The pandemic that shook the world at the dawn of this decade also revealed just how fragile our economic model truly is. Today, digital transformation is no longer just a trend: it has become an absolute necessity.

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What do we mean by “digitalization”?

“Digitalization,” “digital transition,” and “digital transformation” all refer to the same concept: the process of integrating digital technologies into a company’s operations and overall strategy. It’s a direct consequence of the rise of the internet, which over the past few decades has profoundly changed individual behavior, especially when it comes to communication and consumption.

4 reasons to digitalize your business

1. To keep your business running

One of the most obvious reasons to digitalize your business is the one the recent global health crisis made abundantly clear: ensuring your business continuity. It’s no longer viable for your operations to rely 100% on direct, in-person interactions. By integrating digital tools and processes, you give your business a second leg to stand on, one that can support you if the first one ever falters. As the saying goes, don’t put all your eggs in one basket!

2. To increase productivity

There are many other reasons to embrace digitalization, and one of the most compelling is improved productivity. Digital tools allow you to automate certain tasks, such as generating purchase orders or sending invoices. In addition, by digitizing your sales process, your clients can make purchases online, saving you the time and effort such transactions would normally require in person. Moreover, by integrating digital solutions into your team’s workflow, you make collaboration easier by providing centralized access to tools and data.

3. To expand your audience and improve customer relationships

Making your business accessible online gives you the opportunity to be discovered by people who might never have walked past your physical store. As a result, you naturally increase your potential customer base. Furthermore, digital tools allow you to enhance your customer relationships through relevant content on social media, newsletters to share your latest updates, surveys to gather feedback and testimonials, and many other digital communication initiatives.

4. To not be left behind

Failing to digitalize your business means taking the risk of being overtaken by the ongoing transformation of society. It’s no exaggeration to say that we live in the digital age, and those who haven’t learned to use a computer or office software are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up. Ignoring the trends shaping your market can be extremely costly.

A few years ago, major companies such as Nokia and Kodak paid the price. Nokia, once a global leader in mobile phones, missed the shift to smartphones in the late 2000s and then failed again to adopt the Android operating system, which was far more powerful and quickly embraced by most competitors, who soon took over its market share. Kodak, on the other hand, dominated the photography industry for decades but failed to adapt from film to digital photography, a mistake that ultimately led the company to file for bankruptcy in 2012.

5 ways to start your digital transformation

1. Build a digital showcase

Today, whatever your line of business (whether or not you sell online), you simply can’t afford to be absent from the internet. And it all starts with a website, more specifically a showcase website. As the name suggests, it’s a digital window into your business, where you can present what you do, highlight your expertise, showcase your products, share your passion, and ultimately convince your target audience to engage with your offer.

But don’t stop there: extend your digital presence to two or three carefully chosen social media platforms, depending on the nature of your business. For example, LinkedIn focuses on professionalism and credibility, while Instagram is ideal for visually showcasing your products and building brand awareness.

2. Make online purchasing possible

The second step is to enable your audience to make purchases online. If your products can be shipped, it’s simple: just create an online store section on your website and start selling through e-commerce. Otherwise, there’s almost always a way to offer online payment options, even if customers are to enjoy their purchase later or in person. For example:

• Click-and-collect: customers pay online for an item (e.g., food) or a service (e.g., document printing) and pick it up at your store.
• Online ticketing: for attending your events such as workshops, seminars, or webinars.
• Service packages with online payment: for a service (e.g., hairdressing, home repair) or a consultation to be carried out later.

3. Digitalize appointment bookings

If your business requires appointments, make the process digital and automatic. Easy-to-use tools such as Calendly® can become your best allies and can even be integrated directly into your website so clients can book with ease. These tools also help you manage your schedule efficiently by allowing you to handle cancellations or rescheduling, block specific time slots, and send automatic confirmation and reminder messages to your clients.

4. Embrace videoconferencing

With videoconferencing tools such as Zoom® or Microsoft Teams® (to name just a few), you can hold all kinds of meetings remotely: training sessions, presentations, and even consultations, as long as they don’t require physical contact with your clients. Additionally, these tools allow you to record your meetings, which can be extremely useful if you want to share a training session with participants who couldn’t attend live.

5. Go paperless

To go paperless means creating, storing, and managing your documents in digital format, freeing yourself from the need for physical paper. Beyond its clear environmental benefits, this approach also helps you save money (on printing costs), space (for storage), and time (through easier processing). For example:

• Invoices and quotes: offer your clients the option to receive them directly by email.
• Sales brochures: make them accessible and downloadable from your website.
• Forms: by moving them online, you can collect and process data much more efficiently.