Digitalization is everywhere. It has affected the world so much that economists, industry leaders, and even governments have shown so much interest in it. They’ve made efforts to study the challenges that come with it, as well as its positive contributions to society.
A report stated that between 2016 and 2025, digitalization is expected to create six million jobs globally in the logistics and electricity industries. Many large enterprises and small businesses have started to digitize their operations to streamline business processes and reduce human errors.
However, the report said automation might replace human employees in other industries. This encourages everyone to improve their skills for the machine age.
The other side of the coin is environmental safety. Digitalization has benefited the world by lessening carbon emissions. The report found that during the above period, digital initiatives could prevent an estimated 26 billion tons of CO2 emissions.
Digital Procurement
The future of goods and service acquisition is here – in the form of digital procurement. Few of the many things a digital procurement software can do are the automation of workflows and reporting, enhancing vendor compliance, and enabling request tracking, according to Stave Apps.
Procurement manages the brokering of trade agreements, price-setting, transportation of products, and evaluation of vendor reliability. There are a lot of processes involved in procurement.
Here is where digitalization helps. With digital procurement software, everything can move faster and smoother. Small to midsized businesses (SMBs) can integrate multiple options like category management, supplier relationship management, and risk management in one software. This way, managers can better analyze data, adjust contracts, and improve visibility in operations by tracking product transportation.
Cloud Storage
Storing data in a virtual data center has paved the way for cloud computing. SMBs can benefit from this in the sense that they don’t need capital expenditure to fund costly IT hardware such as storage devices in which to save their data.
With cloud storage, their business files are available online, maintained, managed, and backed up by the service cloud provider.
When important business data is accessible via an internet connection, employees can work at any time. With cloud storage and cloud computing, additionally, employers can hire remote workers or freelancers. As a result, they can save money from energy bills and purchasing office equipment.
Chatbots
Chatbots are reshaping online customer services. This artificial intelligence technology is becoming popular, because of its excellent customer service. Globally, the chatbot market is projected to reach $1.25 billion by 2025. Innovations and enhanced features are significant drivers of the market’s growth.
Cyber Security Services
Let’s put it out there: the internet is vulnerable to security risks. This is why, when businesses put their data online, they also risk hacking. Although cloud service providers are responsible for securing data, SMBs with money to spare can hire a company specializing in cybersecurity.
Protecting data means protecting operations, profits, employees, and money. SMBs, in particular, are vulnerable to cyber-attacks such as data theft and money extortion because hackers tend to believe small companies have weaker data security systems. This is all the more reason for SMBs to invest in cybersecurity services. When they protect their data, they also secure operations, employee information, money, and the future of the business.
Science and technology made all of these advancements possible, and their benefit should not be taken for granted. Although these IT products and services may cost SMBs money, investing in them is like a shield, safeguarding the business and preventing it from being left behind.