10 Essential Tools to Support Your Digital Transformation
What comes to your mind when you hear the term digital transformation? Do you think of a new website, app, or other types of technology? Many organizations and individuals need help with this concept, narrowing down digitalization to only matters of disruptive technology. Dozens of digitalization tools exist that can optimize your operations.
However, before diving into these ten essential tools, let's define digital transformation. According to Gartner, "digital transformation can refer to anything from IT modernization (for example, cloud computing), to digital optimization, to the invention of new digital business models." You can also define it as taking an established business model and transforming it through information technologies (IT) to create a competitive advantage for the enterprise.
That said, the following sections will provide a brief overview of various digital transformation tools, followed by a detailed explanation of their benefits and uses.
1. Digital Marketing Tools
Gone are the days when marketers relied on conventional marketing methods such as print ads, radio commercials, television spots, etc. Today, they must be more creative and innovative to reach potential customers. To stay ahead of the competition, you must adopt modern strategies. And what better way to realize that feat than by leveraging the best digital marketing tools?
Below, we review a few of the top digital transformation solutions that can transform your marketing strategy:
Email Marketing. Email marketing has existed since the 1970s, but its popularity has increased exponentially. According to Statista, email marketing earns brands a whopping $36-$45 ROI for every dollar invested. This makes email marketing one of the most effective digital marketing solutions today. Some of the best digitalization tools for email marketing include HubSpot, SendGrid, MailChimp, and more.
Social Media Marketing. Social media marketing is another excellent tool that helps businesses connect with their target audience. It allows them to promote their products and services via social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and others. The best digital transformation tools for social media marketing include Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social, and more.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization). SEO is an integral part of any digital marketing campaign. With Google being the king of search engines, ensuring your site ranks high on all major search engines is crucial. For this purpose, you should leverage the best digital transformation tools available. These include SEMrush, Moz, Ahrefs, and many more.
Lead Enrichment. Lead enrichment tools help you identify qualified leads based on their demographics, location, interests, and behavior patterns. They then nurture those leads until they become sales-ready prospects. Digital tool examples in this category include HubSpot Sales, OptinMonster, Unbounce, Intercom, etc.
2. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Tools
Customer relationship management (CRM) software helps manage customer interactions across multiple channels. CRM systems allow companies to track and analyze customer data, including purchase history, preferences, and other details. In addition to providing insights about existing customers, CRMs enable companies to build stronger relationships with prospective clients.
Below is a brief overview of the best digital transformation tools for CRM, their uses, and their benefits:
Salesforce. Salesforce is one of the leading CRM platforms used by small and large enterprises. Its intuitive interface and powerful features make it easy to use and learn. It also offers mobile apps for iOS and Android devices.
HubSpot. HubSpot is a popular CRM platform that enables companies to create personalized campaigns to increase conversion rates. It provides real-time reporting and analytics and seamless integration with various technological tools for business.
Zoho CRM. Zoho CRM is a cloud-based solution that integrates with other business applications such as accounting software, payroll, project management, and more. It also includes robust features designed to improve productivity and streamline operations.
Insightly. Insightly is a web-based CRM system that lets users organize contacts into different groups and view detailed reports about each contact. Users can easily add notes, tasks, and reminders to contacts and send emails directly from the app.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales. Dynamics 365 Sales enables salespeople to build strong customer relationships, take actions based on insights, and close deals faster. You can keep track of your accounts and contacts, nurture your sales from lead to order, and create sales collateral.
3. Communication Tools
Communication tools are essential to keep the workforce informed and connected, especially now that more companies have embraced hybrid or remote work models. These tools let teams communicate effectively, share files, and collaborate on projects. Below is a list of some of the most helpful communication and collaboration tools available today:
Slack. Slack is a team messaging digital transformation platform that makes staying connected and working together easier than ever. It has a clean user interface and supports both desktop and mobile versions. Depending on your subscription model, the tool offers unlimited storage space, file-sharing capabilities, integration with over 2,400 apps and services, etc.
Asana. Asana is a task management tool that helps teams plan and execute projects. You can assign tasks to specific members or entire teams, and it automatically updates progress throughout the process. It's beneficial when working remotely because it keeps everyone on the same page.
Microsoft Teams. Microsoft Teams is an enterprise communications platform that allows you to connect with colleagues in real-time. It also has a built-in chat, video conferencing, screen sharing, and document editing.
Zoom. Zoom is a simple yet robust video conferencing tool that works seamlessly with any device. It's ideal for remote meetings, training sessions, and presentations. The transformation enterprise solution also has a free version that offers 40-minute video calls with up to 100 attendees.
4. Project Management Tools
Project management tools help teams manage all aspects of a project, including planning, execution, monitoring, and evaluation. They also provide a clear visual representation of the project workflow so stakeholders can see what needs to be done next. Below is a list of some of the most beneficial project management tools available today:
ClickUp. ClickUp is a cloud-based project management tool that enables teams to track their progress and collaborate on projects. It also includes a calendar, Gantt chart, and resource allocation functionality.
Trello. Trello is a collaborative project management tool that lets teams build boards and cards to represent tasks, milestones, and deadlines visually. It also offers drag-and-drop functionality, making moving items around easy.
Wrike. Wrike is a cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) solution that provides project management features such as time tracking, reporting, and invoicing. It also integrates with other business applications like email, accounting, and marketing automation.
Zoho Projects. Zoho Projects is one of small and midsize businesses' best project management tools. It offers essential project management functions such as scheduling, budgeting, and resource management.
5. Cloud Storage Solutions
Cloud computing is one of the most fundamental enablers of digital transformation. Its adoption is the first step toward any successful digital transformation journey. Cloud computing reduces IT costs and frees up valuable resources by transferring data formerly stored within your company's physical infrastructure to an internet-based server network. In addition, it increases productivity by providing access to files from anywhere at any time.
This section discusses five essential cloud storage solutions that every organization should implement.
Amazon S3. Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) is a web-scale distributed object store that stores data as objects. These objects are broken down into chunks called buckets, which can then be accessed via URLs. You can use S3 to host websites, mobile apps, or back-end services.
Google Drive. Google Drive is a cloud-based file-hosting service that lets users create folders and upload documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Users can share these files with others using the same account.
Microsoft OneDrive. Microsoft OneDrive is a cloud-based solution that provides unlimited online storage space for individuals and organizations. You can store photos, videos, music, and more.
Dropbox. Dropbox is a popular cloud storage solution that allows users to sync files across multiple devices.
6. Collaboration Suites
Before the digital business transformation, collaboration was limited to face-to-face meetings. However, collaboration has become a critical part of any digital transformation strategy. This is because effective collaboration helps companies improve customer experience, increase employee efficiency, and reduce operational costs.
Here are the top examples of digital collaboration software suites that every goal-focused organization should leverage:
Google's G Suite. Google's G Suite includes Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Hangouts, Calendar, and Forms. It also has a suite of add-ons, including Google Apps Marketplace, Analytics 360, and AdWords.
Salesforce Chatter. Salesforce Chatter is a social networking platform that enables salespeople to communicate with each other and their customers through real-time messaging.
Office 365. Communication exchange and collaboration among the workforce have never been easier than with Office 365. The suite gives you access to world-class digitalization tools like Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and OneDrive. Their comprehensive features allow you to easily manage email, calendar, document sharing, and instant messaging.
Slack. Slack is another innovative collaboration suite that gives Microsoft 365 a run for its money. It offers various useful features like group chat, voice communication, and video conferencing. And the best part is that it also supports integrating corporate platforms like SharePoint, CRM, and ERP systems.
7. Next-Generation Intranet Platforms
The intranet is an essential component of your digital transformation strategy. An intranet is a private network within your company that connects employees from different departments and functions. It is a central hub where they can collaborate on projects, share information, and get training.
Next-generation intranet platforms provide a secure, centralized workspace that supports all types of content—from text to images, audio, and video. They also offer easy navigation, search capabilities, and mobile compatibility. Here are some of the most popular next-gen intranet solutions available today:
Cisco WebEx Meetings. Cisco WebEx Meetings is a web conferencing tool that lets you host virtual meetings in minutes. It also integrates seamlessly with your existing infrastructure.
LumApps. If you're in the market for a social intranet platform that supports team collaboration and knowledge management, LumApps is what you need. Its intuitive interface makes creating, editing, and publishing documents, presentations, spreadsheets, and forms simple. Besides, it integrates seamlessly with your collaborative suite and business apps.
Workplace from Meta is an all-in-one intranet solution that allows users to connect, collaborate, and learn. It facilitates company-level online group work, instant messaging, news sharing, and video conferencing. It also provides enterprise security and compliance controls.
Microsoft Sharepoint. Sharepoint is one of today's most widely used intranet tools for digital transformation. It has a common home portal where you can share relevant resources with your colleagues. For private messaging, Sharepoint lets you segment your teams into various divisions, where each division gets a visual calendar and timeline to complete projects. You can also use Sharepoint to store files, track changes, and organize them into folders.
8. Digital Accounting & Financial Management Platforms
Gone are the days when businesses and accountants relied on pen and paper and other obsolete technologies like calculators. Today, there's no better way to keep track of your finances than through digital accounting tools. These powerful cloud-based applications let you automate processes, streamline operations, and save time and money.
Here are some of the top digital accounting tools available today:
QuickBooks Online. QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based accounting solution that helps small businesses and freelancers stay organized and manage their accounts. With its robust reporting features, you can generate accurate financial reports anytime.
Xero. Xero is a cloud-based software application offering comprehensive financial management solutions. It includes everything you need to run your business, including invoicing, payroll, inventory, taxation, and sales.
Sage Intacct. Sage Intacct is a native cloud financial management system that enables companies to gain visibility across their entire organization. It has a built-in dashboard gives you real-time insights into key performance indicators (KPIs) such as revenue, expenses, profit margins, and more.
NetSuite. NetSuite is a cloud-based ERP (enterprise resource planning) solution for small and midsize businesses. It offers a full suite of business management functionalities, including accounting, CRM (customer relationship management), eCommerce, human capital management, financial planning, and more.
Microsoft Dynamics Finance. Microsoft Dynamics Finance maximizes financial visibility and profitability while automating your business process. Microsoft Dynamics Finance allows for strategic impact and reduced costs with process automation, budget control, and financial intelligence planning and analysis.
9. Content Management System (CMS) Tools
A content management system (CMS) is an innovative digital tool that lets you easily add, update, and delete pages, posts, images, videos, and other types of content on your website. CMSs make it easy to build websites and blogs without hiring a developer or spending hours learning HTML code. They also provide a secure environment for storing sensitive data.
There are many different CMS options available today, but here are some of the best:
WordPress. WordPress is a free, open-source platform that makes creating beautiful websites and blogs easy. Its intuitive interface and drag-and-drop editor allow anyone to get started quickly.
Wix. Wix is a popular CMS option for creating professional sites in minutes. The platform is simple enough for beginners yet flexible enough for advanced users.
Drupal. Drupal is an open-source CMS that allows you to customize your site according to your needs. That means you have total control over how your site looks and functions.
Prestashop. Prestashop is a fully customizable CMS with many modules to help you grow your online store. You can use this platform to sell products from multiple channels, including Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, Google Shopping, Instagram, Pinterest, Shopify, etc.
Kentico. Kentico is a versatile web content management system for building feature-rich business websites, e-commerce stores, and intranets.
HubSpot. HubSpot CMS combines website creation with the power of a CRM platform to customize the entire buying journey, streamline marketing and sales alignment, and deliver true closed-loop reporting.
10. Business Automation Tools
Ask any results-driven business, and they'll tell you their primary focus is maximizing productivity while minimizing expenses to increase profits. That's why automating specific tasks using innovative digital platforms is crucial. Business automation tools let you automate repetitive tasks so you can focus on what's most important — growing your business.
They include anything from customer service software, email marketing solutions, social media monitoring tools, and much more. Here are the top 5 digital tools for streamlining your workflow:
Zapier
Zapier connects apps to automate processes between them. For example, suppose you want to automatically send new leads to Salesforce when they're created in Mailchimp. You can connect those two apps through Zapier, saving time and increasing organization.
HubSpot
Hubspot is one of the leading providers of inbound marketing software. With its powerful features, you can manage all aspects of your lead generation process, from lead nurturing to lead scoring to follow-up. But that's not all; HubSpot automation helps you personalize your sales and marketing outreach based on each prospect's unique situation. For instance, the software provides support ticket resolution, feedback surveys, and automated emails.
Salesforce
Salesforce is a cloud-based CRM solution that offers everything you need to run your entire sales team. It includes everything from account management to pipeline tracking, lead management, campaign management, and more. And because it's cloud-based, you don't have to worry about installing updates or managing servers.
Google Data Studio
Google Data Studio is a free data visualization tool that lets you create beautiful dashboards and reports. The best part? You can share these visualizations with anyone else in your organization. So if you want to show your boss exactly how effective your marketing efforts are, drag and drop your data into the dashboard.
HootSuite
Hootsuite is an easy way to schedule posts across various social networks simultaneously. If you want to post something to LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube simultaneously, this tool is for you.
What Are the Benefits of Digitalization Tools?
You need more digital software, from business process automation to workplace organization tools. These digital tooling solutions offer countless benefits tipped to make your life easier by making processes more effective, consistent, efficient, and secure.
Increased Productivity
The first benefit of digitalization tools is increased productivity. You no longer have to manually enter information into spreadsheets or databases when working with a digital transformation platform. Instead, you can simply click a button or tap a screen to complete a task. Likewise, you can automate repetitive, mundane tasks to focus on higher-value activities.
Improved Customer Service
Another critical benefit of digitalization tools and techniques is their ability to improve customer service. From real-time chatbots to self-service options, customers expect businesses to be available 24/7. That means you must provide excellent customer service even during extraordinary hours. A digital transformation platform enables delivering exceptional customer experience while meeting deadlines.
Better Business Processes
Using digital transformation solutions for project and professional services can streamline your business processes trouble-free. Automating manual processes can reduce errors, save money, and increase efficiency. Plus, you can track every step of the way to ensure compliance with government regulations.
Better Workplace Organization
Workplace organization tools like Dropbox, Trello, and Clickup allow you to organize your workspace efficiently and effectively. These platforms help you stay organized and productive, from file sharing to document collaboration. Business transformation software also helps streamline functions and establish order in the workplace.
More Secure Information Management
With all the sensitive information stored online today, security has become one of the most important aspects of any digital transformation strategy. But when working with a digital business transformation management platform that uses encryption and other security features, you can rest easy knowing your company's confidential data is safe.
Final Remarks
Digital transformation isn't just about adopting new technologies; it's about transforming your business model. To do that successfully, you need a comprehensive suite of digital tools that will enable you to take advantage of emerging trends and capitalize on opportunities as they arise. With this well-thought-out list of digital tools, we're confident you'll find the right solution to meet your needs.
But again, every business has unique technological needs and requirements. So before shopping around for digital tools, consider your business, how much time and resources you want to invest, and whether you require enterprise-level functionality. Then, once you've narrowed your search, compare different vendors' offerings to see which ones best fit your needs. In comparing products, you should evaluate each vendor's support team. If you ever encounter an issue with your product, you'll want to know who to contact.
At Mach One Digital, we're passionate about helping businesses like yours meet their digital transformation needs through value-driven software development, design, and digital marketing. Our team of experts is ready to help you select the right technology for your specific needs and stay caught up. Schedule a discovery call with Mach One Digital today to learn more!
