Digitisation versus digitalisation: What’s the difference?

By Key Digital

10 Mar 2021

Digitisation or digitalisation? The two may sound similar, they may sound like synonyms for one another, but they are very much different. They each have their own purposes and advantages, let’s explore.

Digitisation

This is the conversion of items, such as images, text and sound from a physical format to a digital form that can be processed by a computer. It is done with the intention of improving the efficiency of business processes. For example, scanning a signed, physical document and saving it as a PDF on your computer. That is digitisation in action.

Digitisation comes with a selection of advantages, including:

Recovery – Paper documents are susceptible to many disasters, they can be lost, torn, scrunched up, burned or simply thrown away accidentally. If all documents are converted to a digital form, then they are safe from all of these risks, and will always remain retrievable if stored safely in the cloud.Interaction – Digital documents make communication with others significantly more convenient – be it via email, ERP system or collaborative working suite. Real-time access to these digital files with full audit tracking and version control makes collaboration a hassle-free experience.Convenience – If all documents are converted into digital forms, everyone in the business can be given access to them. This makes working more efficient and will remove the stress of having to locate certain documents that could be anywhere in the building.

Digitalisation

This is similar to digitisation, just on a larger scale. As opposed to converting individual items into digital versions, this is moving a whole business to function digitally. It includes digital transformation with the intention of improving company efficiency by using digital programmes to benefit workflow, indexing and much more.

Digitalisation also comes with many benefits, such as:

Accessibility – As the world becomes more reliant on technology, people require information quickly. Therefore, moving to a digital workplace lends itself to this need, as documents become digital and instantly available to all with permission. Filing cabinets may have some level of organisation, but instant retrievability thanks to OCR (optical character recognition) will make audits a breeze as well as improving customer service.Opportunity – If a business is heavily digital, then it makes communication much easier for those inside and outside of the business. With your workforce using digital tools such as mobile devices and technologies that make them mobile and/or using social collaboration and unified communication platforms, productivity will thrive as this creates new opportunities to engage differently.Automation – By introducing digital workflows to a business, what were manual tasks can now be automated. Not only does this improve efficiency and productivity, but it empowers the modern distributed workforce and all its wider benefits. This streamlining removes wasted time and its associated costs.

How digitised is your business? Find out here.

Latest news

1

Rise of the multi-skilled workforce as employers ‘reimagine’ jobs to fill skills gaps A VR headset helps construction learners explore CAD plans

Rise of the multi-skilled workforce as employers ‘reimagine’ jobs to fill skills gaps

09 Jul 2025

2

Walker Fire accelerates growth with two strategic acquisitions and launch of new digital platform Walker Fire

Walker Fire accelerates growth with two strategic acquisitions and launch of new digital platform

08 Jul 2025

3

10th year of growth for Begbies Traynor Ric Traynor of Begbies Traynor

10th year of growth for Begbies Traynor

08 Jul 2025

4

Iconic Lancaster Inn gets £600K makeover New bar at Toll House Inn at Lancaster

Iconic Lancaster Inn gets £600K makeover

08 Jul 2025

5

FWP completes life-changing youth support project Boat House Youth Centre

FWP completes life-changing youth support project

08 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley College University Courses Building, Burnley, BB12 0AN

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase
unnamed (2).jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Jul 2025 - 09 Jul 2025

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase

Crow Wood Hotel, Burnley, BB12 0RT

09:30 - 16:00

Blackburn Cathedral hosts Champagne and Diamonds Event with Ainsworth Jewellers
Champagne-Jewellery 10 07 25_page-0001.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
10 Jul 2025 - 10 Jul 2025

Blackburn Cathedral hosts Champagne and Diamonds Event with Ainsworth Jewellers

Blackburn Cathedral, Blackburn, BB1 5AA

18:00 - 20:30

Choose Chorley for Business - Talent Reimagined Business Breakfast
talentreimaginedbb.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Jul 2025 - 10 Jul 2025

Choose Chorley for Business - Talent Reimagined Business Breakfast

Strawberry Fields Digital Hub, Chorley, PR71PS

08:00 - 10:30

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past
1750160034867.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Jul 2025 - 16 Jul 2025

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:30

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin