Digitalisation brings more humanity

Digitalisation Head

Digitalisation brings more humanity

Digitalisation is well advanced in many companies and if you want to keep up, you have to keep your finger on the pulse. This is not only important for competitiveness, but also for internal communication and external collaboration, says Kay Brüninghaus, CEO of Blank Space AG.

Why digitise?

One of the advantages of digitalisation for companies is increased efficiency. Many tedious tasks, especially in administration, can be digitised and save time. In addition, many organisations have recognised the importance of making documents available on the move, especially for employees working from home. The increasing use of cloud services also brings benefits, as they streamline the required IT infrastructure and make it easy to use data and applications across locations. It is often assumed that only large multinational corporations are driving digitalisation forward as they have more resources at their disposal. However, small and medium-sized companies can also benefit considerably from this, but are more likely to need external support to realise their projects.

From product to customer

Some industries and professions, on the other hand, are difficult to digitise, mostly due to the physical, manual or interpersonal aspects of their activities. Examples include agriculture, skilled trades, catering, arts and crafts, etc. While some aspects of these professions can be supported or improved by digital tools (e.g. administrative software), the core of the activity often cannot be digitised.

The process of digitisation can be tailored to a company’s individual needs, but Brüninghaus recommends that everyone look at integrated ERP systems that map all operational processes as well as accounting.

The trend is also currently moving strongly in the direction of generative AI, but Brüninghaus warns against expecting too much. ‘At the moment, the results can still be sobering,’ he warns, ’the road ahead is even longer than many people realise.’ However, given the current high level of investment in this area, he expects to see continuous progress in the future.

The first steps in this process can be very challenging for organisations that have no expertise in this area. It can therefore be useful to seek external advice to get a clearer picture of what the organisation needs, or even to outsource the implementation.

The challenges

The biggest challenge is often getting employees on board, as a cultural change is necessary for successful implementation. ‘It’s all a question of attitude,’ says Brüninghaus. This can usually be achieved with ease by offering training courses and communicating the changes openly and clearly. But it takes time for those involved to get used to the changes.

‘People are often afraid of being replaced or losing human contact, but I think that’s a misconception,’ emphasises Brüninghaus, ’Digitalisation connects people more and promotes their interpersonal communication. It doesn’t take away humanity, it strengthens it.’

Another concern in connection with digitalisation is often data security. Many companies have to deal with the private data of their employees and customers, and the number of cyberattacks is increasing. This is a problem that SMEs also have to deal with, as the consequences can be catastrophic. Brüninghaus recommends that companies take preventative action and train their employees to recognise digital threats themselves.

How can companies keep their finger on the pulse when it comes to digital transformation?

Technologies and processes are evolving rapidly and businesses should have a dedicated/responsible employee who is interested in and takes ownership of this topic. Their role should be to keep abreast of changes in best practice and trends and keep management informed. This does not have to be a full-time position, especially in smaller organisations. ‘Companies that keep up to date can benefit from being among the first to introduce new solutions,’ emphasises Brüninghaus. ‘For example, agile project management is currently a big topic – this is an iterative and flexible method for planning and implementing projects. It ensures adaptability to changes during the course of the project. There are digital solutions that support this method well.’