Each company’s experience of digitalization has been different. Whatever their level of digitalization and the strategies they have put in place, we can see that digital technology has certainly brought many solutions… but it has also brought a certain amount of constraint for employees and a certain amount of chaos in IS (information system) management . Platformization is one of the answers to these new challenges.
Indeed, platformization aims to personalize the user experience, automate tasks and reduce the burden of software administration and maintenance. It is therefore the next logical step in the long digital transformation of companies (not necessarily planned, by the way). But it also brings returns on investment (in terms of performance, profitability, quality and comfort in the workplace) that enablethis new stage to quickly pay for itself.
What is business platformization?
Platformization is a transition in the way companies operate, whether or not they rely on existing software. Using a no-code or low-code platform, it orchestrates all the organization‘s operations and activities. For example: from sales to HR to production planning.
The platforms therefore make it possible to :
- Connect existing software and Excel spreadsheets,
- Reproduce company activities in process form,
- Automate repetitive, manual and time-consuming tasks.
- Improve ergonomics and the employee experience in carrying out operations.
Platforms make “paper” know-how and procedures operational and tangible.
Platformization is not a revolution in the business world. It enhances your know-how, keeps software relevant while smoothing out its functional flaws and holes. And it does all this at marginal cost, usually without a single line of code.
Find out more in our article on process automation
The advantages of platformization
Operationalize internal processes
Whether or not you have a clear, formalized procedure or process for an activity, the platform makes the sequence of tasks in your company operational and tangible. Steps are available or pushed to employees at the right moment.
Free employees from repetitive tasks
Thanks to automation, platforms eliminate the need to search for information in software programs, make multiple entries in different software programs, and copy and paste data repeatedly. Errors are greatly reduced.
Improve collaboration and deadlines
Platforms digitize processes, pushing the right steps at the right time, and enabling smooth, efficient validation circuits. Collaboration is improved. Deadlines are shortened.
Improve performance and profitability
By reducing lead times, automating tasks and streamlining collaboration, productivity is improved, while margins and profitability increase. Your first process digitization projects on a platform finance subsequent ones, thanks to the return on investment.
Easy to install, progressive and economical
The platforms are generally no-code in use by business departments. It is advisable to go at your own pace, process by process, to prove ROI. Last but not least, their business model is pay-as-you-go, often with a free model to get you started.
Examples of platform use
The case of sales administration
Classic operation
- Gathering requirements
- Creation of the prospect and deal in a CRM (multiple clicks and entries, including information with no direct added value for the customer but important for the company)
- Deal costing on dedicated software (heterogeneity between salespeople’s costings)
- Manual transposition of costing elements onto a quotation (multiple copy-paste and risk of error)
- Manual transposition of costing information to CRM (multiple copy-paste operations and risk of error)
- Manual e-mailing of the quote to the prospect
- Manual, recurring prospect follow-up
- At the end, updating of the deal in the CRM (multiple clicks and entries , including information with no direct added value for the customer but important for the company) .
Generally speaking, use of 3 different software packages (CRM, quotation software and email service) and frequent browsing.
Platform operation
- Gathering requirements
- Creation of the prospect and deal on the platform (one click to access the process, only relevant information is entered, other information is automatically entered by the platform, the platform automatically updates the CRM)
- Deal costing on dedicated software (the platform transmits know-how to sales staff and guides them. Consistency)
- Automated conversion of costing elements into a quotation
- Automated transfer of costing information to CRM
- Automated e-mailing of the quote to the prospect
- Automated, recurring prospect follow-up
- At the end, the deal is updated in the CRM (one click to access the process, only relevant information is entered, other information is automatically entered by the platform, the platform then updates the CRM).
Platformization frees sales staff from administrative tasks. The platform orchestrates data by connecting to existing software.
The case of purchasing management and approval
Note: the platform used for purchasing management is the same as that used for sales administration. This pooling of resources means greater comfort and productivity for our teams.
Classic operation
- Identification of the need by an employee and validation with a manager (research time in the purchasing history to make an initial estimate of the cost, multi-channel exchanges with the manager, waiting until validation by the manager).
- Supplier search in ERP and selection (if documentation of last purchases is lacking, it is necessary to manually find suppliers and send them the requirement).
- Receipt of purchase orders and contracts, updating of supplier database and manual filing/renaming of documents(multiple clicks and entries including information with no direct added value for the customer but important for the company).
- Purchase order validation circuit (awaiting validation)
- Receive order, update ERP and check conformity (depending on operators, heterogeneity possible)
- Invoice transmission by the finance team and approval circuit by the purchasing manager …
Platform operation
- Identification of the need by an employee and validation with a manager (one-click access to the process and purchasing history, exchange on the platform and efficient approval)
- ERP supplier search and selection(instant display of ERP data on the platform, one-click selection of relevant suppliers and automatic dispatch of requirements)
- Receipt of purchase orders and contracts, updating of the supplier database and automated filing/renaming of documents(one click to access the current process on the platform, input of relevant information only, the rest is automated, automatic import of attach ments and automated filing/renaming).
- Purchase order validation circuit (effective approval on the platform)
- Receipt of order, ERP update and conformity check (procedure followed seamlessly thanks to the platform and automatic ERP update).
- Invoice transmission by the finance team and approval circuit by the purchasing manager (more efficient steps with the platform)
Platformization facilitates collaboration and reduces time-consuming team tasks.
Now you know all about platforming. Now it’s your turn! See you soon for more content!
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