Digitization - Don't Lead but Transform

By N. Jayantha Prabhu, Chief Technology Officer, Essar group

N. Jayantha Prabhu, Chief Technology Officer, Essar group

Trust that’s what Digitization can do to an Enterprise!!

Most of the manufacturing companies make the mistake of believing that new digital technologies are best suited to consumer-oriented companies. But thinking that way is fast becoming a losing proposition. From essential needs such as accurate, resilient supply chains to enhancements in product design and production, digital tools have already become critical differentiator. IT has to play a major role in making digitization – a reality.

So, what is this Digitization…It is all about creating a new dimension for improving how enterprise can integrate their activities with their partners, customers and employees. Thanks to new tools, manufacturers are collaborating more closely with key suppliers on the development of parts and systems and gaining better insight into the supply chains that feed manufacturing and distribution. Advanced analytics are aiding in the understanding of market trends and improving demand planning while simultaneously communicating product changes throughout the supply chain.

From manufacturing technologies perspective there are digital advances such as sensors and other machine-to-machine (M2M) technologies - otherwise known as the Internet of Things (IoT) can offer such capabilities as real-time performance monitoring, quality management, and rapid response to product failures.

Going Digital Business intelligence systems, for example, can help companies better understand just how profitable their different product lines are, content and knowledge management technologies can improve the management of intellectual property, and data analysis and synthesis capabilities can help companies cope with the mountains of data generated by the sensors embedded in their factories and the products they build.

Industrial firms are investing in digitization opportunities within their sales operations, as well, equipping their field sales teams with mobile devices and visual tools rather than printed brochures. These technologies are helping sales forces quickly configure products as customers require, while providing those customers with greater insight on prices and lead times.

Collaboration is a key in such a dynamic market condition. SMAC is becoming the most critical aspect of overall IT planning and strategies. We can make this collaboration possible through the most effective medium such as Interactive company portal, Mobility applications, VOIP, Unified communication tools and Social media. Enterprises who are spread across the globe must invest in VOIP. This will not only bring down the overall cost of communication but will make sure real time decision making irrespective of place, time and device. This is a Key!!

BYOD is a fact today.

Various steps can be taken in enterprise as part of the digitization drive. It includes Interactive Portal, HR Work Flow, Travel Management Portal, Business Expense Management, Live Chat, VOIP across offices, Video Conference Solution on every device - Video on the go, Mass SMS/ Mass Mail solutions, UC application, Email, Wi-Fi Solution, Board Book, Contract Labour Management, GIS Mapping, Digital book library, F&F Settlement Process, Vehicle Tracking dashboard, HR Dashboard, Mobile App for leave processing etc. List can go on basis on the various business cases and scenarios but above list typically depicts the possible digital ventures.

The cloud has transformed product innovation. Software providers that historically have released new versions of flagship offerings every 18 months are now doing so every 60 to 90 days. Companies moving quickly on this front have been able to distinguish themselves from competitors, even as they take these technologies to the factory floor, where, combining IoT developments with robotics and other advanced techniques, they can now better monitor and control all kinds of manufacturing activities.

This is important to note that Digitization lead us to the higher security arrangements to protect the digital data. Hence required steps must be taken such as deployment of Next Generation Firewall, Secured Wi-Fi Connection, Web Content and Email Spam Security Solution, Virtualization, Data box , E Print Solution, Two factor authentication, SBC - Secured Session Border Controller, Secured VOIP and collaboration, SSL VPN Solution for remote users etc. It’s Critical!!

With Digitization, trend is changing. We are becoming more dynamic and to ensure this momentum is on we will have to strive for all possible efforts and our focus should always remain to exceed our users and business’s expectations through the Digitization drive.