Creating digital business models – now, many people have an inner voice that says: “You can’t digitize my business.” However, every business can be digitized or improved through digitization tools. If this is not 100 % possible, then at least with a hybrid model, within which normal analogue processes merge with digital processes or digital processes support the analogue processes.

By Lars Ch. Weber, Unternehmensberater

When choosing the appropriate solution, it is important to consider what best fits the specific requirements. A clear plan on the digitization strategy is essential here. Then, it is important to make a detailed analysis of the processes so that the due requirements can be clarified in advance. In concrete terms, this means that planning is initiated with a clear concept.

In doing so, it is examined which added value exists, how the processes in the company are, and which processes run on a daily basis. Subsequently, a catalogue of requirements is used to determine the right one for the company from many possible solutions. This thorough analysis ensures that one or even several digital solutions are found that cover all requirements and offer a real improvement or optimization. Therefore, the basis for a solid implementation is always extensive planning.

With the help of key performance indicator (KPI) management, a company can make enormous progress in the course of digitization. It includes the development and definition of key figures, as well as the consolidation of the key figures in systems. These key figures can then be evaluated and used for planning and controlling processes in the company. This is an ideal way to take advantage of new opportunities in sales and business processes, since the process is sharpened when process digitization takes place.

If a production operation is systematized, this automatically makes action more efficient, and digitization sets completely new standards for the company. Thus, it can also be determined where digital and analogue can go hand in hand. Those who know their processes and procedures here can take advantage of the opportunity, since at this point it really becomes visible where money can be saved, more efficient work is possible and greater capacities can be used. Thus, digitization ultimately creates time savings, workflow simplification, added value for customers and faster response times. Of course, you have to weigh up the effort of setting it up as well as the costs of introduction and conversion in order to know how quickly the conversion will pay for itself financially. The bottom line will almost always be a plus here.

A decisive factor in digitization is to involve the employees and get them on board. Only then, a successful changeover can succeed. Digitization is a process that must be led not only from the top down, but also from the bottom up, if overall success is to be the result in the end. The employees know their processes, the intricacies, and the things that make the most work for them particularly well. So, a digitization concept that picks up everyone ensures more support on the one hand, but also a much better result on the other. The more people are involved in the process, the better is the final decision-making. By involving the staff in this way, you also prevent them from feeling overawed or even superfluous in the end. Fears are reduced, and employees feel valued accordingly.

No matter how proud you are of introducing innovations and digital processes – you must never put the wrong motivation first here. It is not about necessarily having to keep up with competitors or generating better press coverage in the short term. Digitization is first and foremost about increasing productivity, reducing hazards and making existing processes easier for employees. Only in the second step is it about an improved external image, which, however, only succeeds if a digitization strategy is implemented consistently and holistically step by step.

Even if one looks at the current global pandemic, it quickly becomes clear that digitized companies have had and continue to have a decisive advantage over the competition. Many have developed further in recent months, others are treading water, have suffered serious damage or even had to give up. For example, those who can send their employees to the home office quickly and easily, or who already regarded the home office as a fixed component before the pandemic, ensure today that work processes do not have to be interrupted for long periods of time, and that downtimes can be kept as low as possible. With the help of digitization, the issue of environmental protection and resource conservation can also succeed, and thanks to digitization even new jobs can be created, if it is used correctly.

Often, digitization is not about replacing a service or a process, but about using it in a supportive way in order to simplify processes and to automate and streamline tedious, time-consuming auxiliary activities. Furthermore, digitization can also create a competitive advantage due to faster processing and order handling, higher added value, simplified communication or better products. And there may even be a complementary digital product portfolio.