to digitize
Loading your saved state.
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.
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 convert / transform
'umwandeln' and 'digitalisieren' can both mean that something is put into another form. 'Umwandeln' is the more general word and can refer to many kinds of change. 'Digitalisieren' is more specific: analog information such as paper documents, photos, or music is converted into a digital form, or workflows are changed using digital technology. If it is not about computers, data, or digital technology, 'digitalisieren' does not fit. So 'umwandeln' can be used in many more situations; 'digitalisieren' is more precise when the new form is digital.
Nach der Arbeit digitalisiert Mehmet alte Fotos seiner Familie.
After work, Mehmet digitizes old photos of his family.
Zu Hause wandelt Lisa die Datei in ein anderes Format um.
At home, Lisa converts the file into a different format.