More and more companies, including those listed on the stock exchange, are taking advantage of the period of market quiescence due to the Covid-19 pandemic emergency to deal with one of the many internal reorganization objectives that make the difference: the digital transformation.

The process of integration of digital technologies in all aspects of a business it is a procedure that is not by chance defined as "transformation", since it involves substantial changes on the whole structure of the activity. In short, it is not a question of simply installing a few computers and integrating an operating system to digitize the warehouse.

We are talking about changes in terms of technology, but also of culture, operations and value generation. In other words, digital transformation (or digital transformation, if you prefer) is an operation that requires the ability to know how to reinvent the foundations of the company, shifting the focus to emerging technologies and how they can improve the quality of work by reducing costs and unnecessary activities.

Leaving “the old ways” is difficult and can sometimes prove costly, but changing the company culture is the only way to stay competitive and ride the wave of acceleration caused by technological systems.

How did the digital transformation come about?

We have been talking about digital transformation for twenty years now, and the theme continues to evolve in a completely natural way while trying to keep up with the very rapid times of technological progress. Its meaning it changes constantly, and it is difficult to understand - from an entrepreneurial point of view - when it is time to make the necessary changes to your company.

At one time, the transition from paper to digital archiving was considered sufficient digitisation. In short, a little data entry of the invoices and off we go. When companies realized that the data just collected in digital form could be organized, sorted, correlated, and structured to provide interesting analytics, the speed of development took off.

Why choose a digital transformation today?

Companies are replacing tradition with increasingly technology-oriented digital approaches. What happens is because companies are often oriented to do it to survive, and not because they are really motivated to make a change. From a modern, competitive company with excellent prices, a agile model, capable of bouncing upright in front of the complications of the market that moves at full speed. Consumer purchasing preferences are also shifting in this direction, making the majority of distance selling necessary to go digital.

A company ready for change has what it takes to do great things, but in order to move in this complex area it needs to consider all aspects of a digital transformation designed to not remain crystallized where it is. Digital transformation that works is poised to keep moving as technology evolves.

Among the great utilities of the transformation we cannot leave out the process improvement. Data, stored wisely in an automated mechanism, is easy to compare and disseminate so that people can use it wisely.

Finding income streams it's never easy: digitization helps in this sense, paving the way for potential investors and others. A digitized company is capable of finding new customers, however. No longer only deriving from normal sources of revenue, but also remotely thanks to sales channels.

In that regard, it's not possible expand the extension of its sales channels if you don't get to know the customer. Today's customers expect a company to know their needs, and technology is evolving and digitizing for this specific purpose.

The question remains the same: how do you use the treasure trove of digital data in your possession to create, with the aid of new technologies, concrete and effective industrial projects, suitable not only for your reality but also for your sector?

The processes of digital transformation

Where do we start, therefore, to transform an old business model into a cutting-edge company of the latest generation? The first thing to do if you do not have adequate knowledge of digitization is to contact a competent and experienced company. Third parties or professional figures responsible for advising on change and who, at the same time, are able to feel the pulse of your reference sector.

Let's start with the basics:

• Tailoring digital transformation to your business and industry. Not vice versa. The person (or team) in charge of making the necessary changes to the company must keep themselves informed of the evolution methods of the available technologies, and must know how to evaluate what modernization options are that could bring the entire company organization under review, without exclusion of people or sectors. In short: the digital transformation is done all together, and it is done consistently.
• Working together on digital transformation is not learned overnight. Especially employees who, due to age or habits, have clung to old traditions must be trained to be able to use the new means of communication, storage or simply the use of emerging technologies with competence and familiarity.
• Abandoning outdated technologies means that costs are significantly reduced. Firstly because cases of redundancy can occur, secondly because the digital experience required by the market cannot accept old or inefficient systems. The so-called "legacy technology" always tends to waste important labor resources that could otherwise be employed to offer higher performance to your business.
• Development of communication between the various departmentsto achieve company goals together.
• Increased business intelligence: the acquired data becomes of vital importance to understand how to proceed from then on in the realization of concrete common objectives and in line with the sector, the company and the market trend.

Post Covid-19 digital transformation

After the great emergency caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, companies had to make an extreme choice: digitize or close shop. Innovate and renew to become visible, technological and resist in an all-out battle against lockdowns and closures.

What is Industry 4.0?

In Italy, the industry 4.0 market in 2019 grew by 22% compared to the previous year. The digitization of companies is soaring and no self-respecting company can let itself be overtaken by a bad technological gap. Those who invest in research and development obtain an improvement in production and analysis industrial automation procedures.

The concept of Fourth Industrial Revolution integrates three main parts:

• Smart production: the new production technologies that pass through all those elements present in the production that foresee the collaboration between the operator and the machinery or instrumentation.
• Smart services: all IT infrastructures make it possible to integrate systems that can be in tune with those of suppliers and customers, becoming perfect for real-time collaboration with the entire supply chain.
• Smart energy: Consumption is always a source of concern because it generates unwanted costs. Keeping them under control is part of the sustainability projects of every self-respecting 4.0 industry.

Do you need advice on how to deal with the digital transformation of your company? Contact the experts and never stop studying and informing yourself: innovation is the only solution that will bring success to your business in terms of technological advancement. From creating an efficient warehouse system to storing documents and communicating with the customer – digital is the future that awaits us.