What is difference between informatization and digitalization?

Text/Innovative essays on grasshopper Guo Zhaohui

Recently I was asked: what is difference between informatization and digitalization? I'm not good at definitions, but I can talk about difference in emphasis between present and past.

In past, informatization was mainly aimed at solving management issues and was combined with management systems. The current stage of digitalization often needs to be integrated with various scientific, engineering and industrial knowledge, such as integration of digital product design, process design and control technologies. But people will say: digital design and technology are no longer new technologies. In my opinion, the key to difference between two eras lies in word "fusion".

In past it was possible to use digital design, but now integration of digital design and modern management has allowed for more effective interaction. Digital design results can be verified directly through simulation, instead of waiting for a prototype to be verified. Digital design results can even be directly integrated with multiple links such as manufacturing, purchasing, maintenance, and optimization.

In past, we have promoted informatization mainly to facilitate certain activities. Ongoing digital work should aim to promote standardization, knowledge accumulation and continuous optimization of this business activity, laying foundation for advancing business intelligence.

In past, information systems and automation systems were relatively independent systems: automation was responsible for control, and information systems were responsible for management. The digital system emphasizes their integration: The data sent by automation system helps top managers of enterprise get an idea of ​​the work of bottom. For example, high-level managers can learn about safety management situation in workshop at any time. Many management tasks such as product quality, energy consumption, safety and environmental protection can be transferred to machines, and there is also a sense of "automation".

So, essence of promoting digitalization is to promote business integration. Connecting information is only a means, but integrating services is goal. If you don't think clearly about business and just link information, it might be "put on new shoes and walk old road." Digital work makes it possible to do more and more work on a computer platform, and integration of various aspects becomes easier.

However, it should be emphasized that integration we emphasize is often based on "division of labor", "process" and "standardization". Now there are some integration difficulties precisely because "division of labor", "process" and "standardization" have not been done properly.