Digitization – what is it and why is it important?

Digitization, together with digitalization and digital transformation, form the trio that is often used wrong by people and create confusion. Digitalization is misinterpreted and misapplied to digitization.

Software development companies are very important in the process that leads to digital transformation. They know how to digitize and digitalize paving the road to a complete digital transformation.

For a more accurate view of these terms, we will clarify what digitization is and why is it different than digitalization and digital transformation.

 What is digitization and why is it important?

Digitization is a process in which analog information is converted into a digital format, creating practically a digital image or a digital form of the document, object, image, sound, or signal.

Nowadays, the digitized data takes the form of binary numbers, facilitating computer processing or other operations. In simpler words, digitizing means the conversion of analog source material into a numerical format.

Digitization is very important for data processing, storage, transmission due to the fact that it allows information to intermingle and to be carried out with the same efficiency. Digitization allows data to be shared and accessed, to be propagated without loss, and to migrate to new formats when needed.

Digitization is the most favorable way of preserving information for many companies around the world.

 The process of digitization

As we sad before, digitization is used to convert different forms of information into data, into a single binary code. The process consists of a compromise between the player device and the capturing device so that the result is the representation of the original source as closely as possible. The advantage of this process is the speed and accuracy in which this information is transmitted without any degradation compared to analog information.

Digitization takes place in two phases:

Discretization – The reading of an analog signal A, and, at regular time intervals (frequency), sampling the value of the signal at the point. Each such reading is called a sample and may be considered to have infinite precision at this stage.

Quantization – Samples are rounded to a fixed set of numbers (such as integers), a process known as quantization.[i]

The two phases are distinct, but they can happen at the same time.

What is the difference between digitization, digitalization and digital transformation?

The most important argument in differentiating digitization and digitalization is that digitalization cannot happen without digitization. While digitization refers to converting analog into digital, digitalization is using the digitized data and transform the workforce and how companies and clients interact creating new digital revenues streams, with the help of digital technologies.

Digitization refers to optimizing the internal processes resulting in cost reduction, while digitalization is a strategy that once implemented, changes the core of the entire business model and the evolution of how the work is done.

Unlike digitization and digitalization, digital transformation is more about the people, a cultural change. Digital transformation is about a much broader adoption of digital technology. It requires changes that are happening inside the organization and they are custom-centric, sustained by leadership. Digital transformation is driven by changes in the organization’s culture and is backed-up by the technologies that empower and enable employees.

Which are the most popular apps that support digitization?

Everyone has heard of Adobe Scan. Compatible with Android and iOS, Adobe Scan can help you scan almost any type of document such as notes, receipts, photos, business cards turning them into PDFs with automatically recognizing text.

Evernote Scannable is another great app that can help you scan documents and send them via email or text. If you connect the application with the LinkedIn account, the app will automatically get a contact’s info when you scan the business card. Evernote Scannable is compatible with the iOS system.

Genius Scan is a mobile app that can quickly scan documents and export them as fully optimized multi-page PDFs or JPEG images. Genius Scan is compatible with Android and iOS.

Are you tired of keeping the old photos in a shoebox? Then you should try PhotoScan from Google. This app lets you scan and save all your printed photographs. The app will keep them safe, searchable, and organized. PhotoScan is compatible with Android and iOS.

The importance of using the correct term

Business leaders, that are often responsible for implementing these strategies – digitization – digitalization – digital transformation, misunderstand the terms making them missing out on the opportunities to evolve or obtain an advantage over the competition, on how they respond to the client or employee demands and expectations, all in all, on becoming an agile business.

So, the importance of knowing and using these terms correctly is crucial for any business in its evolution.

Digitizing with AROBS

AROBS believes that one solution to prepare your company to face business challenges is optimization through digitization. AROBS products and applications will let you have control over your company’s resources.

AROBS products can support companies from various industries in their efforts to increase efficiency and flexibility through digitization. Our products will help you eliminate the paperwork by using only digital data, documents, and reports. So, no matter the industry you work in, be it fleet management, human resources, logistics, or others, AROBS products will help you take your business to the next level with the help of digitization.

[i] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digitization