Aligning Your Digital Workflow Strategies With Transformation Trends

Digital transformation has emerged as a game-changing strategy for businesses today. It’s not solely about adopting new technologies; it’s a fundamental reimagining of how organizations operate. In the age of fast-paced change and innovation, the rise of digital workflows is booming to help teams keep pace. 

We’re exploring the trends guiding this change and the top strategies organizations are introducing to optimize them, along with valuable solutions that can support teams on their transformative journey. 

Key Takeaways

Consider the following five key takeaways you can expect from this blog underscoring the importance of coordinating your workflow strategies with digital transformation trends:

• Recognize that digital transformation involves a fundamental reimagining of how organizations operate and is a top priority for organizations moving forward. 
• Understand how digital workflows represent practical manifestations of digital change, facilitating the flow of task management to improve efficiency and reduce errors. For example, by using task management software, which embodies tangible implementations of digital transformation, enabling the smooth progression of digital tasks to enhance efficiency and minimize mistakes.
• Discover the key trends enabling digital workflows including accelerated digitization, AI and automation adoption, the growth of cloud-powered solutions, and an increasing emphasis on sustainability in business practices. 
• Explore strategies for optimizing digital workflows such as automating repetitive tasks, emphasizing data security, mobilizing data through analytics, and leveraging AI and IoT.

Digital Transformation vs. Digital Workflows 

Digital transformation (DX) essentially refers to a sweeping change in how organizations leverage technology to streamline their operations — often fundamentally reshaping their business models in the process. It’s important to recognize that digital transformation encompasses more than just the adoption of new tools, but also a holistic and strategic shift that touches every component of the business. 

A business might overhaul its entire business model to operate and stay competitive in the digital age by digitizing inventory management or creating an omnichannel customer experience, for example. This has become an increasingly important goal for teams across industries, with 74% of organizations reporting digital transformation as their top priority in 2022, according to Flexera. 

Digital workflows, on the other hand, represent the practical manifestation of this digital change. They emphasize the systematic flow of digital tasks and data through automated and optimized processes. Within the context of digital transformation, the same company mentioned above can implement digital workflows to ensure the functional materialization of the technological changes introduced — improving specific processes within the broader transformation effort. 

Organizations are turning to digital workflow solutions recognizing that automation and digitalization go hand in hand, working together to unlock the full potential of digital technology for the business. Together, they empower improved workflow management and the seamless optimization of processes from start to finish. 

Key Trends Driving the Need for Digital Workflows 

In today’s ever-evolving business and technology landscapes, the need for digital workflows is propelled by a few key trends permeating virtually all industries. As organizations work to stay competitive and efficient in these environments, it’s essential to recognize emerging trends and their implications for the future. 

Here’s a closer look at several driving factors behind the rise of digital and automated workflow solutions:

Accelerated Digitization

Simply put, digitization is the conversion of analog information and paper-based processes into digital form. This is an effective strategy for enhancing data accessibility and utilization, helping businesses today take advantage of technology like never before. Recent years have seen an explosion in organizational digitization, with Gartner reporting that 91% of businesses are already engaged in some form of digital initiative and 87% of senior business leaders say digitalization is a priority. 

As a result of this growth, digital workflows are critical for seamlessly integrating data into different processes. Because this is a cornerstone of quicker decision-making, better insights, and improved customer experiences, companies embracing digitization are better positioned to gain a competitive advantage in an era where data is a team’s most valuable asset.

The Rise of AI and Automation Technologies 

Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technologies are being adopted at breakneck speed. In fact, McKinsey reports that at least one function is already automated in 31% of organizations — and this is only expected to continue. Businesses across sectors are leveraging these cutting-edge solutions to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve decision-making.

Automation is at the heart of digital workflows, and because they’re closely intertwined, the increase in workplace automation has quickly driven their expansion. Automated digital workflows manage your team’s repetitive and manual tasks to not only promote improved productivity but also minimize human error and free up your team members to focus on higher-value activities. 

Widespread Adoption of Cloud-Powered Solutions

Recent years have seen a surge in the popularity of cloud-powered solutions because of the unparalleled scalability, accessibility, and cost-efficiency they provide. According to research from Thales, approximately 60% of all corporate data is stored in the cloud as of 2022 — up from just 30% in 2015. 

With companies storing increasing amounts of their data and software in the cloud, digital workflows are a linchpin in providing a flexible and centralized platform for data, application, and workflow management. By implementing a comprehensive digital workflow solution amid digital transformation, organizations can maximize the potential of cloud-powered resources and streamline collaboration, regardless of where team members are located.

Calls for Sustainability 

The call for sustainability is ringing louder than ever. Not only does IBM report that 70% of employees and job seekers say a sustainability program makes an employer more appealing, but McKinsey & Company also reveals that more than 60% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable products and services. 

Because businesses are under pressure to reduce their environmental footprint, digital workflows are playing an increasingly important role in helping them do so — reducing the need for physical resources and manual processes. Companies that adopt workflow software and process automation ultimately contribute to a greener planet while appealing to eco-conscious consumers and employees alike. 

As organizations continue their DX journeys and introduce digital workflow software to take advantage of emerging trends, solutions from Kdan Mobile can offer valuable support along the way. With a suite of tools designed to support seamless digital workflows, Kdan Mobile empowers teams to embrace change and thrive in the digital age.

Explore all of the digital workflow products offered by Kdan Mobile or contact us to learn more. 

Strategies for Optimizing Your Digital Workflows 

Workflow automation involves the systematic analysis, redesign, and implementation of new processes to enhance your organization’s operational efficiency. Basically, it’s a way to identify where you’re being inefficient in your project management processes and update them until you’ve established more effective procedures all around.

At the end of the day, digital workflows are only as efficient as the effort you invest in optimizing them. Fortunately, there are a few strategic measures you can implement to support enhanced workflows moving forward: 

1. Automate Repetitive Tasks Where You Can

According to a report from Zapier, 94% of companies perform repetitive, time-consuming tasks. Because each additional manual process your team manages takes a considerable amount of time and can lead to project bottlenecks, automation plays a critical role in workflow management and optimization. The possibilities for digital workflow automation are practically endless but often include email filtering, data extraction and entry, inventory management, task scheduling, and employee onboarding — to name a few.

DottedSign, for example, emerges as a trusted solution to help organizations streamline and automate the process of obtaining e-signatures on digital documents. Introducing this e-signature tool enabled our client Cyberbiz to significantly reduce the time spent on contract preparation and tracking down signatures. In Cyberbiz’s case, the average wait time from the minute they create documents to when they’re signed and returned gets reduced from two weeks to 28 minutes. That means nearly 335 hours or 20,123 minutes faster — but who’s counting?!

The dramatic reduction in wait times and improvement in internal document processing time that resulted from this partnership is a testament to DottedSign’s ability to promote increased efficiency and productivity in digital workflows. 

2. Introduce Cloud-Based Collaboration Tools

Cloud-powered collaboration tools are a critical component of more efficient workflows, enabling teams to work together seamlessly on shared documents in real time. This reduces the need for lengthy email chains and helps you eliminate version control issues. Among these tools, cloud-based digital asset management solutions offer an organized repository for all digital assets. This makes it easier for your team to find, share, and reuse digital content efficiently, further enhancing productivity and creativity. Implementing cloud-powered solutions also supports mobile and remote accessibility and promotes data security to foster a more flexible and productive work environment. 

For instance, PDF Reader from Kdan Mobile allows users to work seamlessly across multiple devices, including iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows. Whether you’re on the go with your mobile device or leveraging desktop as a service for work, you can access, edit, and organize your PDF files for a smooth and consistent experience across all platforms. 

3. Emphasize Data Security

As companies increasingly recognize the importance of cybersecurity, ensuring data protection has become a paramount goal for teams. To optimize your digital workflows while maintaining optimal data security, you can:

• Conduct thorough security audits regularly to identify vulnerabilities within your processes.
• Implement robust security measures like encryption, authentication, and access controls.
• Ensure sensitive information is protected from unauthorized access or breaches.
• Educate team members on cybersecurity best practices, such as antivirus for their PCs, using VPN for Android and other mobile devices, and two-factor authentication, to prevent human error and data leaks.

To bolster document and data security further, consider incorporating trusted digital tools like PDF Reader and DottedSign from Kdan Mobile. Kdan Mobile’s achievement of ISO 27001 certification for its Information Security Management System (ISMS) underscores an unwavering commitment to the highest international standards. This way, your organization can ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. 

These solutions equip your organization with advanced features including data encryption and audit trails to safeguard not only your business but also your suppliers from data breaches and promote the security of your workflows. 

4. Mobilize Your Data With Analytics

Mobilizing your data through analytics is key to staying competitive in today’s data-driven business landscape. You can leverage analytics to gain valuable insights from your workflow data and identify trends and patterns to make more informed decisions — whether that be for resource allocation, process optimization, or customer engagement.

5. Take Advantage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT)

AI and IoT are quickly becoming game-changers for digital workflow optimization. Consider introducing AI-powered tools like chatbots for customer support or predictive analytics for improved demand forecasting. IoT devices, on the other hand, can help your team collect real-time data from different sources for improved decision-making. Similarly, the integration of chatbots in banking is revolutionizing customer service, offering personalized assistance and streamlining financial transactions. By harnessing the power of AI and IoT, your business can reach new levels of automation, efficiency, and agility within your digital workflows.

Discover the Benefits of Effective Digital Change 

Effective DX and comprehensive automated digital workflows provide teams with a host of benefits as a result, including:

• Increased efficiency and productivity: With cutting-edge solutions in place, organizations streamline processes, reduce time-consuming tasks, and boost team productivity. 
• Boosted collaboration and decision-making: Efficient digital workflows support improved collaboration across the corporate ladder and with various stakeholders, while simultaneously equipping teams with access to real-time data that improves decision-making. 
• Saved resources: Business process automation and optimized workflows help teams save both time and money, making operations more cost-effective long-term.
• An enhanced customer experience: High-quality digital technology supports quicker response times and personalized interactions to improve the customer experience your team can offer.
• Improved data security: Robust security measures established in DX and within your digital workflow software ensure data protection and confidentiality across operations. 
• Greater compliance: Compliance can be tricky, but successful DX and optimized digital workflows help standardize processes and track data more accurately to help you follow regulatory and industry requirements. 

Industry shifts and technological advances aren’t slowing down anytime soon, but the culmination of these benefits provides organizations with the flexibility and resilience needed to thrive amid change and maintain a competitive edge.

Embrace Digital Workflow Solutions and Support 

Digital transformation has been an accelerated journey for many and the future of DX promises to be even more game-changing — with digital workflows continuing to evolve at a fast pace. To navigate intricate digital environments and thrive in this landscape, teams should adopt a proactive approach to digital change and embrace the power of digital workflow solutions.

Kdan Mobile Software stands as a trusted partner for teams along the way, offering innovative solutions to support your DX initiatives — including the PDF Reader, DottedSign, and Kdan Office. We’re dedicated to leveraging software-as-a-service solutions to realize the full potential of mobile work and foster a more flexible and creative work environment. This supports Kdan Mobile’s commitment to empowering individuals and businesses alike to achieve goals and unlock new levels of value.