What Is Digitalization In The 21st Century

Meanings change.

Or, I should say –

Perceived meanings change.

Take shit. I mean, take the word “shit”.

Its literal meaning is?

But the way this word has adapted different meanings in different sentences is phenomenal. It can show emotions or expressions like annoyance, surprise, or anger. It can be used to exaggerate something, for example, “shitload of work”.

Okay, I’m sorry if this shitty discussion is making you uncomfortable as Wikipedia says it is now used as vulgar slang, in multiple forms. Alright, sorry. But I’m just trying to put a point forward.

Meanings could change. Meanings change all the time.

Digitalization is no different.

In?this Forbes article, you can read the history of this fact.

However, very briefly, let’s focus on this term, especially for businesses. What did it mean for businesses decades ago? And, what does it mean for businesses now?

When the technology was in its very nascent phase, the opportunities for digitalization were extremely limited. So much so, that not many companies bothered to listen.

When box-like computers came into existence, having only basic functionalities of calculation, etc, only a few companies back then dared to use those in their everyday operations.

When data-storing devices like hard disks etc came into the picture, some “bold” large companies took the plunge. And they were then known as the most advanced companies.

With the dot com revolution, companies became doubtful about it as it was a crazy new thing and there was no history to back it. However, some companies got themselves a domain and a website that had all the prestigious information about their company. They took pride in sharing about their website.

With the possibility of getting a task done on their computers, software companies started mushrooming. They used to have their software files stored on the hardware devices like hard disks, and then the other companies would install those files locally on their computers to operate the software.

With the entry of cloud technologies, these software files actually went “soft”. Now companies could operate software programs from their computers without needing any hard disks.

When social media came about, the way companies communicated completely transformed.

For the companies existing and starting in the 1980s, they saw digitalization.

Companies in the 1990s saw a better form of digitalization that was way ahead of anything before.

In the 2010s, crazy forms of digitalization were seen.

In the 2020s, and especially after the pandemic, the scale of digitalization has gone too far that most of the leading companies have not been able to catch up.

The digitalization process of various business functions has now evolved super drastically. Not mentioning each and every update that has happened in the last few decades, but you got the idea. Right?

Today, if your company has to adapt to the latest form of digitalization, there are two parts to it. This will give you a rough picture –

1. Headless experience: Your basic website is not enough. Technology has made it possible that your website can go headless and serverless. Your content can be like water – it can take the shape of any device it is experienced on. A lot more to say on this will elaborate on in a separate space.
2. Omnichannel transformation: Having your teams connected on multiple channels is not enough. You have to go omnichannel. Every channel of engagement must be synced seamlessly, no matter where your customers come from and engage from. More on this coming soon.

I feel the fire inside while talking about this. If not adapted now, it’ll be too late. A lot of companies that I talk with frequently, seem comfortable in whatever they have, and some of them don’t have the intention to make things better and faster, and smoother. But on the other hand, there are leaders that I talk with about this, and they are pretty open to exploring what amazing things can happen for them.

At?Openthrive, we call it Engagement Design.

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Originally published on?my?personal Blog.

Visit?Openthrive.com?to explore our Website Experience Design and Omnichannel Transformation solutions.

For any questions or inquiries, please?direct message me?or reach out to me at?[email protected]