*By Maurice Pereira
More than just a buzzword, Digital Transformation has become a reality in many companies, but it still needs to be implemented in many others. Much confused with the digitization process, which means the conversion of information and documents from analog to digital format, integrating technologies into existing processes, Digital Transformation, in fact, is a process in which companies review their business models by applying digitization. and modernization to add value, generate revenue and improve efficiency in routines.
A survey conducted last year by McKinsey of senior executives showed that there is a sense of urgency among leaders when it comes to innovation. Only 11% believe their current business models will be economically viable by 2023, while 64% reported that their companies would need to create business models to get there.
Therefore, today it is no longer a question of companies needing digitalization to compete in the market, but of knowing when they will start this process of business transformation. One of the main paths for this journey is the organization of data, which supports more agile and assertive decision-making, in addition to recommending the next steps and actions that should be put into practice.
For this, the data must be correct and organized, otherwise the predictions will be inconsistent. Another problem is that, increasingly, the amount of information available, which makes the routines of companies time-consuming and complicated. According to data from IDC's Infobrief report, 83% of CEOs want their organizations to be more data-driven, but only 48% has the lead with data.
This means that when data is gathered, processed and analyzed manually, the opportunity has passed. An important solution for the push of Digital Transformation is ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), which are considered the “backbone” of an organization.
The ERP integrates in the same system the processes necessary to manage a company, that is, the entire back office, which involves the routines of Finance, Human Resources, Production and Logistics, among others. When it connects to disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, it is possible to manage and process a large database, that is, Big Data, taking a step forward in the expansion of analytics and Machine Learning. With the integration of these technologies to the internal routines, it is possible to generate panels that gather statistics and information to support assertive and fast decisions.
And what are the steps for this key change? From a mapping of your ERP, the next step is to define the priorities of your Digital Transformation. Analyze processes that can be automated and create a roadmap with solid, consistent plans for initiating change. At the same time, prepare the teams by joining human and technological capabilities to this journey, setting goals based on your main base, which is your ERP.
As a result of working with the data right, it is possible to achieve measurable business results, from employee engagement to financial gains. When companies combine their investments in technology that focus on the use of data, they will certainly be able to stimulate the scalability of their business, adapt to the market, seek innovation and, consequently, differentiate themselves from competitors.
*Maurice Pereira is Director of Operations SAP Solutions at Engineering
Notice: The opinion presented in this article is the responsibility of its author and not of ABES - Brazilian Association of Software Companies
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