Due to the local challenges that we are all aware of, we will answer the question: what is digital transformation, in a specific context for 2025.
Digital transformation in Romania refers to the process by which a company or institution adopts technology to improve internal processes, services and the way it interacts with customers, partners and suppliers.
Although we have been hearing about digital transformation for years, the actual pace of adoption in Romania is still slow compared to what is happening in the European Union.
One reason could be that it took us quite a while to get the hang of what it was really about and we translated corporate presentations from outside, without trying to understand what the essence actually was and how it could really help us.
Now that we know what digital transformation is, let's discuss the level at which Romania is.
According to public information, despite good infrastructure and excellent internet speed, the digitalization of Romanian enterprises is still lagging behind the EU average, especially for SMEs (source).
There are several reasons why we are 'behind'.
The low level of digital skills remains low. Even though they are tested in the baccalaureate, digital knowledge is limited to the use of social networks and online games for most people.
Another important point is the lack of digitalization within public administration, the lack of a 'master' plan, the use of old technologies, and many other reasons that we are all aware of.
Perhaps the biggest 'fail' is the fact that even in school, IT/ICT teachers fail to make these subjects interesting for students. Unfortunately, teachers are also limited by an outdated subject that is sometimes decades behind current trends and technology.
Okay, what are the good parts?
We have very good growth in the digitalization of private companies.
Surprisingly, many tech start-ups have left Romania and become players on the international market.
Although it doesn't work perfectly, there are movements in the ghiseul.ro area. SPV, etc.
First of all, the huge difference between the private and public sectors stands out. Especially when we talk about companies in the IT, e-commerce, and services fields – they are rapidly adopting modern technologies, automation, and AI.
In contrast, public administration is moving forward extremely slowly due to bureaucracy, lack of regulations, unity, and interconnectivity.
Adoption is extremely difficult, due to the lack of digital skills we discussed earlier.
Digital transformation in Romania it is strongly helped by European funds, PNRR, etc. – where billions of euros are allocated.
The resistance to change that is specific to this part of Europe.
Companies must develop and adapt to technological changes to remain competitive.
The truth is that technology is involved in all areas of business from purchasing, sales, marketing to billing and feedback.
When we want to digitize a company's processes, we need to adapt the technology to its processes. If the processes are inefficient, it is essential to discuss, plan, and modify them.
This is a process that can take quite a long time because it must be aligned with the strategy, objectives, and an education component must be introduced.
Sometimes, the entire business model changes. The clearest example being that most companies have moved from selling one-time products and services to recurring subscriptions. This brings with it a series of advantages but also challenges for both parties.
What is most often missing in Romania, however, is the organizational value component.
These automations can increase productivity, reduce costs, and allow employees to focus on what matters.
An example could be a chat bot that pre-qualifies the discussion before it reaches a real person.
Another example could be automating internal billing flows which can be cumbersome, boring and repetitive.
We have advanced analysis tools combined with machine learning and artificial intelligence that provide accurate predictions for optimizing strategies of any type.
This helps us with real-time visibility of information. We can anticipate customer behavior and business direction, but also quickly identify problems in business flows.
Here we refer to cross-sell and upsell recommendations, reminders of products forgotten in the shopping cart and other personalized recommendations. Virtual assistants but also intuitive interfaces in applications with personalization of the browsing experience.
We know from experience that Microsoft Teams transforms the way teams collaborate.
Thus, the traditional experience is replaced by real-time interaction regardless of location. You have special channels, integrations with Outlook, OneDrive and SharePoint at your disposal, just a click away.
And for everything to be 100% integrated, you can choose Dynamics 365.
It is essential to choose a strategic partner to help you in the digital transformation process.
We, KodingTech, are such a partner. We are recommended by a portfolio of hundreds of clients, but also by a precise approach with clear processes. digital transformation.
We offer a wide range of services from hardware and infrastructure to development and implementation. Thus, we have a 360 view of your business. This holistic approach also ensures seamless integration and exact overlay on business processes.
We place a special emphasis on security and offer advanced data and infrastructure protection services.
We look forward to a more in-depth discussion about what digital transformation is.