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Digitization and automation may appear to be normal corporate buzzwords, but they are more than simply corporate jargon: they are the future. The reality is that acquiring a competitive advantage requires both of these factors.
Individuals in this technologically oriented world are quick to accept and use technology to their advantage, and they expect companies to keep up with changing consumer behavior.
In this environment, On the contrary, according to Forrester Research, 77 percent of businesses still rely at least partially on paper procedures, with 63 percent relying on Excel-type tools. The result is that businesses are finding it difficult to match consumer expectations for speed and streamlined experiences. Organizations must speed up their digitization and automation initiatives to keep up with the rate of change to maintain their competitive advantage.
But what exactly is the difference between digitization and automation in a context where conversations regarding the two terms are frequently confused? And how might low-code solutions assist businesses in gaining a competitive advantage as they digitize and automate their processes?
Table of Contents
- What exactly is the difference between digitization and automation?
- What does it mean to “digitize” a business process, and how does it work?
- What exactly does it mean to “automate a business process” mean?
- Digitization and automation
- How low-code development makes it possible to digitize and automate processes
- More Tech Info
What exactly is the difference between digitization and automation?
In principle, the phrases “digitization” and “automation” are similar, but they are completely distinct.
Anything that has been printed in hard copy gets converted to its digital equivalent through digitization. Digitizing patient records, for example, is the process of converting paper copies of patient records into a digital format that a computer can process. This is done to produce electronic medical records. It is necessary to digitize information before it can be automated since the information must be accessible and digested by any automation technology for it to be automated.
On the other hand, automation enhances the procedures already available to the public. It automates tasks by using hardware or software and relying on a set of rules written by corporate subject matter experts to do them without the need for human interaction.
Automation allows businesses to remain competitive in the marketplace by automating processes such as emailing clients reminders and customized discount codes, for example, and freeing up employees’ time to focus on higher-value activities.
What does it mean to “digitize” a business process, and how does it work?
When a business process is digitalized, it transforms a non-digital process into a digital format. The first instance implies moving away from paper storage and toward cloud-based data warehouses and downsizing physical sites in favor of a greater online presence. Take, for example, financial institutions. When I started banking, I had to go to the branch and wait in line before doing anything as easy as depositing my paper check.
Only a few years ago, I no longer had to do that. Due to the digitization of these transactions, banks have become significantly more efficient and customer-centric, with users now able to self-serve on their bank’s website or smartphone application.
In addition to making corporate operations more efficient, digitization can make them more exact. Firms such as pharmaceutical companies are a good illustration. The digitization of research and development processes has reduced the time to market. Still, it has also reduced the likelihood of human error and raised the possibility of achieving compliance criteria. The digitalization of drug development procedures has equipped life science organizations to automate future activities.
What exactly does it mean to “automate a business process” mean?
The practice of automating a business process entails using technology to carry out repetitive operations in a standardized manner. An automated process is often defined as formerly handled manually but is now carried out entirely without the need for human intervention. When done correctly, automation can free up employees’ time to devote their efforts to more critical commercial or creative endeavors.
For example, the generation of recurrent reports is an everyday example of a corporate process that can be automated. Reports are vital because leaders must be updated on current events. However, middle management might struggle to combine all of their information and offer a cohesive picture to upper management. It is possible to enter status reports into a centralized database that automatically consolidates information rather than having individuals manually type them out and email them out.
This can free up middle managers to conduct a more critical assessment of the data they receive and to deliver the insights they unearth more effectively. Leadership will take more meaningful action if they get better and more regular inputs of business-critical information.
Digitization and automation
The winning mix that every firm requires today.
In general, businesses that embrace digitization find it easier to handle and store vital data and manage systems that allow them better to satisfy the demands of their customers and employees. Customers receive what they require more quickly due to automation. The operational focus is shifted away from repetitive operations and toward more sophisticated jobs that value the organization. Developing technologies such as artificial intelligence by businesses that digitize their operations can help them uncover new ways of streamlining and personalizing automated procedures, opening the door to new revenue streams and enhancing customer loyalty. Still unsure? Read this one How can machine learning help and improve the business.
How low-code development makes it possible to digitize and automate processes
Low-code allows those with no coding experience to participate in automation, bringing the technology to anybody who needs a solution. In contrast to business process management systems and robotic process automation, low-code tools do not necessitate the creation of elaborate, line-by-line scripts for each switch or load balancer in a network.
When users are looking to automate a process, they can identify the data consumed by the process, add business logic, and assign performers to each task in the workflow, among other things. Many low-code systems also include connections with other enterprise applications, allowing users to link one process without writing code.
Furthermore, because low-code tools are so visually appealing, like a flow diagram, it is simple for non-technical stakeholders to understand how one action affects another in a system. Once a workflow is operational, each step in the process will automatically occur in the way users have described it.
As business processes evolve, users can adjust their workflow and re-deploy their applications.
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