In any case, the transformation can be defined as the integration in every area of the SME of digital technologies and tools capable of increasing efficiency and improving business processes by making them more straightforward and productive.
Initiating this process is essential to be competitive in a market characterised by continuous change. However, digitising an entire company takes work as it implies a profound change in corporate culture.
Not surprisingly, one of the most famous quotes by Peter Drucker says, «Culture eats strategy for breakfast.»
Digital transformation affects every aspect of the company: tools, processes, strategies, business approach, employees’ work, etc.
SMEs that have undergone the process can have several advantages over traditional companies.
First of all, it leads to greater business efficiency. Digital transformation helps make processes and workflows faster, easier and more efficient, allowing the company to adapt its business models quickly to the needs of an increasingly competitive market.
It also enables companies to know their customers more accurately. By analysing the data collected, SMEs can obtain important information about their target audience and understand their users’ needs. In this way, the company can meet their needs by presenting the most suitable solutions to solve the problems perceived by customers and potential customers.
Digital transformation also saves resources. Thanks to the introduction of new software, hardware and processes, it is, in fact, possible to achieve savings in several respects, such as:
For several reasons, the process often needs more support within any SME.
The first obstacle is in management’s conservative and change-averse mentality. Most SMEs in the Southern European region are family-run with a consolidated business structure that needs help to adapt to new economic scenarios. Moreover, company leaders often consider digital transformation processes unnecessary and often detrimental to corporate identity.
A second obstacle to the digital transformation of SMEs is the lack of internal resources with the right skills to guide the company through this process. In most cases, there is also a need for more awareness of the great potential that digital transformation could bring to the company, and there is a tendency not to seek the advice of external professionals who could help make one’s business innovative.
In any case, the transformation can be defined as the integration in every area of the SME of digital technologies and tools capable of increasing efficiency and improving business processes by making them more straightforward and productive.
Initiating this process is essential to be competitive in a market characterised by continuous change. However, digitising an entire company takes work as it implies a profound change in corporate culture.
Not surprisingly, one of the most famous quotes by Peter Drucker says, «Culture eats strategy for breakfast.»
Digital transformation affects every aspect of the company: tools, processes, strategies, business approach, employees’ work, etc.
SMEs that have undergone the process can have several advantages over traditional companies.
First of all, it leads to greater business efficiency. Digital transformation helps make processes and workflows faster, easier and more efficient, allowing the company to adapt its business models quickly to the needs of an increasingly competitive market.
It also enables companies to know their customers more accurately. By analysing the data collected, SMEs can obtain important information about their target audience and understand their users’ needs. In this way, the company can meet their needs by presenting the most suitable solutions to solve the problems perceived by customers and potential customers.
Digital transformation also saves resources. Thanks to the introduction of new software, hardware and processes, it is, in fact, possible to achieve savings in several respects, such as:
For several reasons, the process often needs more support within any SME.
The first obstacle to digital transformation is in management’s conservative and change-averse mentality. Most SMEs in the Southern European region are family-run with a consolidated business structure that needs help to adapt to new economic scenarios. Moreover, company leaders often consider digital transformation processes unnecessary and often detrimental to corporate identity.
A second obstacle to the digital transformation of SMEs is the lack of internal resources with the right skills to guide the company through this process. In most cases, there is also a need for more awareness of the great potential that digital transformation could bring to the company, and there is a tendency not to seek the advice of external professionals who could help make one’s business innovative.
