County Development Centers’ Digitalization Training – A Step Towards the Future
Author: Elo Gaver
In the autumn of 2024, the County Development Centers (MAKs) partnered with Digiwise OÜ to launch a digitalization training program aimed at increasing business owners’ awareness of how digital technologies can enhance business processes. The training was led by Lauri Antalainen, who has extensive experience in delivering practical training on digitalization and automation topics.
Digitalization – Where to Start?
The first module focused on identifying losses and waste in processes. Participants quickly realized that the biggest obstacles to effective work in businesses were fragmented, inaccurate, or poorly structured information flows. Lauri Antalainen highlighted various forms of digital waste during the training, including:
- Manual data entry and double processing
- Excessive communication and information overload
- Inefficient use of time and unoptimized processes
The second module addressed improving processes through standardization and automation. Broadly speaking, companies have the opportunity to improve workflows through standardization, digitalization, and automation. Common solutions include the adoption of e-invoices and the digitalization of work orders. The training also covered robotic process automation in businesses, where repetitive manual tasks can be entrusted to software robots.
Real-Time Economy and Data Quality
The third module focused on real-time business solutions, allowing companies to make data-driven decisions without delay. The main advantages of these solutions include secure and automatic data flow, machine-readable e-invoices and delivery notes, as well as the use of relational databases and registries.
During the training day, participants discussed how data quality and structure impact decision-making processes within companies. In a practical exercise, they analyzed which registries were necessary for their work and how existing data could be used more efficiently.
Making the Right Choices in Implementing Digitalization Projects
The fourth and final module was focused on planning digitalization projects and conducting cost-benefit analyses. Companies received guidance on how to choose the right software solutions for their needs, how to develop a digitalization roadmap, and how to calculate the return on investment for digitalization.
Lauri shared examples where companies replaced outdated ERP systems with newer solutions that better met their changing needs.
This practical training program gave participants a clear overview of digitalization opportunities, along with actionable tips. It became evident that digitalization is not just a passing trend but an essential step for staying competitive.
Key Takeaways from the Training Sessions:
- Mapping and optimizing processes is the foundation of digitalization.
- Data quality determines the success of digitalization.
- Choosing the right tools and software helps avoid large costs and failed projects.
The County Development Centers’ initiative to offer such training is a crucial step in advancing digitalization and enhancing the competitiveness of Estonian businesses.
