Digitization

Digitization is the process of converting information from a physical or analog format into a digital one. It typically involves scanning documents, photographs, or artifacts, and converting spoken or mechanical signals into digital data. Digitization focuses on data representation and is distinct from digitalization and digital transformation, which describe using digital technologies to change processes, business models, or organizational structures rather than merely converting formats.

Techniques include document scanning with optical character recognition (OCR), digitizing audio and video, and creating digital images of objects. Metadata, file formats, and storage choices support long-term access and interoperability. Standards such as PDF/A for documents and TIFF for imaging help preserve content, while metadata schemas enable reliable retrieval.

Digitization has been pursued in libraries, archives, government, healthcare, and industry to improve access, enable search and analysis, and safeguard materials. It underpins electronic records management, digital publishing, and data analytics, and serves as a foundation for broader digitalization efforts.

Benefits include greater accessibility, enhanced searchability, disaster recovery, and potential cost savings over time. Challenges encompass accurate representation, copyright and privacy concerns, cybersecurity risks, and the ongoing costs of storage and format migration. Preservation requires strategies for data integrity, provenance, and obsolescence management.

Digitization is a foundational component of modern information ecosystems. By converting physical content to digital form, it enables digitalization and digital transformation while raising governance, standards, and sustainable access considerations.