Digital Transformation: The next steps for your SME

Digital transformation: Next steps for your SME

Short: The digital transformation is no longer a foreign word for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The digital transformation is no longer a foreign word for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Many have taken first steps to digitize their business processes and strengthen their online presence.

But digitization is not a single project, but a continuous process.

After the foundations are created, the question arises for many entrepreneurs: what are the next meaningful steps on the path of **digital transformation SMEs * *?

This post will show you what action fields should be focused now and how to reach the next stage of digital maturity for your company.

The first steps are taken – and now?

Short: Most SMEs already have a professional website, are active in social media and use cloud solutions for data storage and collaboration.

Most SMEs already have a professional website, are active in social media and use cloud solutions for data storage and collaboration.

These basic measures are important, but they often scratch only at the surface of what is possible through a profound digital transformation.

Real competitive advantages arise only when digitization is strategically advanced and integrated into all business areas.

The next phase of digitalization focuses on increasing efficiency, developing new business models and making data-based decisions. It is about using the already created basis to set the company up to date.

The next areas of action of digital transformation for SMEs

Short: In order to successfully continue digital transformation, SMEs should focus on the following four key areas of action:

In order to successfully continue digital transformation, SMEs should focus on the following four key areas of action:

1. Process optimization and automation

Short: Manual and repetitive tasks cost time and are susceptible to errors.

Manual and repetitive tasks cost time and are susceptible to errors. The next step is therefore the consistent automation of business processes.

The aim is to relieve employees of routine activities so that they can concentrate on more value-intensive tasks.

Examples for process automation:

• Automatized invoice processing: Software can automatically collect, check and book invoices.
• Chatbots in customer service: Simple customer requests can be answered 24/7 by Chatbots.
• Robotic Process Automation (RPA): Software robots can perform recurring tasks in different systems, e.g. transferring data between different applications.

2. Making data-driven decisions

Short: In your company, valuable data treasures – from customer data to sales figures to website analyses.

In your company, valuable data treasures – from customer data to sales figures to website analyses. The next step is to systematically analyze this data and use it for strategic decisions.

Belly feeling is supplemented by facts.

*So you will become a data-driven company: *

• Central dashboard: Run all relevant key figures in e

References and further reading

Short: The following independent references complement the topics in this article:

The following independent references complement the topics in this article:

• Bitkom – German digital industry association
• German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI)
• European Commission – Digital strategy
• MDN Web Docs (Mozilla)
• W3C – World Wide Web Consortium

"Mobile apps need clear offline and security models alongside UX—trust collapses without both."

— Björn Groenewold, Managing Director, Groenewold IT Solutions