Digital solutions are tools that make use automation business operations of technology to streamline processes and open new channels of customer interaction. They can help businesses stay ahead of the competition, meet customer needs more efficiently and help drive growth. However, selecting the right one requires careful planning. Here are some key factors you should take into consideration when selecting a sophisticated digital business system.

Many digital solutions are a result of cutting-edge technology and scalable that allows them to grow and adapt with the company. This flexibility comes at costs. It’s not common for successful solutions to create demand for expanded services, more personalization, and greater scalability. The challenge for businesses that are digital is to embrace complexity and add real value, while avoiding unnecessary complexity.

Digital solutions that are complex can automatize routine tasks, which reduces the time that employees are occupied with tedious administrative tasks and allows them to focus on more important projects. They can also improve the management of data and enable more precise decision-making through the real-time monitoring of information. These solutions can also reduce costs and make scaling the business simpler.

It is difficult to articulate the significance of these abstract capabilities is a major challenge for sales professionals. They must devise an understanding of how their solutions will bring concrete rewards to specific customer requirements. They also need to adapt their value offer to meet the changing needs of customers. Jeanne Ross is a principal researcher at MIT’s Center for Information Systems Research and coauthor of Designed for Digital: How to Plan Your Business for Long-Term success (The MIT Press, 2019). Follow her on Twitter @mit_cisr.