Stop using "digital transformation" to describe your business. This meaningless buzzword fails to highlight your company's biggest asset.

The opinions expressed by entrepreneurs contributors are their own.

The widespread adoption of home Internet connections in the 1990s led to the commoditization of online banking. That was over 30 years ago. So why do lenders still flaunt a "" and "digital first" approach as if that means anything today?

A recent announcement for a student loan may have renewed my distaste for these meaningless buzzwords, but it highlighted an important message that I want to pass on to any businesses that still use this terminology provocative.

The digital revolution has already happened

There is no doubt that the world has gone through a period of digital transformation. What started as widgets turned into apps that now house countless services and businesses. Meanwhile, the powerful little computers we keep in our pockets have become the engine of around 72% of online sales.

These milestones define the term "digital transformation". And that's why a lending company calling its online process a "digital-first strategy" is, frankly, unworthy of sharing labels with the most impactful innovations the world has seen so far.

Companies looking for buzzwords like “digital transformation” don’t need to go so far as to fire their team or question their corporate values. That being said, it's time for them to focus on something that more accurately reflects the meaning these companies are looking for when opting for these terms.

Related: How Entrepreneurs Are Leveraging Digital Transformation in the Era of the 'New Normal'

Digital buzzwords fail to express what really matters

While we agree that digital transformation is something much bigger than any business plan or strategy, some executives still cling to slightly more specific terms like “digital buying” to explain their processes. While this may seem like a step in the right direction, it's actually a perfect example of how many businesses still fail to recognize what's really worth it.

Digital is already here and here to stay: it's the data behind digital interfaces that matter more than ever. Companies should abandon the focus on digital and instead deepen their knowledge, paying attention to the increase in the collection, management and use of data that helps the world's largest companies compete at a unprecedented scale.

When , one of the largest companies in the world known for fast delivery, started selling fresh produce and pantry items, it seemed like a lot of people thought it was screwed. Yet Walmart has invested heavily in data transformation, helping it better meet consumer needs.

Now Walmart has cornered about 20% of the online grocery market, beating Amazon. This is the power of data transformation.

Related: Amazon vs. Walmart Is a Model for Competitive Advantage

Focusing on data impacts the entire business

When companies abandon terms like "digital-first" and start exploring avenues in the field of data transformation, it's not just a change in terminology. By moving to a data-driven model, businesses open up a world of opportunities that have the potential to impact every element of the business.

Data transformation has informed strategic decision-making for Walmart, ultimately allowing the mega-corporation to compete with a much larger company and win. But, in addition to using all of this data behind the scenes, Walmart has also used it to completely