Digital transformation | Handelskraft - The E-Commerce and Online Marketing Blog

Towards a Digital Economy by enhancing digital competitiveness [5 Reading Tips]

23. May 20161. July 2016 | by Sara Herrera

New data, connectivity, automation and innovative and user-friendly customer interfaces are challenging existing value chains. The perception of time is more important than never. The public demands for a constant immediacy requires a powerful communication infrastructure at B2B and B2C level. Companies must improve their digital maturity in order to recognize new opportunities, develop suitable offerings and get them to market quickly. Digital transformation is indispensable to be competitive and face the challenges of the digital age.

The transformation occurs at implementing gradually more efficient production methods, updating existing business models and applying digital tools and software at the expense of manual processes.

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Reading Tips of the Week

Learn to Think Digitally: Why The MVP Approach Is Not Only Exciting for Start-ups

25. August 2015 | by Christian Otto Grötsch

In the start-up world, the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) approach didn’t become viewed as the lowest risk way to build-up a business only yesterday. This way of thinking propagates “think small” not “think big”. The idea is that you see if there’s even a demand, before pushing forward with a business idea and investing in it. The first step is testing hypotheses and ideas.

Zappos is probably the most well-known example. They first tested if it was even possible to sell shoes online before starting and professionalising. This is why the first Zappos order didn’t occur via their own warehouse; the shoes were simply purchased at the store across the road and then posted.

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E-Commerce

Digitale Transformation: when KPIs & Reports Supercede Middle Management

3. July 2015 | by Christian Otto Grötsch

In Startups, the goal has always been to keep the head count low. This is called a ‘Lean Startup’. This approach has long since found its way into larger companies. Those who want to remain competitive in the face their (more)digital competition have to make hard calculations between requirements and strong staff growth.

Thanks to digitalisation, many company areas can be supported with technology and so looked after by fewer staff members than would have been possible ten years ago.

It’s been a long time since this has only effected administrative positions. If you’re just thinking about the picker in a logistics centre being replaced by self-driving shelves, robot arms, and transport systems, you’re thinking too short.
Middle management is also affected: data is the new decision maker.

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The Digital Changeover Disestablishes the Service Economy

8. June 201521. January 2022 | by Christian Otto Grötsch

The digital changeover is not just happening in companies, but encompasses other parts of society as well. Whether in the car industry, politics, or the education system- digitalisation is being implemented everywhere. But what are the consequences for the individual? Is the digital changeover disestablishing the service economy and what will come after it?

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E-Commerce

German banks in the digital transformation: challenging PayPal – could it work?

3. April 201521. January 2022 | by Christian Otto Grötsch

Grafik:Carsten Frenzl — Graphic: Carsten Frenzl

It seems to be trend as the moment, that old, well-established companies banding together in order to finally be able to challenge the large tech conglomerates. So the Pangea network, consisting of CNN, The Guardian, The Economist, The Financial Times and Reuters, is supposed to be standing against Facebook and Google.”United we stand” – that’s what the German banks are also thinking as they plan a conference on PayPal at the end (!) of the year.

Although the general mood is anything but positive. There has already been talk of a flop before it had even got started, which the banks could also do without. It isn’t even the late start of the proposed service which at fault in all this misery, but the banks’ lack of flexibility in these times of digitalisation. Could an online payment services from the German credit institutions become more successful than PayPal?

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E-Commerce

Processes and Roles in Digital Trade

24. March 2015 | by Christian Otto Grötsch

Grafik:Kool Cats Photography — Graphic:Kool Cats Photography

Social CRM, personalisation, behavioural targeting, big data – it feels like not a week goes by, especially during the CeBIT, without a new buzz word on the topic of digitalisation. Every term focuses on a partial aspect. At the end of the day, the common denominator is that they all aim to address the customer more effectively and personally. The customer experience is the sum of all the buzz words.

The digitalisation of the purchasing process makes it possible to tailor all processes to the customer experience consistently. Data allows the customer journey to be represented digitally, measured across all channels, and analyzed. At least, it is technically possible; trouble free implementation is still a fantasy of the online marketer. However, the plethora of communication channels results in a faster customer connection than ever before. The decisive factor is whether or not a company does something with this, and how organisations react to customer requirements which have come to light.

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Infighting, IPOS, and take-over waves: how are traders and manufactures dealing with the consequences of digitalisation?

10. March 2015 | by Christian Otto Grötsch

E-Commerce Monpoly — Graphic: Daniel Broche

As we noted last week, e-commerce is not enough. How did it get this far? On the one hand, it is the nature of the beast: e-commerce projects often begin with a need for an online shop and then meander into a row of follow-up or precursory projects, as unexpected problem-areas come up or the simple existence of an online shop does not solve problems already existing in the company. The reason for this is that e-commerce has long been a complex business, which requires interdisciplinary and interdepartmental supervision. And the challenges are growing.

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An advantage for manufacturers: the brand creates trust

20. December 2014 | by Christian Otto Grötsch

Grafik: Achim Hepp — Graphic: Achim Hepp

As multichannel, and so also the digitalisation of processes and channels, was discussed extensively for the first time, there was a lot of talk about the improved service associated with this leading to greater customer loyalty. However, just why exactly the customer is supposed to become more trusting is not clearly definable.

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Who is driving the digital transformation? – Politics [article series]

20. November 201421. January 2022 | by Christian Otto Grötsch

Who drives digital transformation in companies? This is the question we want to explore in a three part article series. European and Germany politics are one catalyst of digital transformation. Günther Oettinger certainly does not count as a digital native in the office of the EU commissioner, but the politician does have experience in dealing with corporations and knows how they work.

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Getting there faster: digital transformation in traffic

14. October 2014 | by Christian Otto Grötsch

Cars are already driving-computers. But digital transformation will influence the pleasure of driving in the future even more strongly. There are already attempts to warn drivers with live traffic services and offer them alternative routes. Google has gone a step further with the self-driving car – a car which is steered by a computer.

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