Today, we are all living in an ever-changing world of interconnected devices. Human and devices are communicating in an accelerating speed than ever before. Digital information and data created by human and machines – are getting doubled in every 18 months.
In this ‘digital’ world, mode of business operations for enterprises are all becoming on how to capture and utilize the vast digital data inside and outside, by changing its process and internal culture, to create digital opportunity for them and for customers.
Digital transformation is the process of leveraging modern digital technologies to create or modify business processes, culture, employee and customer experiences to meet ever demanding business and market requirements. This new way of doing business in the digital age is actually termed as digital transformation.
Digital transformation is not about shedding old and outdated processes/technology, it’s more than implementing huge data base for ‘Big Data’ or going into ‘Cloud’ technology. It’s actually a fundamental change in the basic operation and strategy planning on how to do a business, in the modern market, to give customers a completely new experience.
Why Digital:
It’s not a question of choice; rather it’s a survival strategy. When most of competitors are going on Digital or in the mid-way of their digital journey, your options are limited. It’s your path forward to become ‘Intelligent Enterprise’, which is now an industry norm.
Understanding basics of digital transformation:
Let’s take a look at an example of a ‘Food and Beverage company’- how its business operations are changing in this digital path.
Procurement Process:
Before:
They used to buy raw vegetables, fruits, milk, and other ingredients from producers. Transactions records were maintained in multiple legacy systems across different geographies.
Digital:
Centralized Cloud hosting for this whole procurement with Block chain technology to maintain safety and stop contamination in products, as per FDA standard.
Purchasing Orders are automatically created based on ‘Smart Inventory’ technology with the help of Chat Bots and Robotic process automation.
Manufacturing process:
Before:
They used to estimate for shop floor planning, align the machinery and resources for targeted quantity to be produced. Finally store them into storage and deliver to the retailers.
Plants used to get the information for demand forecast from head offices. Different style of individual systems is maintained across different plants, under multiple supervisors. This system always lack of centralization and responsiveness.
Digital:
Cloud based production planning with Smart Inventory technique, super responsive systems in case of machinery failure.
Cloud based IoT systems for real time tracking of entire fleet of trucks- helps optimize usage of Route, drivers and trucks and reduce the Fuel and Transportation costs.
Marketing & Sales Process:
Before:
Business used to do campaigning with terms of banners, newspapers, and radios and organize trade shows/ workshops to attract potential customers.
Human or commuter clerks used to create Sales Orders/Billing document and delivery. Printed copy or scanned copy is used to share with customers for payment and delivery.
Digital:
Nowadays marking is done through e-media, internet and socials sites. Virtual experience is used to showcase the products and allow customer to customize the product right away. Social feeds from Facebook and Twitter are analyzed real time to adjust the product lines according to the feedback.
Centralized data bases are used to communicate with customers and Sales order are created automatically through common interface.
Customers credit ranking and past sales are analyzed and used to offer special customized discounts or make a decision whether to increase the customer’s credit sales.
Product reviews texts are analyzed real time to get sentiment analysis and improve the future sales.
How SAP is helping enterprises to succeed in Digital Journey:
With SAP’s cutting-edge competitive technologies, SAP can help to enhance business processes and drive end-to-end business transformation, using the latest technologies – like the IoT, AI, and machine learning – on an open, extensible cloud platform.
Technological Components for Transformation:
[Photo Courtesy: SAP]
Machine learning
Build an intelligent enterprise with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities that unite human expertise and computer insights.
Internet of Things
Run a digitally connected business. Collect and analyze IoT data from sensors and smart devices to transform business models, processes, and operations.
Analytics
Get fast and accurate insights across your organization with powerful tools for data visualization, planning, and predictive and Big Data analytics.
Blockchain
Simplify and optimize complex multi-party processes and reduce reliance on intermediaries with Blockchain and distributed ledger technology.
Data intelligence
Harness the power of data and reimagine information management with scalable artificial intelligence (AI) enterprise-wide, and across the data asset lifecycle.
Big Data
Use an in-memory database and the latest tools in Big Data management to unify all your data in a trusted landscape to feed advanced applications and analytics.
Artificial Intelligence
Generative AI is one of the most common forms of artificial intelligence, that is capable to produce images, text, and varied content with minimal to no human supervision. SAP integrates this technology with extensive industry-specific data and business process knowledge to produce innovative AI capabilities for the SAP applications businesses use every day. It’s ready built-in, very much relevant for enterprise and responsible by design.
SAP’s Native Cloud Platform is the base for most of SAP’s industry solution that helps customers and consultants to rapidly build next-gen applications. It offers a range of micro services, open APIs, and access to the latest technologies to create success path for business organizations.
Key considerations:
- Security of your data and technology - Cloud or on-demand data is an essential core for enterprise-wide digital operation. Therefore, its crucial to ensure that your business information is only available to those authorized to do so.
- Adaptability to new business acumen- Working digitally brings super-fast business growth. As this brings changes to all levels of business operations, business stakeholders and internal workforce should be quickly adaptive to this new kind of business operations.
- Constant evolution- Digital transformation is not the end goal for business success. It requires continuous innovation and acceptance to latest industry-trend to stay competitive. Its paramount for organizations to stay up to date with latest technology offerings.
How is your organization planning for this transformation? Share your journey.
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