What is digital transformation?

Harnessing contemporary technology to fundamentally redefine the way organizations operate and deliver value to their users is digital transformation.

The digital age has brought in a plethora of changes—advantages mostly—that provide organizations the opportunity to radically revamp the way they conduct business. Leveraging digital technologies to accelerate organizational growth is the new normal. Owing to digital transformation's "transformative" effect, stakeholders can now tackle the intricacies in the execution of business processes with a completely new paradigm shift.

Gone are the days when manual effort pervaded an organization. Though manual effort has the human element to it, it is cumbersome, time-consuming, error-prone, and expensive. Digital transformation supplants manual effort and legacy technology, including legacy systems. It brings the capabilities of futuristic digital technologies to the stakeholder's disposal and arsenal. When stakeholders harness digital technologies buoyed by the right digital transformation strategy, the seamless digital transformation of an organization can be realized.

A sound digital transformation strategy is vital for viability in contemporary business scenarios. In fact, it is mandatory that today's organizations harness one digital technology or another, because it is necessary to remain relevant in the face of stiff competition.

Transforming people, processes, and organizations using technology via the digitization of operations encapsulates digital transformation.

Key objectives of digital transformation

Digital transformation's prime objective is to ensure that its beneficiaries remain relevant in the contemporary dynamic organizational landscape.

  •  Improve efficiency
  •  Enhance accuracy
  •  Empower stakeholders
  •  Guarantee relevancy
  •  Optimize expenditure
  •  Ensure viability

The benefits of digital transformation

 

Empower employees

Digital transformation empowers employees to focus on what's essential by taking care of the mundane aspects of the operational processes. The automation of repetitive and manual operations allows employees to focus on process embellishment instead of wasting their time on cumbersome efforts. Process innovation gets the limelight, and employees get to exercise their faculty towards enhancing the processes, instead of being bogged down by them. Also with digital transformation, stakeholder approvals are instant and this boosts employee throughput.

 

Economic advantages and Innovation

By minimizing redundancy, Digital Transformation facilitates fiduciary savings. It does this by first reducing the workforce needed to execute organizational processes. Reduction in workforce translates into cost savings. Capital, hitherto expended on redundant personnel, can be redirected towards research & development and other avenues, which are beneficiary investments by all respects, which contribute to organizational innovation.

 

Operational insights

Digital Transformation grants insights into operational data, leading to improved organizational efficiency. Operations generate troves of data, and from this, inferences can be deduced using heuristics and algorithms, leading to conclusive insights that can affect organizational enhancement. This transformation of raw data into actionable and insightful information ensures that an organization is aware of its performance metrics while harnessing Digital Transformation to overhaul itself.

 

Increase productivity

With digital Transformation, more can be achieved with less resources. What used to take scores of personnel will only take a handful. This is because a single automaton can perform the task of several humans. What's more, the tasks are executed much faster because digitization means an accelerated speed of process execution. There is a massive spike in productivity when processes are subjected to Digital Transformation. Also, as digital process execution has near perfect accuracy, the efficiency and quality of the output is impeccable. Digital Transformation has a profound effect on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), through which key stakeholders can be made aware of how well their efforts are faring.

Steps in digital transformation

A five pronged approach to digital transformation would be optimal. The steps will be:

  • 01
    Process identification

    The stakeholders identify the various processes in the organization which can be digitized.

  • 02
    Process classification

    Each identified process is classified categorically, to ensure that it is assigned to the right process stakeholders.

  • 03
    Entry and exit criteria

    Each process that is to be digitally transformed is assigned specific entry and exit criteria. Entry comprises the inputs needed for the process to be executed and exit criteria consist of the desired output.

  • 04
    Digital transformation: technology selection

    The right technology from the pool of available digital technologies is harnessed to transform and overhaul processes from the ground up. This is where actual digital transformation takes place.Subject matter Experts (SMEs) of digital transformation are leveraged in this stage to provide inputs on how to transform the processes digitally, and which technologies to harness. SMEs redesign the processes based upon the transformation technology chosen.

  • 05
    Execution

    The digitally transformed processes are deployed for organizational use.

  • 06
    Feedback and improvement

    Based upon how effectively the digitally transformed processes are leveraged by stakeholders, feedback is gathered. It is then analyzed to identify potential areas of improvements.

    The above steps can be repeated cyclically for optimum digital transformation.

Digital transformation strategy

Having the right digital transformation strategy is essential for successful digital transformation. The stakeholders must ensure that the digital transformation initiatives align with business objectives and business processes. Organizations need to leverage the right digital transformation strategies for optimal results.

Clear vision and end goals

The end goals of digital transformation should be well-defined and shouldresonate with the organization's core tenets. The vision should drive processes towards effective, efficient, and sustainable end results, with quality having more emphasis than mere quantity.

Stakeholder engagement

Stakeholders can be categorized into two types: internal and external. Internal stakeholders are process owners, employees, management, and organizational executives. External stakeholders are customers, clients, and the like. Digital transformation mandates that the concerns of all stakeholders are addressed before initiating organization-wide changes. This ensures that everyone is on the same page for the seamless process automation in order to extract maximum business value from the digital transformation effort.

Identify digital technologies to leverage

The digital age witnesses the advent of revolutionary new technologies constantly. Identifying the right tools for the job means identifying the right digital technologies to leverage for the digital transformation of the organization. Several parameters must be assessed before leveraging a particular digital technology. Some of these parameters are: technical expertise required, time taken to implement the digital technology, cost of the technology, and the learning curve involved for stakeholders. Successful digital transformation is dependent upon leveraging the right digital technology for transforming the business models with efficacy.

Change management

The only constant thing in the contemporary constantly changing business environment is change. With everything ranging from stakeholder responsibilities to customer expectations changing in a short span of time, change management is thus vital to ensure relevancy and organizational viability. The organization's digital transformation strategy should take into account changing parameters over time, enabling it to be ready to tackle any new challenges that may arise.

Feedback

Data analytics need to be leveraged to gain meaningful insights from the troves of data generated from the execution of everyday organizational business processes. From this, bottlenecks and areas of improvement can be identified. Addressing these concerns will ensure that a proper feedback loop is in place which will ensure that the digital transformation of the organization is going in the right direction, with constant improvement. Feedback is always imperative for the success of digital transformation efforts.

In order to sustain a smooth digital transformation journey, stakeholders need to ensure that the digital transformation strategy takes into account the above mentioned factors.

Digital technologies in digital transformation

A vast swathe of technologies abound for effecting digital Transformation in organizations. Some notable digital technologies are listed below.

 

Cloud computing

In cloud computing, all data and applications reside in the cloud—which is a network of devices hosted across the world, accessed through a network connection. The cloud requires you only have the right credentials and network access to interface with the data hosted on it. Data hosted on the cloud is secure because it is encrypted during storage and transmission, and it is backed up constantly. There are no questions of data loss or compromise, as the cloud provider ensures data persistence and security. Cloud computing minimizes the need for an organization to invest in data storage capabilities.

 

Business intelligence and analytics (BI & Analytics)

Executing usiness processes generates tons of data. BI & Analytics tools apply data transformation algorithms on raw data, which converts it into decipherable and consumable information. With this information, stakeholders can make the right decisions to stay ahead of competitors, understand customer demographics and provide more value to consumers, and remain relevant while being simultaneously successful.

 

Artificial intelligence (AI)

Technology that simulates human intelligence is AI. AI grants machines and automatons the ability to function similar to how human agents would (in certain situations). AI accelerates process execution, vastly improves accuracy, reduces work hours required, and promotes staggering growth. AI technologies like AI-powered analytics, natural language processing, and automatic process execution empower stakeholders to do more with less.

 

Machine learning

Facilitating digital systems to learn from inputs and data to make predictions and informed decisions is called machine learning (ML). ML grants digital systems the ability to learn and adapt themselves automatically to changing input criteria. The machines "learn" from the input, modify its functionality and output based upon this "training", thus creating systems which constantly improve over the course of time, resulting in continuous improvement.

 

Robotic process automation (RPA)

There are numerous business processes in an organization which are repetitive in nature. RPA automates these manual tasks and executes them in an instant when compared with manual effort. All that is required is to provide the necessary inputs for a repetitive action, then the data to be processed and the RPA software will perform the task. RPA saves time and money, reduces personnel required, and improves organizational efficiency. RPA automation's scope involves automating spreadsheets, applications, and web applications.

 

Low-code

The best way to run the unique business processes of your organization is to use bespoke applications crafted specifically for your operations. However, using conventional software development to create custom applications is expensive and time-consuming. This is where low-code platforms come in to the picture. These platforms speed up the development of bespoke applications by providing point-and-click and drag-and-drop tools to create applications that transform your organization digitally and rapidly with minimal coding. Their unmatched speed and ease-of-use make low-code platforms the go-to solution for rapid digital transformation.

Digital transformation enabled by low-code

Accelerate the digital transformation of your organization by harnessing the power of low-code.

ManageEngine AppCreator is a low-code platform that accelerates the digital transformation of your organization.

Digital transformation

Why use AppCreator for Digital Transformation?

 

Develop applications with minimal coding

The drag and drop application building capabilities of AppCreator allow you to develop applications with minimal coding. If you want to code complex custom logic, then that is also possible. The platform provides you with a user-friendly scripting language called Deluge to accomplish this. You can develop and deploy applications for your organizational business process requirements with fewer lines of code using AppCreator.

 

Easy to use

The learning curve for using the AppCreator platform is small. You can begin deploying applications within minutes of installing the platform on your computers. Digital transformation can thus be initiated rapidly in an organization, using AppCreator.

 

Economical

The platform's licenses are economical, when compared with other digital transformation approaches. This allows you to harness the platform's capabilities for your organizational needs affordably.

 

10x faster than conventional methods

When compared with conventional digital transformation approaches, the platform accelerates the process by up to 10 times.

 

On-premises: your data resides on your own servers

With AppCreator, your data resides on your own servers. This lets you handle the security and scalability of your solutions all by yourself.

 

Scalability in your hands

You can upscale or downscale your AppCreator applications by provisioning servers yourselves. You can determine the scale of digital transformation in your enterprise by yourself.

 

Enhanced collaboration

Line-of-business users and IT teams can affect the digital transformation of your organization in tandem. Personnel with limited programming knowledge can use AppCreator to whip up process transformations by using the platform's drag-and-drop capabilities. Likewise, technically proficient IT teams can accelerate the digital transformation of their organizations by harnessing the low-code capabilities of the platform.

 

Integration capabilities: interface with existing and new systems alike

If you have existing legacy systems, they can be seamlessly integrated with AppCreator's digital transformation capabilities to deliver a holistic solution, instead of scrapping them and building from the ground-up.

Translating your business requirements by transforming them using AppCreator's digital transformation capabilities will lead to enhanced organizational productivity, profitability, viability, and efficiency.

 

You configure your applications' security

AppCreator allows you to enforce security as per your requirements. You govern the firewalls you install to gate your applications and data. You can granularly oversee digital transformation in your organization.

Leverage the low-code capabilities of AppCreator and reap the benefits of digital transformation for your organization.

Begin your organization's digital transformation journey on AppCreator today!

Download ManageEngine AppCreator