To digitalize your current processes and optimize your time on internal tasks
To gain visibility with potential customers on Google and social media
2020-2021, a pivotal year in terms of digital transformation? 85% Swiss SMEs have been able to collaborate and work remotely to face the crisis. (Source: DigiBarometer)
The majority of them are now convinced of the need to digitalize an increasing part of their activity to remain competitive.
Those who had until then neglected the appropriation of digital tools had to catch up in record time. On the other hand, 92% of SMEs say they want to speed up this process. (Source: DigiBarometer)
However, many studies still show that the digitalization of Swiss companies is lagging behind other European Union countries.
So, if you still don't know why digital transformation is a major issue for your company. Here are 10 reasons why you should make it a central part of your business strategy.
Also referred to as Industry 4.0 or Industry 2025, digital transformation is about helping your company align with the digital economy. It is not just about integrating technologies into organizations. Incorporating new technologies into your organization is a modernization process. Digital transformation is more than just a modernization process. It is a strategic repositioning of companies, aimed at changing, innovating and reinventing organizations.
The objective remains the same, to put the customer at the center of your interest; to place the human being above technology. It's really rethinking your workflow and renewing your mindset.
Digital transformation is a global process aiming at integrating new skills, evolving processes and often changing your business model.
It's an in-depth reinvention of the company, so that it corresponds to the new aspirations of its employees, its customers or its shareholders.
Contrary to what some people think, the concept of digital transformation is not new.
The very origin of digital transformation takes us back 3 decades:
One of the main advantages of setting up a new ERP system (Enterprise Resource Planning) is the exceptional improvement in efficiency.
Smooth communication between employees from one department to another, a continuous flow of data, and transparency in customer follow-up. The result is an efficient business process that can save you time, money and resources.
For each business activity, there is an application-type tool that allows you to improve existing processes. Here are some examples:
To stay in the race, the only way to keep customers loyal is to keep them happy. With digital tools, you will be able to offer omnichannel support to your customers. They will be able to contact you by website, phone, application, social networks, ... Depending on their choice. So easier to reach the target customers.
According to a study, 67% of companies see in an omnichannel strategy the way to better meet the expectations of consumers with a seamless journey across all channels!
We have for example the use of chatbot which is a reliable and practical customer approach. Indeed, when everything is digital, it becomes easier to follow, get information and provide personalized assistance. Hence the improvement of the user experience.
This is one of the most visible benefits of digital transformation. You'll replace redundant, time-consuming tasks with a state-of-the-art process that saves your time and energy.
The right digital technology will reduce manual labor and human effort for an even more accurate and faster result. This is a real opportunity for your sales people to get the most out of the process!
For example, when a new prospect signs up for your newsletter, an automatic welcome message is sent to him/her immediately.
Digitizing your sales processes means having an "improved" version of the sales person. It will become more digital, social, but also more customer solution oriented than product promotion... And for more results, you must think about improving your notoriety on the internet thanks to digital marketing.
Of course, the efficiency of the sales process results in considerable time savings. And time means money. With innovative tools you can identify problems very quickly and find a solution accordingly.
Cloud-based services are cost-effective and agile. Companies can choose the services that best fit their needs and streamline their IT and infrastructure costs.
By migrating to the cloud you will have instant access that requires no maintenance. Google cloud for example, which built on the success of Google Meet that became popular in telecommuting. Or Amazon Web Service which was the first to offer cloud computing.
As you reduce costs, it will be easier to increase your income.
You more easily recognize flaws in your business process which is essential for the development of the company. Visibility into all aspects of your business improves best practices and revenues by assessing trends and capitalizing on data-driven opportunities.
Through the adoption of digital strategies such as using data to make smart decisions and training employees on emerging technologies, companies can expect a 23% increase (Source: IDG 2018 study) in revenue.
Among the greatest benefits of digital transformation is the process of storing documents in a central server. For example, the use of project management software such as ClickUp. This results in a so-called "collaborative" process in real time with unity throughout your organization.
In terms of communication, the emergence of mobile applications allows you to chat continuously with your colleagues, to send documents. You can even organize and manage your meetings from your home or office.
In addition, automation reduces the problems related to employee turnover and collaboration on a complex project by allowing access to the history and databases well ordered.
New communication assets that make it possible to break down "organizational silos", offering employees and managers solutions to collaborate easily, and thus promote homogeneous information sharing and better integration of teams into projects across the company.
Integrating innovative tools means breaking free from tradition and moving towards modern processes in your organization. Once your processes are digitized, there will be no no restrictions to the evolution.
Eliminating manual work from your process allows you to stimulate innovation within your company. This is necessary to face the fierce competition.
In a context of digital transformation, the entire company is turning to innovation: new processes, new products and services. Hence the emergence of a real culture of novelty, stimulating and enriching for the whole company.
As your organization grows, it will be difficult to rely on older systems. Integrating digital tools into your structure will help you effectively manage one of your major concerns, especially in the Swiss market, which is data security or loss.
One of the main objectives of a business transformation is to secure your customer data. So, for more reliability, digitalization remains an integral method.
Nevertheless, security in the cloud is becoming an essential requirement for all organizations. However, it is important to know how to really ensure the security of your data.
Digitizing repetitive tasks gives your employees time to focus on the important things. An automated workflow helps collaboration and also encourages employees to do their best to be self-sufficient.
This way, you will have an overview of your business processes: track the number of requests received, approved and rejected; the time spent on each task, the most time-consuming tasks, etc...
Allowing you to optimize each process to become the most productive one possible.
The key advantage of digital transformation is to have access to all data anywhere and at any time.
The pandemic has made us all aware that being able to work remotely has become a necessity. Companies that had digital transformation strategies in place found it easier to cope than others. With the acceptance of remote working everywhere, remote data access is now a requirement for organizations.
In fact, according to some experts, remote work will become the norm in many companies by 2022. And for good reason: many teleworkers are getting used to and enjoying this way of working.
This year, there are key digital trends that business leaders and management teams need to know about, and they need to break down the trends that work for their business in order to select the best technologies:
Customer relationship management systems such as HubSpot CRM or ClickUp accomplish all of the above and provide long-term business value.
To avoid becoming the Kodak or Nokia of your industry, the experts at LANE Digital Consulting will advise you on digitalization and help you develop the potential of your company in a sustainable way.
We can help you automate repetitive administrative tasks, implement CRM or project management software, implement chatbots for a direct exchange with your prospects via the website, or develop a custom application for specific needs. And of course, we also promote your activities and help you to get out of the shadows on the internet through digital marketing.
The Swiss market still has a long way to go in terms of digital transformation. But managers have quickly understood that digital touches everything, so its implementation must be done at the service of the company's strategy.
As elsewhere in Europe, not all companies have the same degree of sensitivity to digital and caution is often a shared characteristic.
Our experts can accompany you throughout your digital transition, both on the technical and human aspects. We will ensure the adoption of new technologies by all your teams.
It is a word that associates both innovation and adaptation. The term "digital" implies an association with technology and the term "transformation" implies a new mindset.
It has now become a survival strategy for SMEs that will allow them to open up to other possibilities for their growth.
SMEs represent 95% of the Swiss economy.
The digitalization of SMEs is therefore an important issue to allow the country to remain competitive on an international level.
However, according to some experts, there is a kind of opposition between the Swiss culture and the digital culture.
What is true for individuals, who still prefer to pay on invoice rather than online, is also true for companies, which are working on their digital transformation step by step.
That said, to remain competitive, Switzerland must accelerate its digital transition.
Digital transformation is vital for all companies, regardless of their industry or size. New technologies facilitate business processes and are designed to provide a better customer experience.
If you don't embrace digital transformation, your competition will, and your customers will turn to your competition - leaving you behind.
Inefficient processes waste time, money and discourage your workforce. Integrating innovative tools and automating your process will give your company a new impulse.
Thanks to digitalization, you will be able to :
You may, for example:
The leaders must first of all understand how they want to frame the conversation around their idea of digital transformation for their company.
Then, they need to help their employees embrace this change by showing them how these new tools will benefit them, their teams, and the business as a whole.
LANE stands on your side to rethink your workflow, and if putting digital within your business strategy interests you, you can reserve your place now for an appointment.
