When we talk about ‘digital transformation’, it is important to remember that they have always happened over the years — it just now has a new name. Business processes have gone through all manner of digital transformations over the years: think of email replacing fax, or copying documents straight to a folder location on your IT network. They key is for each innovation to improve upon its predecessor, it is all about improving functions and processes.

Businesses should not consider buying a product or piece of software without considering the following:

• When and how will we use it?
• What will it do?
• does it make financial sense and add real value?

What is necessary is to try and take the mundanity out of people’s jobs. There is no point in employing people to do repetitive tasks or dull things if there is technology that can do it for us. Those same employees can then go onto carry out more productive tasks. They can focus on maintaining relationships with customers and suppliers, which helps the business more than filling out spreadsheets.

The best example of a digital transformation in action is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. It has revolutionised many working practices. The ERP system allows you to automate receiving quotations from a customer, without having to manually key them into a system again and again. This adds value to Business Central for businesses that use it. Their employees are freed up to carry out other, more valuable tasks.

As well as increasing productivity, digital transformations look to transform how a business works, by looking at adopting new ways of working that might prove more suitable than their current processes. In reviewing their systems, businesses are giving themselves the best chance of adapting to the current ‘new normal’ and prospering, while their competitors may stand still.

By transforming rigid systems into those that are agile and flexible, businesses can switch to remote working easier and continue to operate with success. In some cases, though, it is as much about transforming attitudes as it is the digital landscape. Many businesses may find it tough to commit to new ways of working. By reminding themselves about the ways in which working practices have changed in history, they can put their minds at ease.

Years ago, IT was a novelty for many businesses, only taken up by those with an intense interest in it. Fast forward to the present day and most businesses, regardless of their industry, could simply not survive without an IT system to centre their operations around. Businesses need to always consider how they can use IT to spring forward and encourage growth.

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, some reacted and incorporated digital transformation into their IT strategy. By being early adopters of Microsoft Teams, changing the way they communicate with fellow colleagues, as well as suppliers and customers, some business have absolutely thrived.

At Neuways, we helped many customers utilise Microsoft 365, and applications such as Forms and Workflow, along with Teams, to make that all happen as well connecting everything together with Sharepoint. Where people once relied on paper-based or semi-electronic legacy systems, we helped them switch to carry their operations out online, in a remote and secure manner that allowed them to continue to work.

I think what businesses have learnt during the last 12 months is that a lot can change and happen very quickly through digital transformations. By preparing for positive change, businesses can put themselves in a position to thrive, not only throughout 2021 but in the future too.