Due to the increasing digitisation of businesses, experts and non-experts are ever-more talking about digital transformation, a phenomenon that is changing business processes through the creation and use of revolutionary management software and an innovative organisation with great economic potential. This phenomenon is very close to the 4.0 revolution, that represents the advent of all technologies that favour production, distribution and archiving processes.
Digitising the company also means changing the approach, transforming the business model, in order to increase the company’s know-how, by sharing data and offering additional services.
Companies will grow by 25% thanks to the development of the latest generation machinery, introduced in companies to meet the growing demand for the most innovative technologies, able to meet the needs of large and medium-sized companies. In fact, the digitalisation of business activities involves the development of digital knowledge, to make the company more competitive and able to better understand market demands. All these innovations are part of the so-called 4.0 industry.
Another important aspect in the digitisation of companies is the SEO, the online positioning obtained by creation of interesting content for the Customer. By creating promotional campaigns and improving their link building and online marketing, organisations are ready to enter a constantly evolving market.
Let’s see together how digitalisation of companies works and how it is evolving in recent times in Italy and in the world.
DIGITAL COMPANIES
The dematerialisation of paper documents into digital files is the first step towards the digitalisation of business processes. More generally, it is an innovative organisational model capable of simultaneously managing all activities, avoiding the classic slowdowns and decreasing the probability of error.
management Software
Among the tools that contribute to the digital transformation of companies there are certainly management software. These are programs able to improve the efficiency of the collaborators, helping their tasks through the automation of processes. By adopting these management systems it is therefore possible to halve both the time and the error probability. Some examples of this type are accounting software or complex management software, customised to the needs of companies.
showcase website and e-commerce
It is essential having a website containing all company information, since it helps create a loyal community. The online presence allows potential customers to interact directly with companies, and allows companies to understand the sentiment around their business and the brand. Whether on-line or off-line reputation, it is necessary to spread brand visibility and corporate values to increas sales and organisational success.
e-Commerce also offers many advantages, especially in terms of savings, given that a virtual store does not require any type of expense linked to the business premises. Thanks to it companies are more competitive, as it facilitates and increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the company.
Cloud
The use of the cloud to save files on remote servers, that enables to have them available at any time and from any device connected to the network, is for sure one of the first requirements for the digitisation of a company, to revamp the business or to launch a new one. In fact, Google Drive, DropBox and iCloud offer a large number of paid storages.
Although the primary objective is the maintenance of competitiveness of the business, only half of Italian companies invest their turnover in digitisation projects. Leaving aside the big companies, micro, small and medium-sized companies focus more on the development of new products or services, aiming at strengthening the sales force and expanding into new markets.
DIGITALIsATION OF BUSINESSES IN ITALY
The recent Budget Law has provided incentives (innovation vouchers of 40K) to companies that introduce an innovation manager into the company, to guide the organisation towards digitisation.
In Italy, b2b companies cover 61% of the total, while the rest is b2c, so the value generated by inter-company transactions is greater than that between companies and consumers.
The sectors that generate these exchanges are: consumer goods, engineering, automotive, utilities, public administration and textile clothing.
Despite this, Italian companies appear less attentive to the digital innovation than the companies of the most developed countries in the world. Today, only for one company out of three the digitalisation of internal processes is the real priority, with the adoption of solutions such as Electronic Document Management, ERP, attendance tracking systems (attendance control) or Digital Preservation.
Improving data management is one of the most important needs, besides the fact that now it is mandatory, think of Electronic Billing which has now banned any other type of document or digitisation which also concerns the relationship between suppliers and Customers.
OBSTACLES AND ADVANTAGES TO THE DIGITALIsATION OF COMPANIES
One of the main reasons why companies want to digitise business processes is the efficiency and ease of use of the systems made available by new technologies. But this is not enough to ensure that all companies choose to adopt digital transformation solutions. In fact, the first obstacle is resistance to change and the lack of digital skills among collaborators.
Large companies are more attentive to this need for innovation, while smaller companies with digital skills and smaller budgets want first of all a facilitation, even a push (or constraint) from legislation. Often, on the other hand, it is internal staff who resist change, other times the difficulties are due to the heterogeneity of Customer or supplier operating procedures.
When we talk about the digitalisation of business processes, we are not just talking about the transition from paper to digital files, rather we are talking about creation of added value to the data managed by a single and shared system.
Within the digital process information can be processed digitally, on the basis of the exchange between interconnected IT systems. Investing in digital and taking advantage of the opportunities of the digital age means ensuring the success of your business also for the future.
We can summarise the benefits of business digitalisation processes by saying that:
- it improves the efficiency of process and reduces downtime, creating new business models with automated steps that put the customer at the centre of everything
- clients are more satisfied, as the digitalisation simplifies the exchange of feedback both between collaborators and among customers. In fact, the creation of a system that unifies the consumer experience that interacts directly with the brand, allows the company to expand spontaneously and easily
- it facilitates cooperation between employees who acquire new knowledge, thanks to the most advanced technologies and business models that make the organisation competitive
- it reduces the risk of errors and prepares the company for the future, enabling to find the better solutions
- helps the company spread the digital culture among employees and convince them of the potential of new digital technologies
- time reduction thanks to the automation and the data management. It is an excellent method for companies to remain competitive on the market
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