motivator for companies and organizations across the world. To cope, many of them have turned to digital transformation strategies, which has helped them to operate more efficiently, and make their business more profitable.
Digital transformation needs to be people-centric
Digital transformation is about more than just technology. Deciding to make the switch to digital data records, or implement any other new tech into your workplace, is not enough. Corporate culture is vital to the success of a digital transformation initiative.
Data is now available to all levels of employees rather than just those at the top of the ladder. All employees can generate reporting and analytics in all areas of the business; the technology has made the data available, and now you need people to leverage it.
For a successful digital transformation, a team with a digital mindset is necessary. Shifting your company from a traditional business model to a more technological one requires new perspectives and forward-thinking; you need to ensure that the digital technology you’re implementing is going to benefit your end-users as much as your employees and business model.
Approaching your digital transformation strategy requires careful consideration of information technology, business, and customer experience, to successfully implement the change.
Your customers are the main target
When planning digital transformation, make sure to take your end-users into consideration.
The main target of your business operation should be delivering the best customer experience possible. A study found that 63% of customers will abandon a company if they have a less than satisfactory experience.
The best data and technology serve to enhance the experience of your customers. No matter how modern or efficient the technology is, if it does not suit your business needs, it simply will not support your existing processes – and your clients will feel the difference.
While your customers should be your main focus when designing your digital transformation strategy, it is just as crucial to keep your employees in mind. The back-end of your company is just as important as the front-end when it comes to paving a path for success. If you neglect your people, this ignorance will be felt throughout the company.
Get the right advice from the experts
What digital transformation means will come down to the direction you want to take your business in, but at its core is the fast, smart delivery of your services. Customers expect you to have a digital presence, and this can mean anything from updating your software to switching your entire workplace to the cloud.
To find out what digitization can do for your business, talk to the digital tech experts at Solzorro today. They’ll help you get started on the path to a digital transformation that suits your business model.
