Digital Transformation glossary

Written by The University of Hull Online | 6/2/25 8:00 AM

Discover key terms and concepts in digital transformation with this essential A–Z glossary.

In modern business, digital transformation represents a fundamental shift in operations and strategies across industries. Whether you're looking to advance your career in digital or move into digital roles, understanding the core concepts of digital transformation is essential.

This blog post serves as a glossary of crucial terms and ideas that you'll encounter on this path. Grasping these concepts will equip you with the foundational knowledge to make informed decisions and drive innovation in any organisation.

Key definitions for digital transformation professionals

A

Artificial Intelligence (AI): An umbrella term for computer systems and machines programmed to perform tasks that would usually require human intelligence.

B

Blockchain: A system of recording information in a way that makes it difficult or impossible to change, hack, or cheat the system. Essentially a digital ledger of transactions that is duplicated and distributed across the entire network of computer systems on the blockchain.

C

Customer-led disruption: Changes driven by customer behaviour and preferences, often due to the influence of digital technologies.

Cybersecurity: The practice of protecting systems, networks, and programmes from digital attacks.

D

Data Visualisation: The graphical representation of information and data. Through visual elements like charts, graphs, and maps, data visualisation tools provide an accessible way to see and understand trends, outliers, and patterns in data.

Digital assets: Resources that exist in a digital format and come with the right to use. They can include data, rights, and content.

Digital economy: Economic activities that result from billions of everyday online connections among people, businesses, devices, data, and processes.

Digital transformation: The integration of digital technology into all areas of a business. It results in fundamental changes to how businesses operate and deliver value to customers.

Digital transformation ethics: This term refers to the moral principles that guide the behaviour of individuals and organisations in the development and implementation of digital technologies.

Disruptive technologies: Innovations that significantly alter the way businesses, industries, or entire markets function. Examples include artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and quantum computing.

E

Edge computing: The practice of processing data near the edge of your network, where the data is being generated, instead of in a centralised data-processing warehouse. This technology enhances response times and saves bandwidth.

F

Fintech: Financial technology which applies emerging digital technologies to financial services to improve and automate their delivery and use.

G

Geotargeting: The practice of delivering content or advertisements to consumers based on their geographic locations. In digital transformation, this is used to enhance local marketing efforts and service delivery.

H

Hybrid cloud: A computing environment that uses a combination of on-premises, private cloud, and third-party, public cloud services. This allows data and applications to be shared between them.

I

Implementation process: The steps that ensure plans are successfully put into action to achieve strategic objectives. In digital transformation, this particularly concerns new digital technologies.

Information management: The process by which an organisation manages the acquisition, storage, retrieval, and destruction of data.

Innovation: The act of creating new ideas, products, or methods, which include tangible outcomes like inventions and intangible strategies and experiences.

J

JWT (JSON Web Tokens): An open standard (RFC 7519) that defines a compact and self-contained way for securely transmitting information between parties as a JSON object. This information can be verified and trusted because it is digitally signed.

K

Knowledge management: The process of creating, sharing, using, and managing the knowledge and information within an organisation. It refers to strategies and practices used to identify, create, represent, distribute, and adopt insights and experiences.

L

Low-code development platform: Software that provides an environment programmers use to create application software through graphical user interfaces and configuration. This method differs from traditional hand-coded computer programming and is often a time-saver.

M

Machine Learning (ML): A subset of AI that involves the use of data and algorithms to imitate the way that humans learn. This gradually improves its accuracy in making predictions and decisions.

N

Natural Language Processing (NLP): A branch of AI that gives machines the ability to read, understand and derive meaning from human languages.

O

Omni-channel marketing: A multi-channel approach to sales that seeks to provide customers with a seamless shopping experience. Customers should be able to shop with ease, whether they’re doing so online via desktop or mobile, by telephone, or in-store.

P

Predictive analytics: The use of data, statistical algorithms, and machine learning techniques to identify the likelihood of future outcomes based on historical data.

Q

Quantum computing: A type of computing that uses quantum-mechanical phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, to perform operations on data.

R

Robotic Process Automation (RPA): The technology allows anyone to configure computer software, or a “robot,” to emulate the actions of a human. This emulation integrates with digital systems to execute a business process.

S

SaaS (Software as a Service): A software distribution model in which applications are hosted by a third-party provider and made available to customers over the Internet.

Social media analysis: The practice of gathering data from social media platforms to make business decisions. This involves analysing the behaviours and interactions of online users.

Systems thinking: An analytical approach that focuses on how different parts of a system relate to one another. It reviews how systems work over time, and within the context of larger systems.

Strategic analysis: The research carried out by an organisation in relation to its internal and external environments. This research is then used to formulate effective business strategies and plans.

T

Tokenisation: The process of replacing sensitive data with unique identification symbols. This retains all the essential information about the data without compromising its security.

U

User Experience (UX) Design: The process design teams use to create products that provide meaningful and relevant experiences to users. This involves the design of the entire process of acquiring and integrating the product, including aspects of branding, design, usability, and function.

V

Virtual Reality (VR): The use of computer technology to create a simulated environment. Unlike traditional user interfaces, VR places the user inside an experience where they can interact with 3D worlds.

W

Web 3.0: The third generation of the evolution of web technologies. This new iteration of the World Wide Web integrates decentralisation, blockchain technologies, and token-based economics. It aims to redistribute control back to users through more autonomous and user-driven infrastructure.

X

XML (eXtensible Markup Language): A markup language that defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. It is widely used for the representation of arbitrary data structures, such as those used in web services.

Y

YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language): YAML is a human-readable data serialisation standard that is often used for configuration files. It’s particularly useful in development environments, DevOps practices, and server configuration management due to its straightforward and easily understandable syntax.

Z

Zero Trust Security Model: A security concept centered on the belief that organisations should not automatically trust anything inside or outside its perimeters. Instead, it should verify all attempts to connect to its systems before granting access.

An MSc in Digital Transformation: Your path to understanding these terms

Are you looking to master the concepts we’ve outlined above and advance your career? If so, our MSc in Digital Transformation is the perfect way to achieve your goals.

Our curriculum doesn’t just acquaint you with current technologies and trends. It also prepares you to anticipate and adapt to future technological changes. From strategic analysis of AI applications to managing cybersecurity risks, you’ll become prepared to lead confidently in today’s digital age.

Our course is designed with busy working professionals like you in mind, which is why it’s part-time and 100% online. This means you can future-proof your career and advance your knowledge without putting your current commitments on pause:

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