Saying that information technologies are changing the world is an understatement. The innovations of the digital realm affect each and every piece of business. Therefore, business owners have to adapt their management to ongoing trends. In reality, implementing some elements of digital transformation and offering customers enhanced services can keep companies competitive.
Still, it doesn’t mean that every single element of business management based on modern technology is part of digital transformation. In this article, we’ll discuss some aspects of how you can use genuine digital transformation within a business.
The Internet of Things and business efficiency
The Internet of Things refers to all the interrelated smart devices connected to the same network. These devices – or “things” – work together to make your business more efficient. The more smart devices and machines a business uses, the more data it collects about their workers, products, and customers.
Also, this data is perfect for conducting preventive maintenance or product automation. For instance, business owners and managers can place sensors in different parts of their ventures – say, warehouses or production plants – and track the workflow and productivity. As a result, companies can receive valuable information in real time and improve their process on the spot.
Apart from that, visual analytics can help business owners collect important information about their customers’ habits and behaviors. For instance, placing cameras across supermarkets and connecting them with analytic tools play an important role in improving its organization.
As more and more devices are getting connected, they’re producing large amounts of data. You can read more about big data later in the text.
Cloud and edge computing
At the beginning of this decade, there was much talk about the cloud. Google, Amazon, Microsoft and other providers were introducing their own centralized systems for storing and sharing data on the Web. Now we have Google Drive, Amazon Drive, Azure, as well as Dropbox, Facebook, and other centralized systems.
Today, however, we’re witnessing an increase in the number of various high-tech devices and gadgets.
This is how edge computing enters the stage. The term edge refers to the outskirts of computer networks, embodied in various gadgets, smart devices, and sensors. These devices are on the edges of various networks. Their purpose is to place the data needed to communicate with the cloud closer to them.
You can read more about edge computing in the article published by Verge.com.
User experience for ultimate transformation
Digital transformation is a holistic process in which you adapt your entire business, rather than adopt additional new technology. In the light of this definition, user experience (UX) is one of the pillars of the entire process.
Every single innovative bit that you want to add to your website or to your entire business should be analyzed and tested by UX experts. They’re here to create, design and adapt visual and software solutions to every John and Jane Doe. UX professionals serve as mediators between products and customers. That’s why no venture can function without them, regardless of the type of business. The transition between products or services and users isn’t possible if you don’t collaborate with these experts. For example, if you have an e-store app and the cart in it doesn’t work intuitively, people will abandon the app before making the purchase.
While nobody expects business owners to gain in-depth knowledge of UX design, they should familiarize themselves with the basics of the UX audit. By learning more about conversion metrics, UX standards or wireframing, you’ll understand how important it is to work with UX professionals on your business operations and products. To receive a free website audit from TuiSpace click here.
Artificial intelligence and new perspectives
What seemed far, far away only a few years ago has become part of our everyday lives. It’s enough to mention chatbots to realize that artificial intelligence is becoming a household name.
According to the report published on Statista.com, revenues coming from AI will reach $90 billion by 2025. This predicted growth opens a tremendous number of opportunities for improving business operability in the years ahead.
For instance, eCommerce is one of the fields that’s already relying on machine learning and data analysis to gather data for business strategies. eCommerce companies use AI to analyze their customers’ buying patterns to enhance predictive sales and recommendations. These predictions and suggestions are based on big data technologies, i.e. on huge amounts of data that are produced by Internet users daily.
Artificial Intelligence processes these tons of information, looking for some patterns and trends. AI-enhanced software solutions provide eCommerce managers with valuable reports which are then used to make business plans and marketing strategies.
The end goal of this process is to learn as much about customers as possible to later prepare completely customized offers that align with their needs.
Augmented reality and expanded profits
For some time, augmented reality and virtual reality seemed to have similar chances on the market. However, for the time being, augmented reality (AR) has turned out to be much more practical than its virtual counterpart. When talking about digital transformation, AR should take a high position on the list of its vital features.
For instance, it’s already revolutionizing eCommerce, from apps that allow you to see how furniture items would look in your home to tools that enable you to virtually try on new clothing or makeup. The Ikea Place app is a great example of such AR-enhanced solutions. The app allows you to see if a piece of furniture fits in a room by simply directing your smartphone to that area.
Furthermore, you can use AR to test or place new products in virtual settings which save you time and money. Also, AR can come in handy during the maintenance and repair of different machines, sparing your business the additional expense.
Agile development and work environment
We’ve mentioned earlier in the text that digital transformation doesn’t only imply introducing new software tools and technologies. It also means organizing work in an efficient and modern way.
When it comes to software development, it’s the agile methodology that has changed the rules of the game. It has made thousands of enterprises worldwide more productive since its announcement in 2001.
There are three key roles in the agile triangle: the user, the product owner, and the development team.
The user, is the persona for whom you’re crafting a certain product. The second one, or product user, is the client’s representative who overlooks the process. And the third one are the developers working on the product.
When performed in line with the agile methodology, the entire development process is less tiring and more productive. The product owner serves as the communication offers between the development team and the customer. Hence, the information flows quickly between these two parties, ensuring fast feedback and swift changes on the project in question.
Also, having small teams within a business enables managers to implement organizational and other changes without hesitation. Thanks to that, companies can adapt faster to the changes in their field of work. This methodology has spread outside the borders of software development and is now used in many other fields of work.
Agile is also a nice example of how digital transformation can connect and intertwine several different fields and professions.
Conclusion
The old adage allegedly coined by Shakespeare says that the whole world's a stage. Contemporary trends between the business world and IT inspire us to give this old saying a modern twist: ‘The whole world’s a digital playground’ where only the most adaptable ones survive.
If you’re having second thoughts on digital transformation, talk to our team. We have knowledgeable and competent professionals who can help you apply emerging technologies to every sort of business. By joining forces, you’ll ensure constant practical support for adapting your business to the fast-changing conditions of the current business world.