What is Digital Transformation in the enterprise?
We are very clear that the Internet has changed the way we do business and the way we relate both personally and professionally, internally in the company, with customers and suppliers. Email, messaging applications, social networks… are part of our daily lives and we cannot conceive of performing our tasks today without these applications. A digital transformation has taken place.
The Digital era is here and it is real. It represents a great opportunity for our customers, and at the same time one of the biggest challenges for IT departments.
The origin of this article begins by asking my colleagues with different functions in SOLUTEL this question: What is Digital Transformation in the company for you? Let’s see the answers:
1.- For me, digital transformation is having all the information of the organization in which you work, in the palm of your hand and computerized. Being able to access the necessary data, always with permissions granted, from anywhere (website, computer, cell phone …) In turn, the digital transformation of all departments of the company, using the computerized means to view, edit and share the necessary data or information.
2.- Digital transformation is a concept that is far too broad. It already excludes new companies and leaves those with processes that can be automated at some point using digital resources. Saving and finding information, being able to talk to anyone from wherever you are at any time, deploying a project in a virtual environment to run a proof of concept, and being able to serve your customers at any time, from anywhere.
3.- The Digital Transformation of Enterprises (DTE) is a way of describing the process in which a company begins to use new technologies in a positive way. From the adoption of email to complex cloud management solutions, every company has its IT needs. EDT occurs not only when those needs are implemented as a functional requirement, but when you go a step further and consider how various solutions can streamline a business, expand work capacity, improve communications…In short: it’s not just putting the technical patches in place to work, but embracing the new possibilities for improvement that new technologies enable.
It is a process of INEVITABLE EVOLUTION of the business model that generates opportunities to access new markets, products and customers, defending its position against its competitors and ensuring its survival.
5.- I imagine that most people would answer this question by arguing that Digital Transformation in the company consists of replacing the old way of working, more analogical and with outdated tools and devices, with a more modern and Internet-based technology. That’s obvious, and everyone can agree. But I think it goes beyond that. It really changes everything. It’s a way, a philosophy of work, that goes beyond the merely technical. The way of interacting between co-workers, the elimination of physical barriers, the instant availability and the possibility of acting from anywhere and at any time make the possibilities of evolution of companies almost infinite. Undoubtedly, here at Solutel you can see a clear example of this transformation.
6.- For me, digital transformation in the company is one more step in the continuous evolution of business models, which allows us to generate new market niches and opportunities, being as competitive and efficient as possible, but never forgetting that above all, companies are made up of people, not machines.
7.- For me, digital transformation is having all the information of the organization in which you work, in the palm of your hand and computerized. Being able to access the necessary data, always with permissions granted, from anywhere (website, computer, cell phone…). In turn, the digital transformation of all departments of the company, using IT means to visualize, edit and share the necessary data or information.
It seems to be clear that digital transformation is not having a website or company profiles in different social networks, it is not something in which only the CIO is involved, it is not having a cloud ERP… It is changing the way of doing things, the way of doing business using technology.
From my colleagues’ accurate reflections, I would like to highlight the importance of digital transformation:
- Have information accessible and organized from any place and device.
- Obtain information from customers to know them better convert this data into useful information for the company and be able to use it (IoT).
- Collaborate with any person related to my company at any time from any place and device (Mobility).
- Use new technologies to improve, streamline a business, increase work capacity and improve communications…in short, to be more competitive and efficient.
Think for a moment how your company will work in 5 years, will it work as it does today (still working as it did 15 years ago)?
Other questions you may have include:
Do I have to digitize my company? The answer is YES
Why should I digitize my company?
To grow and be competitive.
By digitizing the company:
- Processes are simplified and automated, processes are optimized across the board in all departments of the company and costs are lowered. When new opportunities arise, a highly digital organization can make the transition faster than the competition.
- Staff efficiency and innovation are improved through automation.
- User experiences are personalized, building loyalty among both employees and customers.
- The company’s reach is broadened, channel forms and digital outlets allow it to reach more customers in more places around the world.
Who has to be involved in the digitization process?
Digitization, being a process of change of doing things using technology, must involve all departments of the company, all employees, in this evolution to digitization. Customer service, IT, purchasing, logistics, production, finance, marketing, after-sales, sales, human resources… It is a global process that integrates collaborative work systems, cloud tools, digitization of processes, tools to better understand customers and the promotion of mobility in the company. The IT area must lead this process, must know the company’s business strategies and be involved in the strategic plan, adding value.
- It is a process of evolution that starts by analyzing how we currently do things and where we could improve our methods and processes.
- It is essential to know our customer, what do they want, how do they want it, where do they want it, what do they expect from us… and to make the customer the core of this process.
- Everyone in the company, all departments, must be involved.
- Collect information (IoT, big data) and transform it into useful data for the business.
- Keep metrics in mind to act and correct deviations.
The network is becoming increasingly important for digital transformation.
Digitization is possible today because several technologies have matured and come together at the same time:
- Mobile devices. What was once considered impossible to do on a mobile device is now the norm.
- Cloud Computing: moving a significant portion of your IT infrastructure to cloud services.
- Analytics platforms and Big Data. Digital organizations create terabytes of data.
- Internet of Things. ZK Research estimates that IoT will enable the connection of more than 50 billion additional devices by 2025.
A Cisco architectural approach to enabling digital transformation.
It is essential that enterprises choose a vendor that has designed its network products specifically for the digital age. Cisco has a long history of helping enterprises make transitions in the marketplace, and in this case Cisco’s Digital Network Architecture (DNA) makes it possible to embrace digitization and focuses on helping IT managers empower business leaders to accelerate this change.
Cisco’s digital network architecture is based on the principles of virtualization, automation, analytics, and cloud. All are designed to dramatically simplify the network and accelerate IT productivity with lower operating costs:
- Principle 1: Virtualize the network.
- Principle 2: Automate everything used by the controllers.
- Principle 3: Present contextual analysis through the network.
- Principle 4: Create applications and services for cloud consumption.
Let SOLUTEL show you how Cisco solutions for digitization can help your business.
