We are happy to have taken part in the launch of IQ Digital, a hybrid project using networking and online audit tools to assist small and medium-sized enterprises in their digitalization process.

IQ Digital is a project created by the UPGRADE 100 platform in collaboration with George (BCR’s digital banking product). Through this initiative, the organizers aim to support the Romanian business environment by bringing together the know-how of digitalization specialists.

On November 26, 2021, Corina Cimpoca, MKOR founder and consultant, discussed digitalization and what digital transformation entails for SMEs alongside specialists such as Dana Dima, BCR Vice President, Marian Ignat, BCR Executive Director, Warren Knight from Think Digital First, and Andrei Nicoară, e-governance expert.

IQ Digital Episode 1: Digitalization in Romania

During the first IQ Digital episode, Corina highlighted the importance of digitalization within Romanian organizations as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated this process not only in Romania but worldwide.

We need to view digitalization as a given. It is no longer an option. We cannot choose whether to be digital or not. We must be digital to remain in the business environment, is Corina’s recommendation for entrepreneurs.

1 in 2 companies is currently running digitalization projects

Digitalization in Romanian companies is a topic addressed by MKOR through the study of the same name, conducted together with Beck et al. in 2021.

On the IQ Digital stage, we presented the most important results and discussed:

  • How digitalization managers in the participating companies understand this process
  • What digital optimization represents
  • What the benefits of digitalization are
  • What the most used digital technologies are
  • What the most common challenges in the digitalization process are
  • How the COVID-19 pandemic impacted digitalization in companies
  • How digitalization is achieved
  • What results companies aim for in the digitalization process

Watch how the debate on digital transformation went

The study results were subsequently debated by Corina, alongside Andrei Nicoară (e-governance expert) and Marian Hurducaș (the discussion moderator, with over 15 years of experience in communication and marketing).

What solutions do companies have that do not yet have a digital-oriented approach?

MKOR data shows that half of local companies are already implementing digitalization solutions. They recognize the positive impact of the digitalization process and identify the main advantages as being operational and financial:

  • Streamlining the decision-making process
  • High predictability
  • Scalability
  • Internal traceability

However, to remain competitive, organizations that do not have such initiatives must double their efforts to align with the current organizational environment, as emphasized by Andrei Nicoară.

Can the funds allocated through the NRRP represent a solution for digitalization?

Another aspect brought into discussion by the debate moderator, Marian Hurducaș, refers to the fact that a component for increasing digital skills is allocated in the NRRP.

The mere existence of funds is not sufficient if they do not lead to concrete results, Andrei Nicoară points out. In other words, investments must be reflected in the digital training of employees in state institutions and contribute to the digitalization of the entire institution.

In addition, the latter also emphasizes the importance of cybersecurity in state institutions, an aspect equally relevant in all organizations in Romania.

Watch the entire discussion here.

Digitalization in Romanian Companies, Live on the UPGRADE 100 platform by Dragoș Stanca

Within the UPGRADE 100 podcast, Corina discussed at length with Dragoș Stanca and Marian Hurducaș about what digitalization means in Romanian companies.

The data from the MKOR study were complemented by current examples and solutions of digital tactics, which Corina, Dragoș, and Marian analyzed according to the needs of different types of companies present in the country.

Listen to the entire podcast here.

The Digitalization in Romanian Companies Study

Within the Digitalization in Romanian Companies study, we asked the experts involved in the digitalization process in Romanian organizations what are the main challenges they encounter day by day, as well as what are the digitalization solutions they use to respond to these challenges.

This is how we discovered that they are familiar with the main options regarding digital technologies available to companies, regardless of the field of activity. However, we noticed a discrepancy between the level of awareness and the actual usage rate of these technologies.

Download the study for free and see what is the stage of digitalization projects in Romanian companies.

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We constantly conduct our own market research and collaborate with our partners to provide organizations in Romania with relevant data, upon which they can build a business strategy anchored in reality.

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