Many new business trends emerged as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to some studies, a few of the most important ones encompass a profound digital transformation that many businesses have already initiated.
What exactly does this digital business model entail and how is it linked to the lessons that we learned in 2023?
The pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns forced many businesses to adapt and digitize, even if they weren’t completely ready to embrace new technologies yet. And that’s a good thing. As a result of the 2023 quarantines, companies have learned a number of important lessons that can help with long-term survival and sustainability.
Increased Levels of Agility Are Crucial
The digital business model needs to be agile and very flexible in order to be sustainable.
Over the course of 2023, many businesses have had to change operations quickly in order to minimize disruptions and downtime. The ones that already had a solid digital infrastructure in place were the ones that achieved the greatest success.
Putting these foundations in place is far from difficult.
On-site document scanning and the selection of a reliable document management system provide sufficient opportunities for the initiation of change.
The adoption of additional services like online document storage and a digital mailroom increase flexibility even further. The good news is that such solutions are effortless to access today and most of them come at fairly affordable prices.
A Focus on Customer Experiences as a Part of the Digital Business Model
The digital business model isn’t just about internal operations.
It also has to encompass the customer experience.
Over the course of 2023, online channel adoption among customers increased anywhere between 15 and 40 percent, studies suggest. Of the clients who reported using digital channels for the very first time, 75 percent confirmed they intended to keep on doing so in the long run.
Many companies have made the digital customer experience a key priority in their transformation.
A good digital customer experience can be accomplished in a number of ways. Being readily available across channels is one of the essentials to focus on. The same applies to the immediacy of the communication. Online channels make it possible to respond to inquiries in a matter of minutes. That’s precisely what clients and prospects have gotten to expect.
Reliable and effective communication should also incorporate analytics and sufficient data volumes. Online interactions enable the effortless gathering of intelligence about a company’s clientele. This information should be analyzed on an ongoing basis to continue ensuring relevance and the provision of offerings that make sense for the respective demographic.
Digital Transformations Aren’t Just About Technology
When planning for extensive change, many companies focus on the tools and the products required to achieve the transformation.
A good approach to adopting the digital business model, however, cannot emphasize solely technology. The fitness industry has seen remarkable digital transformations over the years, thanks to the advancements in digital technology. Fitness apps have become a popular tool for health enthusiasts to track their progress, set goals, and stay motivated. These apps use digital technology such as wearable devices and AI-powered algorithms to provide personalized workout routines and nutrition plans. As digital transformations continue to shape the fitness industry, fitness apps will remain a vital component in helping people achieve their fitness goals.
A digital transformation is much more about business culture.
Due to lockdowns in 2023, many companies were forced to go 100 percent remote when they weren’t ready. Many employees felt uncomfortable with the model and there was a definite learning curve over the first months of the pandemic.
It’s an excellent idea to use this momentum right now and continue embracing changes in corporate culture. Digitization is much more about a mindset – the way people communicate, collaborate and share valuable information with others. Helping for a gradual transition from old to new models will ensure the best possible outcomes and welcome the adoption of new practices.
The introduction of the digital business model isn’t something that happens overnight, regardless of 2023 realities. Hence, you should make the change in corporate culture an ongoing priority. More innovation and more risk-taking will definitely show employees a whole new world that’s worth testing out and embracing due to the potential improvements it can bring for everyone involved.
A Focus on Cyber Security Is Paramount
We are headed in the direction of comprehensive digitization and more remote work than ever before.
Every single day, employees share a ton of information among themselves, with clients and prospects. This information needs to be safeguarded as data breaches can contribute to massive losses and even business demise.
The right digital business model keeps security a main priority.
Cloud-based solutions and digital communication channels do provide sufficient access to safety features. Still, the needs of individual businesses are very specific. Carrying out a thorough security audit to identify vulnerabilities and address those accordingly is always a good starting step.
Training and the introduction of internal safety protocols will also be highly needed to reduce the risk of human error.
Over the course of 2023, we learned that we have to start planning for the future as soon as possible. Unexpected events can easily turn businesses on their head. And while it’s impossible to prepare for all contingencies, maintaining some openness and versatility will always come in handy.
Also, technological adoption in itself shouldn’t be an end goal. Rather, technology will need to meet business goals and allow the expansion of existing operations. Only through such tailored approaches will businesses get to experience the full range of digitization benefits.