Johannesburg, 14 Jul 2022
Digital transformation is not a new concept and South African businesses have steadily evolved and increased their inclusion of digital tools over time, with a faster influx happening over the past three years. The adoption rate has accelerated due to the pandemic. Businesses were forced to adopt new ways of working and digital transformation forms part of that. In some industries, readily available client options have increased as internet speed has also improved.
But how do companies determine what kind of digital intervention is needed for their business and who to partner with? According to Ian Nel, Strategic Planning and Programs Director at Canon Southern Africa, it comes down to people, process and then technology. “Digital adoption starts with understanding the needs of the environment that we work in and the benefits of the solution. For example, Canon works with its key customers in helping them highlight where their challenges are and what type of benefits technological intervention can bring.”
Challenges can present themselves in many parts of an organisation, including their systems, content and security. The benefits of digital transformation can range from improved productivity and visibility within processes to improved accountability and a greater sense of transparency. One of the biggest advantages is creating a system-driven process that doesn’t need human interaction.
While businesses might be eager to establish the latest technological solutions in their organisation, it is important that business owners look at the bigger picture and establish key considerations before introducing new systems to their employee’s environment. “Businesses need to consider their need for compliance and if the technological solution they are investing in is scalable, irrespective of their current size. Before you deploy technological solutions, it’s imperative to understand the needs of your processes and people,” says Nel.
Adapting to new ways of working is one thing, but how can businesses leverage new technologies to prepare for the future? Every organisation has an element of four things: HR, finance, sales and marketing, and operations and logistics. “Understanding the key touch points in those areas will help businesses apply the best tailored solutions for their needs. With cloud-enabled devices, we can increase scalability and work collaboration, while advanced capturing and automated process solutions can help CFOs manage costs as more people are working and printing from home,” explains Nel.
“In the beginning of the pandemic, we all had to accelerate our transformation. At Canon, we started with connected thinking. We had to ask the right questions on every touch point in the business. What are we accountable for? How do we improve on what we’re doing? Is there a technological solution that can assist? We started with our people, looking at each department’s needs separately. Following that, we reviewed our compliance within data privacy (POPI Act) and internal processes, identifying bottlenecks in our systems and procedures,” says Nel.
Businesses that feel overwhelmed or pressured to find digital solutions for every problem right away need to remember that no business is static, they’re dynamic. “It’s about constant improvements as we go along. The fact that we have such a good product suite means we can use our content management solutions in our own organisation. For example, after onboarding a new warehouse provider and deploying a new ERP system, we reviewed our current processes and automated them using Therefore and office 365m with SharePoint,” further explains Nel.
“Transforming digitally begins with connected thinking across the board from stakeholders, CEOs and CFOs. You have to assess where you’re at and understand that needs may vary from department to department. You need to measure how time-consuming manual tasks are, establish what can be automated and find suitable solutions that can be scaled as your business adjusts,” concludes Nel.
Share
Canon Europe
Canon Europe is the EMEA strategic headquarters of Canon Inc., a global provider of imaging technologies and services. Canon Europe has operations in roughly 120 countries, with approximately 12,850 employees, and contributes to approximately a quarter of Canon’s global revenues annually.
Founded in 1937, the desire to continuously innovate has kept Canon at the forefront of imaging excellence throughout its 80 plus year history and has commitments to invest in the right areas and capture growth opportunities, from cameras to commercial printers, and industrial equipment to healthcare technologies.
Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei – ‘living and working together for the common good’. In EMEA, Canon Europe pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services.
Canon is constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through its technology and spirit of innovation, it pushes the bounds of what is possible – helping to see our world in ways we never have before.
Further information about Canon Europe is available at: www.canon-europe.com
Canon South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Canon South Africa (Pty) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon Europe, came into being on January 4, 2000. Canon Europe is the regional sales and marketing operation for Canon Inc., represented in 120 countries and employing over 11,000 people across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Canon Europe invested in South Africa with a view to growing and expanding its market share in the country.
In South Africa, the Canon brand is today synonymous with consistency, driven by the company’s passion, imagination, knowledge and importantly, loyalty to its customers. Canon SA offers a wide range of consumer imaging products and business solutions as well as a variety of large format printers.
Canon technologies are durable, innovative, intuitive, and feature smart and environmentally sustainable designs. Canon invests heavily in R & D and will continue to deliver new and technologically advanced products that cater for a variety of requirements.
In South Africa Canon will continue to support environmental sustainability by operating responsibly, minimizing the impact of its business on the environment and also encouraging a culture of environmental awareness and accountability amongst their staff, business associates and partners. Canon has also maintained its ISO 14001 environmental accreditation since 2007.
For more information about Canon South Africa visit www.canon.co.za or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.