1. The concept of informatization/digitization
Informatization and digitalization are understood literally, and these two words do represent different meanings. But it is undeniable, judging from the information platforms we can access at present. Informatization and digitization are often confused together.
Well, since we are going to talk about this topic today. We have to distinguish these two words first. Usually, I don’t recommend reading encyclopedia explanations, because technical terms are often not easy to understand. Let me explain it to you with an example, so that you can understand it easily.
Take weight loss as an example:
"Informatization": Buy a personal scale, measure your weight every day, and the value displayed on the scale is informatization.
"Digitalization": Not only record weight, but also record all your physiological data, simulate a "digital" you, and then give you a set of targeted weight loss programs based on algorithms. This is digitization.
Let me give you another example from real life:
"Informatization" can be understood as: replacing traditional work with various software on computers or mobile phones.
For example, in the past, an entry application form was required to be filled in when entering a job, but now you can scan and type on a mobile phone.
"Digitalization" is to digitize the working process, such as working hours, output, etc., to facilitate finding better solutions.
For example, the system records the working hours and output of different personnel, and compares the better employees to analyze his working methods.
2. What is the difference between digitization and informatization?
1. Informatization: "Business dataization", first let the business process be recorded by data.
Informatization = "Business Dataization". That is: let the data generated in the production, procurement, sales process, customer service, cash flow and other processes of the enterprise be recorded in the business system with data.
The core and essence is to use information technology such as computers and databases to realize business process data management of enterprises. Typical tools are information systems, such as reporting tools, OA, ERP, CRM, SRM, PLM, etc.
2. Digitalization: "data businessization", using accumulated business data to feed back and optimize business processes.
Digitization = "data businessization". That is: In the process of informatization, the transaction data, user data, potential customer data, product data, etc. accumulated over a long period of time are continuously integrated into the operation and management of the enterprise, and problems/business opportunities are discovered through data, and business portfolio is optimized with data.
The core and essence is to use digital technologies such as big data and cloud computing to realize business innovation of enterprises. It focuses on "data-driven business". Typical tools are data systems, such as low-code platforms, BI tools, and data warehouses , data platform, etc.
In the informatization stage, technology is also a business support and collaboration tool. The essence of digital transformation is to use technology to create innovative changes in business and integrate technology and business. Therefore, from the perspective of the collaborative relationship between technology and business, in the digital stage, technology plays a leading and co-creating role in business.
Summary: Informatization is the foundation of digitalization, and digitalization is the advanced stage of informatization.
Informatization solves the problem of efficiency, while digitization is business value-oriented, which is commonly referred to as business empowerment. Digitalization must include informatization and cannot deny informatization. At the same time, digital transformation must return to the business itself, because digital transformation is essentially a business issue, and it and informatization are related and driven by each other.
If the above concepts can be understood by everyone. So back to the most essential question between the two, it is nothing more than trying to find out, what kind of "culture" is suitable for enterprises?
3. Informatization - the direct path to improve efficiency
In fact, there are many tools to help enterprises informatize, and they are very cheap, ranging from instant messaging (DingTalk, Enterprise WeChat, Feishu), OA office (Panwei, Lanling), online meetings (Tencent Conference, ZOOM), cloud disk, Document editing and more. Whether it is " SaaS-level service " or " privatized deployment ", there are many vendors who can provide various supports.
Therefore, for Chinese enterprises at this stage, it is actually a very simple matter to informatize routine work. Perhaps the only difficulty lies in finding the information tool that suits you.
Of course, there are still some problems that the tools cannot currently solve. That is, based on the management model that the enterprise has explored, it is difficult for the general products on the market to support these customized needs. At this time, the informatization needs may require the enterprise managers to pay more costs, whether they form their own team to develop , or entrust Party B’s technology company.
Of course, there is another new path to take now, which is [low code].
Before, when we used the low-code platform Zhixin Informat to design an informatization solution for an enterprise, we summarized three obvious advantages:
1. Cost reduction and efficiency increase
According to statistics, the efficiency of low-code development in the application of enterprise internal informationization is about 67%, which is equivalent to one person being able to exert the human efficiency of 2-3 people. After the development is completed, the cycle of testing and optimization will be greatly shortened accordingly. Therefore, it may take 3 months for the same project to be done through traditional coding methods, but low-code is expected to be completed in about 1 month. Whether it is manpower occupation or time cost, low code has absolute advantages in reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
2. Step by step
You don't need to do a lot of preparation work to start coding like code development in the past. Through low-code WYSIWYG, rapid development features. Many business practices or optimizations can be developed in a few minutes and get feedback on the results. This will directly change the original corporate digitalization strategy plan. Make the overall planning process of digitization more calm. Don't worry about the problem that once you start developing a lot of things, you can't modify it and you can't go back. The modular development model will make the entire business more flexible and better able to match market changes.
3. Full participation
Different from the situation where IT personnel must participate in traditional coding, for some basic changes or development work, the low-code platform no longer requires IT personnel to "hands-on". Business personnel can also configure the platform according to their own needs. In companies with shortage of IT resources, this model will greatly increase the enthusiasm of employees to participate in information construction, and better promote the implementation of enterprise digitalization.
Through the low-code model, more companies can start their own informatization roads at low cost and with low thresholds.
4. Digitization - the premise of refined management
It can be seen from the Baidu Index that "digitalization" is actually the concept with the largest traffic among the three words. We also often hear the phrase "digital transformation".
In fact, the purpose of digitalization is to help enterprises to produce detailed and comprehensive statistical data in each chain of operation. Then operators can adjust production and operation strategies based on these data to obtain greater profits.
Therefore, there are two key points of digitization: data recording and data analysis.
Compared with informatization construction, the implementation of digitalization seems to be a level more difficult, because in order to achieve digitalization, enterprises cannot simply buy a few systems to complete it. The hardest thing is to really promote it and let employees use it. It is necessary for the employees of the enterprise to understand what the meaning of such implementation is. If the data in one link is distorted or missing in the middle, it may greatly reduce the digitalization effect of the enterprise.
Therefore, if you want to realize the smooth advancement of digitalization, you need an easy-to-use digital platform, especially an enterprise-level low-code platform with a strong enough capability boundary, such as Zhixin low-code, which can play a role in the process of enterprise digital upgrade. important role.
The most important significance of enterprise-level low-code is that it must be able to become an important "pillar" of informatization that supports the development of various departments and businesses of the enterprise. Just like the picture above, it can seamlessly connect various business systems.
Through the flexible construction of low-code, it can solve the fundamental contradiction between the traditional code development needs to be in place at one time and the digital process needs to be continuously adjusted, so that the digital construction of enterprises can move forward steadily step by step.
So, here we go. No matter what kind of transformation, it is all towards the goal of improving enterprise productivity, reducing costs and increasing efficiency. Everything can be realistically set out, and we must not follow the trend blindly.