Why Digitization Determines Business Success Today
Did you know that in many industries, proper digitization determines the business success of a company?
Many people still think of it only as implementing new technology, while in reality it is a strategic process that directly impacts how fast a company can grow.
Organizations that approach digitization consciously gain not only higher efficiency, but also competitive advantage and real cost optimization. In this episode, I will explain what digitization really is, how to understand it correctly, and how it should look in your company.
A Few Words About Me and This Episode
Hi, my name is Kamil Tarczyński. On a daily basis, I help companies use new technologies so they can grow faster and operate more efficiently.
In this episode, we will talk about digitization — what it is, what it is not, and how to approach it in a smart and practical way.
Let’s start by clarifying a few key concepts.
Digitization, Digitalization, and Digital Transformation — Key Differences Explained
Digitization — Converting Analog to Digital
Digitization is the simplest form of change. It happens when we convert something from an analog format into a digital one. A good example is scanning a paper invoice into a PDF file.
The invoice becomes a digital file, but the entire surrounding process — issuing it, approving it, processing it — remains manual and analog. Only the format changes, not the way the business operates.
Digitalization — Automating Business Processes
Digitalization goes one step further. Here we are talking about processes supported by systems such as ERP, CRM, or other business tools.
Invoices can be issued, received, assigned to the correct accounting period, and automatically forwarded to accounting systems. Employees no longer need to perform most of these tasks manually — the system handles them.
As a result, people gain time to focus on activities that create real business value instead of repetitive administrative work.
Digital Transformation — Changing the Business Model
Digital transformation goes beyond processes and tools. It is about changing the entire business model.
A classic example is retail companies moving from physical, on-site sales to online commerce. The pandemic significantly accelerated this shift. Many businesses closed their physical locations after realizing that online sales were not only sufficient, but often more profitable.
These three concepts are not just buzzwords or temporary trends. They describe real changes that have been shaping businesses for years — although many companies still fail to take advantage of them.
Why Should You Digitize Your Company?
There are several very concrete reasons. Digitization helps reduce costs, improve operational efficiency, automate repetitive work, and significantly increase productivity.
It also provides competitive advantage and enables scaling — both within existing operations and by entering entirely new business areas.
One of the clearest signals that a company needs digitization is rapid growth combined with operational bottlenecks. Processes start to slow down, efficiency drops, and more and more work requires manual intervention.
At that point, continuous hiring is not the solution. The real goal is to increase efficiency with a similar-sized team and hire only when it truly makes sense.
Where to Start with Digitization?
The first and most important step is identifying the areas that hurt the most.
In theory, everything can be digitized. In practice, not everything makes sense at every stage of a company’s growth. Some processes are cheap and easy to automate, while others are complex and expensive.
That is why it is crucial to focus on areas that can deliver the highest return on investment.
Two Approaches to Implementing Digitization
One option is to go through the process internally, using in-house teams or internal consultants. This can work, especially in smaller organizations.
The second option is to work with a company that specializes in digitization projects and has experience from dozens or even hundreds of similar implementations. Such a partner understands where real value lies and what is worth investing in.
In our approach, we always start with workshops. First, we want to understand your business goals and pain points. Only then do we select technology that fits the specific problem.
What Does the Process Look Like Step by Step?
Analysis and Workshops
The process begins with meetings and workshops involving key stakeholders — people responsible for processes, departments, or products.
We aim to understand how the company operates daily, what tools are used, where data is stored, and how the infrastructure is structured. At this stage, we ask many questions — both business and technical — to fully understand the organization.
Designing the Solution
Based on the collected knowledge, we propose a technological architecture and an implementation approach.
Any problem can be solved in multiple ways, but the goal is always to find the most effective solution, not just a quick fix. Temporary patches may work for a short time, but they rarely scale.
That is why we use an incremental approach — small steps and quick wins that create value early while allowing long-term growth.
MVP and Pilot Implementation
Instead of launching large, high-risk projects, we start with an MVP — a small, pilot module. This can be a simple automation or a limited feature set.
The goal is to demonstrate value quickly and avoid long, expensive projects that often exceed budgets and timelines. You cannot “eat the elephant in one bite” — it must be done piece by piece.
Testing, Quality Assurance, and Training
Once the solution is implemented, we test it thoroughly and ensure quality. If AI-based automations or predictions are involved, we verify their accuracy together with the client.
When necessary, we also conduct user training so teams know how to use the new tools effectively.
Maintenance and Continuous Development
After implementation, the solution continues to evolve. New ideas, improvements, and refinements naturally appear once people start using the system.
This ongoing development allows the solution to grow alongside the business and adapt to changing priorities.
What Is Critical for Successful Digitization?
The most important factor is engagement from the company and its team. Without active involvement from people who understand the business and its processes, digitization efforts will fail.
Technology is only a tool. We always start with the business need, then the process, and only at the end choose the technology.
Equally important is preparing employees for change. People naturally resist change, so it is essential to communicate why changes are needed and how they will benefit not only the company, but also the employees themselves.
Planning and Security Considerations
Realistic planning is crucial — both in terms of budget and timeline. Sometimes changes should be implemented quickly, while in other cases it is better to spread them over time.
Security and compliance must also be considered from the very beginning. GDPR, industry regulations, data localization, and cloud processing requirements all need to be taken into account.
Digitization without proper security can easily introduce risks instead of benefits.
Final Thoughts
Digitization, digitalization, and digital transformation are not trends — they are real processes that more and more companies are adopting every year.
Although Poland still lags behind parts of Europe in this area, this gap represents an opportunity. Companies that invest in digitization now can gain a significant competitive, cost, and operational advantage.
If you want to learn more about the signals that indicate it is time to start digitizing and how the process works in practice, I invite you to listen to the previous episode.
That’s all for today. Thank you, and see you next time.
