There may have been a time when an ambitious business-to-business (B2B) organisation simply adopted new IT systems occasionally; in today’s world, though, they need to harness the power of digital transformation, using a strategic approach.
In other words, such an organisation needs to design and put in place a strong digital backbone.
What Exactly Is A ‘Digital Backbone’?
One way to define a “digital backbone”, is as an integrated framework of technologies, methodologies, and data systems that support an organisation’s digital transformation.
This core, connected IT structure within an organisation can be regarded as a “central nervous system” for digital processes. By replacing disconnected or outdated systems, a B2B organisation can create a unified, agile, and scalable foundation for operations and innovation.
3 Ways B2B Software Contributes to Greater Innovation in Engineering
Incorporated within the “digital backbone” as far as B2B software engineering is concerned, are such tools as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, cloud-based platforms, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and data analytics.
In B2B contexts, these elements work together to streamline operations and facilitate innovation. Below are some of the specific ways in which they are accomplishing this:
Seamless Integration and Interoperability
One of the most powerful things that B2B software does through the digital backbone, is helping to create a unified ecosystem through the integration of legacy systems with modern technologies.
For example, when it comes to manufacturing, a well-developed digital backbone can be vital for enabling communication between ERP systems, manufacturing execution systems (MES), and IoT-enabled devices.
This allows for smooth, real-time data flow – which in turn, can greatly support engineers in their quest to optimise production processes, minimise downtime, and put in place advanced process control (APC).
Data-driven Innovation
The digital backbone’s effectiveness in centralising and contextualising data also significantly helps engineers to make the most of AI, machine learning (ML), and analytics as drivers of innovation.
Within the biopharmaceutical sector, for instance, a digital backbone can consolidate the data accumulated across experiments, instruments, and reports. This, in turn, enables AI and ML to optimise drug development processes, shorten timelines, and improve decision-making.
Scalability And Flexibility
A B2B organisation will know that its digital backbone has been designed well, when it is able to relatively easily add new applications or devices, without its existing systems needing to be overhauled each time.
After all, the demands of engineering projects are liable to evolve over time. So, a digital backbone that is flexible enough to support new business models and the integration of new applications, is likely to be a godsend for a B2B organisation in the 2020s.
Investing In Its Digital Backbone Could Be One of the Best Decisions Your B2B Firm Makes
The right B2B software, then, can be a powerful enabler for engineering innovation. However, there will still be some other important challenges to take account of, as you look to develop your organisation’s digital backbone.
- If, for example, your business presently depends on somewhat outdated IT infrastructure, this may be a hindrance to digital transformation. So, it will be of critical importance to simplify and consolidate your firm’s IT systems.
- Engineering innovation within a B2B organisation can also sometimes be stalled by a lack of the necessary expertise in such fields as AI, data science, and software engineering. You may, however, be able to rely on external cloud-based solutions or managed services as a means of bridging this gap.
- A high level of search visibility for B2B companies is crucial too, going hand in hand with other aspects of the given organisation’s digital transformation. Fortunately, reputable B2B search engine optimisation (SEO) agencies such as Ink Digital can be on hand to help organisations like yours to build the right profile – and attract the most lucrative leads – online.
For further information and insights in relation to the concept of the digital backbone and how an organisation can get one, why not consult this piece from Enterprise Times?