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Digital transformation is a new buzzword that all people follow, yet only a few truly know it, in particular, actual industries such as SaaS, logistics, real estate, or F&B.
Other leaders believe that digital transformation requires the purchase of the new software. Some think that it is about overnight automatization. Most people believe that it is a one-time activity that can be managed by outsourced suppliers.
As a matter of fact, digital transformation is none of these as such.
The confusion revolves around one question of which businesses continue to ask themselves:
Is it worth investing in digital transformation services or purchasing pre-existing solutions to digital transformation?
The solution here varies based on what industry you are in, what processes you already have in place and what challenges you are attempting to solve. We will examine this using SaaS, logistics, real estate and F&B.
Why This Question Matters More Than Ever
Every business today faces pressure to move faster.
- SaaS companies must deliver seamless onboarding and reliable software updates.
- Logistics firms need real-time tracking and faster delivery decisions.
- Real estate agencies want instant access to property data and client communications.
- F&B businesses need efficient supply chain management and customer engagement.
Yet, many companies still rely on outdated processes:
- Spreadsheets passed between departments
- Manual approvals via email or WhatsApp
- Disconnected tools that don’t communicate
- Legacy systems built for smaller, simpler operations
Digital transformation promises to solve these issues—but choosing the wrong approach can make things worse.
What Are Digital Transformation Services?
Digital transformation services are custom, consultative, and strategic.
They start by understanding how your business actually works before changing anything. Instead of starting with a tool, services focus on questions like:
- Where are decisions getting delayed?
- Which processes waste the most time?
- What data do teams need but can’t access?
- Which systems create friction between departments?
Services Include:
- Business process analysis
- Digital strategy and roadmap creation
- Custom system architecture
- Workflow automation design
- Data integration planning
- Change management and team enablement
- Ongoing optimization after launch
This approach isn’t about selling software—it’s about fixing how work flows in your organization.
Real-World Examples of Services
SaaS: This is a B2B SaaS company that has a problem with client onboarding. The customers fall out within an initial week. Services are useful in mapping the customer journey, automating reminders and including support tools. The result? More retention and satisfied customers.
Logistics: Separate systems are used by a local delivery service with orders and warehouse as well as drivers. Services combine them into a single workflow, which allows achieving real-time monitoring and expedited deliveries.
Real Estate: There are several property, lead and contract databases of the agency. They are then consolidated into a single system by the services, automated follow-ups, and provided to the agents with dashboards to identify high-value clients.
F&B: A restaurant chain manages the inventory by hand, which results in the wastage and stockouts. Services automate the inventory management, connect, and predict the demand.
What Are Digital Transformation Solutions?
Digital transformation solutions are pre-built products or platforms designed to solve common problems.
They are faster to deploy and cheaper upfront. Examples include:
- CRM platforms for sales teams
- ERP systems for operations
- HR management software
- Workflow automation tools
- Industry-specific SaaS solutions
These solutions assume:
“This is how most businesses work.”
And sometimes, that assumption is enough—especially for standardized processes.
When Solutions Make Sense
Solutions work best when:
- Processes are fairly standard
- You want quick improvements
- Teams can adapt to predefined workflows
- Customization isn’t critical
- Budgets and timelines are tight
Examples:
- A small SaaS startup adopting a CRM to manage leads
- A local F&B outlet using a POS system to track orders and inventory
- A real estate agency deploying a property management platform
The Hidden Cost of “Just Buying a Solution”
Many businesses buy solutions expecting transformation—but only get digitization.
Consequences:
- Teams resist using the system
- Data remains scattered
- Manual work continues alongside new tools
- Leadership loses trust in reports
- ROI never materializes
Software amplifies your processes. If the processes are broken, the tool only makes problems louder.
Services vs Solutions: The Core Difference
Neither is “better” on its own. The right choice depends on your business goals and current pain points.
Why Many Businesses Eventually Combine Both
The most successful approach is often services + solutions.
Services help you:
- Define strategy
- Redesign processes
- Decide which tools fit
Solutions help you:
- Execute faster
- Scale efficiently
- Avoid reinventing common features
Think of services as the architect, and solutions as the building materials. Without the architect, you may build faster—but not smarter.
How to Decide What Your Business Needs
1. Are your problems operational or strategic?
- Operational → solutions may suffice
- Strategic → services are better
2. Do teams follow clear processes?
- Clear → solutions fit faster
- Informal → services help define structure
3. Is integration a pain point?
- Single system → solution
- Multiple disconnected systems → services
4. How much internal ownership do you want?
- Minimal involvement → solution
- Deep alignment → services
Signs Your Industry Needs Services
SaaS: Customer churn is high despite the best software features.
Logistics: Deliveries are delayed due to disconnected systems.
Real Estate: Agents spend more time entering data than selling.
F&B: Inventory is wasted, or supply chain issues go unnoticed.
These aren’t software problems—they’re system design problems.
Signs a Solution Might Be Enough
- You’re small or early-stage
- Needs are simple and clear
- You want fast adoption
- Testing a process before scaling
- Replacing manual work with basic automation
Digital Transformation Is a Journey, Not a Project
Digital transformation is not a one-time decision. It’s a series of decisions:
- What to fix now
- What to standardize
- What to customize
- What to leave alone
Some phases need services.
Some phases need solutions.
Progress matters more than perfection.
Final Thoughts: Choose Based on Reality, Not Hype
Digital transformation does not work since companies make decisions without being completely aware of their reality, and not because software is terrible.
Clarity is a good place to start, in case you want enhanced operations, quicker decisions, and happier teams. Then choose on services, solutions or both.
Not because it’s trendy.
But because it suits your business today
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Want a no-bull digital transformation guide to the creation of digital transformation of your SaaS, logistics, real estate or F&B organization? Have a look at our Digital Transformation Playbook, which is made based on real projects, real failures, and real successes.
Download the Digital Transformation Playbook
