Unlike large enterprises, small businesses often have a huge advantage when it comes to being digital disruptors through digital transformation: agility. The smart use of technology can help small businesses remain competitive, but first, you need to stop and consider what’s possible.

Because the term digital transformation has been used so widely and for so long, you might have written it off as just another corporate buzzword or a phrase that doesn’t apply to small businesses.

But just forget the hype and the jargon. This article will give you a simple definition of digital transformation and 4 steps to help your small business leverage its agility to disrupt.

What is Digital Transformation?

In essence, digital transformation is simply the process of converting business processes and experiences to their digital counterparts. This process is mainly split into two steps: digitisation and digitalisation. If digitisation is a conversion of data and processes, digitalisation is a transformation.

4 Steps to Digital Disruption

Digitalisation is more than just digitisation. For a small business, we believe the following 4 steps will help you become a digital disruptor in your respective industry.

1. Collaborative workplace transparency, satisfaction, and innovation

One of the ultimate goals for any business embarking on a digital transformation journey is to achieve improved operational efficiency and to follow a customer-centric culture. And these goals require that the workforce be on the same page and collaborate seamlessly.

As an example, a web design company would involve its designers, developers, QAs, product managers, and marketers so that they can work better and take initiative.

When everyone is working together, it promotes transparency in the workplace and employees feel satisfied and engaged.

2. Automation for improved accuracy and efficiency

In this fast-paced business world, automating tedious tasks has become indispensable for businesses to manage important data to improve efficiency and reduce human error. Gone are the days when employees had to manage piles of files to maintain records.

From maintaining your employees’ attendance records to calculating salaries, inventory management to updating your customers’ data and automating your email and marketing campaigns, you will find useful tools for business management.

3. Data-driven business decisions

In this digital world, every business is striving hard to stay competitive. Businesses that are using big data can successfully create a results-driven strategy for their organization. Data is at the centre of every digital transformation strategy.

Collecting customer data can help marketers, business owners, and employees make well-informed business decisions. There are many analytics tools that help online businesses track the performance of their websites, advertising campaigns, and email campaigns. But don't just focus on your customer data. Internally, you can also collect data about employees and operations to improve your workplace environment, productivity, security, and more.

By gathering data, you can understand your customers and employees on what they like and what they don't like. These insights will help you make the right changes to your business and how it markets itself and operates.

4. Fulfilled customer expectations

Large enterprises have always put their best efforts into ensuring that their customers' expectations are always met. Think of Apple, Samsung, Takealot, and Vodacom. These enterprises have always invested in all the latest technologies and features to meet their customers' needs. In order to provide high-quality services or products, you need to focus on what customers want and then create an effective organizational system and business culture.

In this highly competitive business world, customer experience is important to ensure your business remains competitive and successful for the long run. Giving your customers higher priority and offering a personalized customer experience can help you become a reliable and favoured brand.

Mobile apps, websites, automation, cloud, and other digital technologies have opened a new door and opportunities for businesses and allowed customers to get what they want whenever and wherever. It is imperative for any modern business to invest in strategic and customer-focused product development to provide unique customer experiences.