This post is from guest contributor Melissa Hatzi, Digital Marketing Specialist at Fuji Xerox Australia.
You’ve heard the buzzword “digitalisation” being used more frequently in the industry and market. However, it is more than just the future of business – it’s the reality of business, right now.
So let’s take a closer look at digitalisation, the difference between digitalisation and digitisation and explore what it can do for your business on the transformation journey.
Understanding digitalisation vs digitisation
These two terms are often used interchangeably but it’s important to note they do in fact mean two different things. Digitalisation is taking paper-based documents, records and process and then transforming them into digital formats to help unlock the value of the data through application. On the other hand, digitisation is merely the process of converting items into a digital format (whether this is documents or manual processes).
Businesses now need to go beyond simply converting analogue information into a digital alternative; they need to transform data and traditional processes to make them fit for the digital age we now operate in. doing this means making them more effective, more secure and smarter than traditional processes. It is through digitalisation that businesses can now optimise their processes to increase revenue while simultaneously reducing costs; doing what they need to do faster, and more efficiently, than before.
Did you know? A Gartner study found that digitalisation (along with mobile apps) account for a third of the publicly announced IT initiatives of the world’s 25 biggest insurers in 2014.
Key benefits of embracing digitalisation
Whilst transforming analogue documents and processes into digital equivalents is the core of the term, when broken down there are a number of tangible benefits for the business. Here are four of the top benefits for businesses who embrace digitalisation:
1) Optimise for the digital age
By optimising your processes, you are adding simplicity and capability. For example, transforming an analogue process may involve adding workflow while simultaneously reducing the need for handling and enabling further mobile interactions.
2) Reduce costs
When transforming paper-based documents and processes, as there’s no longer a need to manage the security, storage and archives of physical documents. You are also able to audit and track your information in an automated way, this can alleviate staff to be free to complete other tasks.
3) Promote staff flexibility
Documents are no longer restricted to heavy file cabinets but can be stored in an easily accessible system (from any device) and staff can work from anywhere with laptops and smartphones safely integrated into your infrastructure, without data security and integrity concerns
4) Improve continuity
Analogue processes are at risk of being compromised, when there are no backups in places and security is rarely a consideration. Digitalisation is now converting them into digital equivalents so security and continuity are easier to manage.
These benefits summarise why it’s time to consider this powerful way to scale and compete; by transforming your business operations, driving down costs and unlocking the value of data through this emerging business model.
With Fuji Xerox ICT Services, the possibilities are endless.
Find out how we can empower your organisation: http://www.fujixerox.com.au/solutions/itservices
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