to digitize
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to digitize
To convert analog information or media (such as documents, photos, films, or music) into a digital format so that they can be processed, stored, and transmitted by a computer.
Wir haben unsere alten Familienfotos digitalisieren lassen, um sie vor dem Verfall zu schützen.
We had our old family photos digitized to protect them from deterioration.
to digitize
To fundamentally change and modernize processes, workflows, business models, or entire areas of society through the use of digital technologies.
Die Regierung plant, die öffentliche Verwaltung in den nächsten Jahren vollständig zu digitalisieren.
The government plans to fully digitize public administration in the coming years.
The verb is derived from the adjective 'digital' and has the ending '-isieren' (-ize). This ending is often used in German to form verbs from adjectives (usually from foreign languages), as in 'modernisieren' (to modernize) or 'stabilisieren' (to stabilize).
Viele Firmen müssen ihre Prozesse modernisieren und digitalisieren.
Many companies need to modernize and digitize their processes.
The related noun is 'die Digitalisierung' (digitization / digitalization). It describes the process or result of digitizing and is a very important word in modern German.
Die Digitalisierung der Schulen ist eine große Herausforderung.
The digitization of schools is a major challenge.
In the meaning 'to convert into a digital format', the verb usually has a concrete, analog medium as its object. Typical examples are: 'Fotos digitalisieren' (to digitize photos), 'Dokumente digitalisieren' (to digitize documents), 'Akten digitalisieren' (to digitize files), or 'alte Filme digitalisieren' (to digitize old films).
Ich möchte meine alten Musikkassetten digitalisieren, bevor sie kaputtgehen.
I want to digitize my old music cassettes before they break.
If the object of the verb is an abstract system or a process, the second meaning ('to modernize') is intended. Typical objects here are 'die Verwaltung' (administration), 'ein Unternehmen' (a company), 'Prozesse' (processes), or 'das Gesundheitswesen' (the healthcare system).
Die Firma will ihre gesamte Buchhaltung digitalisieren, um effizienter zu arbeiten.
The company wants to digitize its entire accounting department in order to work more efficiently.
to record / grasp
Both verbs can refer to information on paper and its digital use. „Erfassen“ means systematically recording the information contained in something, while „digitalisieren“ converts the analog original as a whole into a digital format. Use „erfassen“ for individual pieces of data and „digitalisieren“ for the entire document.
Das Archiv digitalisiert die alten Papierformulare für die elektronische Nutzung.
The archive is digitizing the old paper forms for electronic use.
Die Mitarbeiterin erfasst die Angaben aus den Papierformularen in der Datenbank.
The employee enters the information from the paper forms into the database.
