Digital Transformation Tools: A Catalyst for Business Growth

Defining Digital transformation tools

These are the tools and solutions that aim to streamline business operations and digitize business processes with the ultimate goal of enhancing efficiency, optimizing digital transactions with consumers and partners, and modernizing the overall business model. Examples of digital transformation tools include automation, BPM, CRM, ERP, AI, and analytics software. 

So how do you choose the right tool or software for your organization? You can know this by conducting a comprehensive digital transformation assessment.  

Digital transformation assessment will help you understand the current state of your organization’s digital landscape, identify gaps and inconsistencies, and help formulate an effective digital transformation strategy for the company’s future growth. 

Digital Transformation Tools and Technologies

Companies are increasingly relying on automation and data analytics to enhance customer experience and increase profitability. Therefore the digital tools and technologies that you use play a pivotal role in enhancing business performance. Here is a list of tools and technologies that can transform your business. 

Tools:

Business Process Management (BPM) platforms

Business Process Management Solutions (BPMS) are driving digital transformation by shifting organizational thinking by changing leadership, embracing innovative technology, and digitizing the company’s resources. BPM platforms are secret weapons for effective digital transformation. 

With BPMS you can easily achieve full-fledged digital transformation with its optimization tactics, process improvement, and automation techniques. BPMS addresses most of the ever-changing business operations, quickly adapts to changing working styles, and boosts customer experience. 

Workflow management and automation tools

Properly executed workflow automation becomes a unique component for digital transformation. Platforms such as Cflow, Zapier, Quixy, and ProcessMaker enable streamlining repetitive workflows that bog down employees thus freeing up their time to focus on high-value activities. Automated workflows ensure more efficiency, consistency, and faster turnaround times. It also improves data quality and integration becomes exceptional thereby fostering a seamless flow of information exchange and enhanced optimization. Therefore, workflow automation tools become significant digital transformation tools for your business. 

Digital workplace suites

An interest in digital workplace suites surged in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced companies to adopt remote work-from-home options. The digital workplace suites are a highly efficient work environment that provides a tailored suite of tools for efficient collaboration, mobility, communication, and data exchange irrespective of working remotely, hybrid, or from the office.

Implementing digital workplace suites enables you to be more competent, accelerates the success of flexible working conditions, expands and globalizes business operations around the world, and engages in innovative solutions of collaboration. Also to maintain consistent efficiency and comply with the growing responsibilities digital workplace suites enable your company to become more result-oriented while achieving the ultimate flexibility and employee engagement.  

Cloud computing platforms

Cloud computing tools like AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and Azure offer scalable computing power, applications, and storage which makes them crucial digital transformation tools for your business. These tools are efficient in transforming your organization to be more agile and innovative by enabling experimenting with new technologies, reduced upfront costs, and flexible resource allocation to quickly adapt to the changing market demands. Also, these tools enhance collaboration real-time communication, and shared documents thereby empowering remote working and connecting dispersed teams geographically. Finally, these tools are cost-effective and scalable as they allow users to control and pay only for what resources they use. 

Communication and Collaboration Tools

Communication and collaboration tools are the glue that holds your organization together and helps with smooth digital transformation. Tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Jira, and Zoom enable teams to be in sync and keep them connected regardless of location. These tools offer video conferencing, real-time messaging, and document sharing which fosters agility and rapid response to the changing digital landscape. 

CRM Software

In any business, the customer is the king – this age-old mantra reflects the importance of consumers in every business and how efficiently you need to manage. So, customer relationship management (CRM) tools are the powerhouse for an organization’s digital transformation journey. Tools such as Salesforce, Hubspot Sales Hub, Close, and Zoho CRM centralize customer data by providing 360-degree visibility of your clientele. These tools are powered by AI and provide automation that enables optimizing workflows, seamless integration with marketing tools, and real-time data that provides better insights to make informed sales decisions. 

Intranet Tools

Intranet tools act as digital hubs that fuel an organization’s digital transformation journey. These tools are restricted and private communication networks hosted online that are accessible only by a specific group of people. It acts as a centralized location where employees can work together, communicate, train, share knowledge, and exchange information. Modern intranet tools such as LumApp, Microsoft SharePoint, and Workvivo go beyond simple static document sharing. They help in aligning members together by keeping them informed about the digital shift. 

Digital Adoption Platforms (DAPs)

Digital adoption platforms are learning tools that guide users by offering step-by-step instructions and walkthroughs to new users as they onboard a new software. These tools make learning simpler and less reliant on traditional training methods. Tools such as Whatfix, WalkMe, Stonly, and Sap Enable Now offer self-embedded conceptual help and tips within the application thus eliminating the need for external documentation. DAPs are helpful digital transformation tools as they help organizations understand their user needs and tailor their adoption strategies.  

Human Resource Management (HRM) tools

Human resources are the driving force of any business and using HRM tools is a game changer in your digital transformation journey. ADP Workforce Now, Paylocity, BambooHR, Jotform, Lattice, and UKGPro help in automating repetitive HR tasks such as payroll and onboarding freeing HR professionals to focus on devising strategies. These tools help optimize processes and leverage data that helps in improving employee engagement and becoming an innovative workforce.  

CMS Software

It is not possible to discuss digital transformation without mentioning the content management system (CMS). Tools like WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, Hubspot CMS, and Wix empower businesses to create, manage, and publish high-quality optimized content across websites, mobile apps, and other digital channels. This enables companies to focus on delivering personalized user experiences with user-specific content and boosts engagement. Moreover, these tools make companies more agile to adapt to changing customer needs and deliver an omnichannel experience. 

Project Management Tools

Project management tools are the backbone of an organization’s digital transformation initiatives. Platforms like Cflow, Trello, Basecamp, and Smartsheet enable seamless teamwork and cross-collaboration that help project members stay updated with real-time updates and efficient task management. These tools excel at optimizing the workflows that allow for efficient resource allocation and identification of bottlenecks and inconsistencies. They also provide data-driven insights that help project managers make informed decisions to ensure that projects stay on track with the company’s digital transformation goals. 

Digital Accounting Tools

Digital transformation is revolutionizing the accounting field with tools like QuickBooks Online, Xero, and Freshbooks leading the change. These cloud-based tools are capable of automating manual repetitive tasks, streamlining collaboration, improving invoicing and expense tracking, and real-time insights into financial data. 

Digital accounting tools are AI-powered and are capable of functioning beyond basic accounting. Gone are the days of static reports as these tools come with advanced analytics that enable users with trend analysis, forecasting future performance, insightful dashboards for easy visualization, and making informed financial decisions. 

DevOps

DevOps is becoming a crucial factor in establishing digital transformation as it combines people, processes, and technology to change the traditional approach to software development. DevOps brings people together and breaks down silos for increased efficiency and better-quality products.  Git, Docker, Jenkins, Slack, Microsoft Teams, AWS, and Prometheus are some of the best DevOps tools available in the market. 

DevOps helps digital transformation by stabilizing workflows, reducing cost, promoting automation, increasing transparency, automating infrastructure management, prioritizing consumer feedback, and accelerating growth. 

Customer experience management (CXM/CEM) platform

Customer experience management platforms let you focus on creating marketing strategies and technologies to improve customer experience, engagement, and satisfaction. CXM helps achieve digital transformation by putting the customers at the center of business.  Netcracker, LiaCX Customer Experience Management Software, Medallia, and Forsta are some of the best customer experience management tools available in the market. 

The CEM approach helps in orchestrating the entire end-to-end consumer experience and lets you scale in any channel all in real-time. You shouldn’t confuse CXM with customer relationship management (CRM). CRM is more of a traditional approach where it optimizes internal business processes, while CXM goes beyond and focuses more on customer-centric approaches by implementing new technologies, strategies, and innovative solutions. 

Knowledge management systems

Knowledge management tools help to collect, organize, and distribute information and expertise in a systematic manner within a company. It takes many forms like knowledge base, decision trees, and other systems that enable efficient and centralized management of information as well as easy access. Some of the best knowledge management tools include Zoho, Confluence, Stack, Hubspot, and Zendesk. 

When knowledge management is done correctly it assists in identifying what and how to digitize optimally. It increases organizational learning, improves communication and collaboration, enhances the decision-making process, and helps them achieve business goals quickly. 

Enterprise resource planning (ERP)

ERP software is a comprehensive tool that includes all the tools and processes needed for running a successful business. Tools such as OracleNetSuite ERP, Odoo ERP, SAP Business One, etc are some of the best ERP tools in the market. It brings together a multitude of business processes, manages them, and ensures consistent data integrity.   ERP tools can help your business in the digital transformation journey. ERP has a major impact on your business’s digital transformation journey by bringing revolutionary changes to modernize it.  

Digital transformation is all about changing your business by improving the way your customers, vendors, and stakeholders interact with your business and improving processes. Without having an ERP platform, it is difficult to optimize the transaction processes.

Technologies:

Artificial intelligence (AI)

This is a digital technology that mimics the capabilities of the human mind using computers and machines.  AI is capable of learning and when infused with automation it can provide you with intelligence for making real-time decisions for any workflow. AI can drive innovative solutions and make your business to be more customer-centric where you can focus on delivering the best customer experience. 

Process automation

Process automation involves automating repetitive, labor-intensive tasks to improve efficiency, reduce mistakes, and focus on crucial tasks. When every organization is competing digitally, process automation yields several benefits in terms of enhanced operational efficiency, quickly adapting to implementing innovative solutions, improved customer experience, and valuable data insights to foster informed decision-making. 

Hybrid cloud

The hybrid cloud can create a single optimal cloud to access the public cloud, private cloud, and on-premises infrastructure. Here an organization’s on-premise data is taken into a private cloud infrastructure and then it is connected to a public cloud environment which is hosted by a public cloud provider.  For eg. Google Cloud services, AWS, IBM Cloud, and Microsoft Azure.  

Cloud computing makes it easier for organizations to scale and run every workload and bridges the gap between cloud resources. It improves operational efficiency and works better with organizing big data. When an organization is set in a hybrid cloud environment it opens up many opportunities for successful digital transformation. 

Low code/ No code

In the digital transformation journey, low-code and no-code platforms enable rapid development of applications with little to no coding requirements thereby saving potential costs, reducing manual processes, and improving product quality. 

How low is low code? This is a popular question that arises when people hear the word “low code.” Low code tools streamline an organization’s digital transformation initiatives. The power of low code is limitless. It mainly reduces development costs and the need for skilled developers and increases process efficiency and the quality of the code by maintaining consistency. 

On the other hand, no code tools play an important role in digital transformation by establishing data-driven ecosystems. These ecosystems created by a single no-code platform are capable of standardizing data management, increasing data asset value, and establishing a strong data foundation with minimal human intervention. This improves data quality and enhances business performance. 

Blockchain

Blockchain is a technology where it acts as a digital distributed public ledger that comprises records of electronic transactions that are securely linked via cryptographic hashtags. It is an advanced database mechanism that enables transparent information sharing within a business network. 

In recent times, blockchain technology has emerged as a transformative force as it innovates business operations. Blockchain offers solid data security and data integrity as it is distributed across a network of nodes through cryptographic hashing which makes hacking difficult. Blockchain enables smart contracts and self-executing contracts with the terms and conditions directly written into the code. This can be automated thereby eliminating the need for intermediaries and streamlining processes. 

Internet of Things (IoT)

To put it simply, IoT refers to the network of physical devices connected to the Internet where they share data and communicate with each other. Implementing IoT into modern businesses has several advantages:

• Provide new investing opportunities
• Decrease operational costs
• Improve customer experience
• Improve organizational performance
• Data-driven informed decision making
• Innovative business models
• Increase revenue

IoT lets businesses automate tasks, improve connectivity, and monitor and analyze data with added layers of security making it a crucial technology for digital transformation. It makes organizations more agile and helps redefine the company’s vision and mission. 

Microservices

The process of digital transformation not only relies on technology but also people, skills, developing alliances, digitizing and enhancing customer experience, value-added cross-products, and innovation. For this microservices act as a bullet-proof approach. 

Microservices is an architectural and organizational approach to developing software where it comprises several small independent services that interact over well-defined APIs (Application Programming Interface). Small, self-contained teams own these services making microservices architecture easier to scale, develop, and innovate with the latest market features. 

Benefits of Digital Transformation Tools

Here are some of the advantages of having digital transformation tools:

• Improved customer experience
• Time optimization
• Increasing competitive advantage
• Efficient resource management
• Improved communication and collaboration
• Increased business productivity
• Enhanced employee engagement
• Sustainability
• Better compliance
• Increased agility
• Improved organizational culture
• Higher profitability
• Innovation
• Data-driven decision making

Examples of Digital Transformation with Cflow 

Godrej Capital

Godrej Capital aims to understand customer needs and help them finance their business dreams. Godrej Capital decided to optimize its purchase orders and invoice approvals as it was currently carried out in an ad hoc manner using spreadsheets. This lacked orderliness and the time-consuming approval process and managing invoices and POs became difficult to keep track of. The end result was low productivity.

Experts from Cflow worked together to offer robust workflow automation features that optimized their approval process and POs. Cflow ensured that all their workflows were streamlined, automated their approval process by the visual workflow builder, automated channel partner onboarding, and much more. With Cflow’s no-code automation, Godrej Capital was able to cut down approval times drastically, identify bottlenecks, and improve their productivity. 

Del Monte

Leading producer and distributor of premium healthy foods, Del Monte Philippines, Inc. was looking for ways to optimize their project management. Before Cflow, Del Monte was using a wide variety of tools to manage different tasks from email to invoices, and most of these tasks were managed by project managers manually. This significantly impacted their productivity and employee performance. 

Cflow helped with Del Monte’s successful digital transformation by automating their entire task management. This made them more transparent and workflows streamlined which significantly enhanced employee productivity. With Cflow, project managers were regularly updated about each project status via email and were reviewed every morning. This eliminated the risk of manual documentation, and manual approval times and resolved issues much faster. 

Conclusion

To summarize, digital transformation tools are a powerful force in any organization looking to improve its relationship with its consumers, gain a competitive advantage, and better adapt to the ever-changing market trends. While digital transformation requires you to invest in some of the tools mentioned above, several benefits can be leveraged if done correctly. Emerging technological innovations are creating new customer experiences and to help you navigate through this increasingly dynamic competitive business landscape, you need Cflow. Cflow is a no-code cloud-based workflow automation solution that helps optimize your business rapidly. Check out Cflow to know more and sign up for a free demo today. 

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