Digital transformation has ceased to be an optional complement and has become a strategic priority for Galician SMEs. In the context of the Economic Office of Galicia, advisory services in the field of Operations focus precisely on this point: guidance in the digitalization of activity, reorganizing processes, improving operational control and adopting appropriate technologies to increase competitiveness.
In this article, we propose five concrete and applicable steps that any director of an SME can promote in their organization with expert support.
Operational diagnosis: identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies
A quick diagnosis of your operations allows you to discover activities that add little value —for example, redundant manual processes, decentralized communications or excessive time on administrative tasks— and that, in turn, slow down overall efficiency. This analysis can be carried out without many difficulties with a pragmatic approach and without large investments.
Establish key metrics and visualize them on a dashboard
Select efficiency indicators (such as cycle time, error rate, stock level or deadline compliance) and centralize them on an intelligent dashboard: balanced scorecard, Business Intelligence tools or automated reports that facilitate a clear view of performance and allow informed and agile decision-making.
Apply Lean methodologies and automate processes
Adopt tools or approaches based on Lean Management to eliminate waste, activities that do not add value or unnecessary steps in the production flow. Combine these principles with the implementation of digital solutions —ERP, CRM, WMS, document management, etc.— and collaboration platforms to optimize management, reduce costs and increase your productivity.
Foster collaboration and efficient project management
Investing in platforms such as Teams, Trello, Slack, Notion or SharePoint facilitates the planning, assignment and monitoring of projects and tasks. This collaborative management promotes agility and clarity in teams, reducing errors and improving internal coordination.
Implement pilot solutions and quickly adapt processes
Start with a small-scale project —for example, automate a process, launch a pilot from spreadsheet to ERP, or centralize operational communications— and measure the impact. If the result is positive, progressively extend it to other areas.
In conclusion..
Digital transformation does not need to be a traumatic revolution, with a strategic approach, technical knowledge and appropriate support, any Galician SME can advance towards operational efficiency, reducing costs, improving productivity and strengthening its competitive position.
From the Economic Office of Galicia we can guide you step by step with your first steps. Request your free advisory service and start your company’s transformation now.
