When you hear the phrase “digital transformation,” what ideas come to mind for you? It is easy to make the case that the world has been undergoing a digital transition since the turn of the century. Even if we limit ourselves to the United Kingdom, in the past quarter of a century, we have witnessed the transition to digital television and radio, the arrival of ultrafast internet, social media, smartphones, and all the apps and services that have followed in its wake. It is not hard to understand why digital transition could be such a significant issue when viewed in this light. But what exactly does it mean for businesses when they undergo this kind of transformation? Is this something you can manage or keep an eye on? And how can you ensure your company’s success while simultaneously implementing digital solutions? Let’s tackle all of these questions head-on.

What is digital transformation?

In its broadest sense, digital transformation refers to migrating existing business processes to digital solutions or developing new solutions by utilising digital technologies. One of the earliest examples of digital transformation occurred several decades ago when organisations transitioned from using word processors and fax machines to desktop computers and email. This is considered to be one of the earliest examples of digital transformation. A paradigm shift occurred regarding how we carried out our business as a direct result of all organisations adopting the same structure. Since then, particularly since the late 2000s, with the introduction of smartphones, applications, and the development of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions, digital transformation has slowed but has stayed consistent across most industries. There will naturally be some industries, particularly those that focus more on labour, in which digital technology won’t be as urgently important as it is in traditionally “white collar” enterprises. These industries include the trades and other labour-focused fields.

How IT support plays a role in digital transformation.

The impact of the digital transformation has been felt across several different fronts. Companies have benefited by having a more direct connection with their target prospects and customers. In addition to this, they have experienced an unprecedented level of success in tracking and attributing advertising. Additionally, digital solutions are quicker, simpler, and easier to implement than their analogue counterparts were in the past. However, all of this requires some degree of maintenance, and that is where support for information technology comes in. Businesses need to ensure that they have the appropriate IT infrastructure to support everything they do in digital for digital transformation to succeed and for it to continue to be a success for them as they grow their suite of digital solutions. This is necessary for digital transformation to be a success. This necessitates either having the appropriate cyber security systems installed or making certain that their cloud services (whether for data storage or remote cloud versions of applications) are encrypted per the most current industry standards. In addition to the technical aspects, IT support is an important factor for businesses with scattered workforces and use remote technologies, such as Microsoft Teams, to complete their work despite the great distances between them. Because of this, they will have to take educational steps to guarantee that their personnel are knowledgeable enough about cyber security to protect the firm from cyber attacks, malware, and other typical risks.