Reflections on Digital Transformation: A Case Study of CaoLiao + Tencent Hiflow
Original article: https://cli.im/article/detail/2037
When someone mentions digital transformation, what comes to mind? Flashy software, exorbitant costs, or exclusive tools for IT professionals?
--- My answer is: "Everyone can be a digital capability designer."
In corporate environments, we often hear conversations like:
"Aren't you tired of repeating this manual process?"
"Never mind, the data volume is small. We'll handle it manually."
In workplaces, few exceptional managers would praise such "diligent" employees. I silently ask: "Who pays the price for this inefficiency?"
For corporate economic activities, there are multiple partners including subsidiaries, functional management, financial control, and risk decision-making. Different users need to leverage various internal systems with distinct priorities. However, before full system synchronization occurs—due to entrenched processes, high reengineering costs, and numerous stakeholders—people inevitably resort to the "Excel spreadsheet workaround."
Is there a better solution?
Let's explore this through the implementation of CaoLiao QR Code + Hiflow financial service system.
Since last year, to streamline maintenance requests across multiple internal business and financial systems, I envisioned building a standardized ticketing system. After evaluating multiple software solutions and consulting technical teams, the consensus was: "Simple logic, months of development, challenging data synchronization." This led me to create a unified service platform using:
- CaoLiao QR Code for robust data collection
- Hiflow for flexible system integration
As someone who tests 100+ applications annually, here's my analysis of their competitive advantages:
(1) CaoLiao QR Code
Initially, our ticketing system required basic form submissions using 1 QR code per form. As needs diversified, competitors' solutions required complex QR code grids (operationally cumbersome), until we discovered CaoLiao's aggregated page feature—a game-changer for unified platforms.
Key Advantages:
Aggregated Page Functionality (Unique in Market)
Unlike competitors limited to "form → QR code → statistics," CaoLiao enables:Form → QR Code → Aggregated Page → Statistics → MySQL/Webhook API
The aggregated page functions like a customizable mini-website.WeCom Integration & Automatic Contact Sync
Ensures enterprise-grade data security while eliminating personal tool misuse for business data collection.Generous Free Tier
Offers most core features at no cost—a rare find among QR code tools that even charge for URL shortening.
Suggested Improvements:
- Enable IoT sensor data auto-fill (e.g., temperature/humidity readings)
- Implement camera-to-form automated image uploads with WeCom approval workflows
(2) Hiflow Platform
Launched under Tencent's 2019 "SaaS Galaxy" initiative, Hiflow embodies "More, Faster, Better, Cheaper" through connector-powered no-code automation.
Extended Use Cases with CaoLiao + Hiflow:
Automated Work Report Generation
Our platform handles ticket routing, reminders, and knowledge management but lacked summary features. The new workflow:CaoLiao MySQL → Tencent Docs (Smart Sheets) → Conditional Field Calculation → Data Update → Webhook Notifications
Implementation Flow:
Resulting in real-time updated pivot tables:
Key Takeaways from Digital Transformation
Success Factors (In Priority Order):
- Leadership commitment
- Clear strategic planning
- Organizational restructuring
- Talent acquisition
- Employee upskilling
- Budget adequacy
- Hardware infrastructure
Digital Transformation ≠ Buying Services
It's fundamentally a mindset shift.Stay Curious
Continuously explore new tools to enhance productivity.Prioritize Primary Data Sources
Maintain rigorous intake of high-quality, firsthand information.
Looking ahead to 2023, our next goal is delivering personalized annual reports to every platform user.
Scenario Visuals:
Weekly Report Automation:
