Technology is transforming the fundamentals of commerce and production, and the ways we work and live. As an accelerator of development, it is also highly disruptive, redefining jobs and skills while also reshaping industries.
Given the reach of digital technology and the change it promises, there is a need to shepherd these exciting technologies without diminishing its energy and potential – a role that nicely aligns with government priorities.
The world around us continues to evolve with artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, 5G, cryptocurrencies, and the Internet of Things (IoT), improving how we communicate and exchange information. Increased digitisation and the growing interconnectedness of people, organisations and machines are already having a profound impact on the world’s economies. Recognising this potential, government strategies today are emphasising the role of digital in accelerating economic diversification, promoting sustainability and ensuring citizen happiness.
The digital sector in the Middle East is poised for success like no other, with the tremendous push for digital transformation from national leadership, as well as the rapid adoption of digital technologies across the public and private sector. From robots to flying taxis to AI discoveries, the region is home to technological breakthroughs that were once figments of our imagination .
With the goal of improving citizen experiences and fuelling economic growth, governments across the Middle East have launched ambitious national transformation plans with a major focus on enabling digital transformation.
Notably, the UAE Vision 2021 and the UAE National Innovation Strategy prioritise digital technology as one of the top seven sectors of focus, putting the spotlight on the application and rapid adoption of new disruptive technologies across sectors. Similarly, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is already inspiring massive shifts in the expansion of online services including digital job boards, e-learning, online payment services, civil affairs and online issuance of commercial registers.
We are also seeing similar trends across the rest of the Gulf where technology continues to be the cornerstone of where future growth is anticipated across various socio-economic sectors. These digital transformation agendas represent nation’s efforts towards unlocking the region’s potential to radically improve healthcare, education, public services, among others, all with a view to making a positive contribution to society and building the extraordinary future we will live in.
Building centres of knowledge and innovation
Reaping the benefits of digital transformation comes with the need to build skills and capabilities to drive efficiencies. As the government does more to attract, retain, and develop people with the required skills and capabilities, the country prospers.
There is also scope for growing the exchange of knowledge and experience to address the unique growth and development challenges faced by the country or region. Dell Technologies recently partnered with the Institute for the Future (IFTF), to examine how emerging technologies will reshape our economy, lives and work over the next decade.
The experts concluded that we’re on the cusp of the next era of human-machine partnerships. Essentially, we’ve worked and lived alongside machines for centuries but by 2030, these partnerships will become deeper, richer and more immersive than ever before, helping us surpass our own limitations. These machines, fuelled by exponential increases in data, processing power and connectivity will open-up new possibilities, beyond our grasp today.
So, when we look at future skills development and building the workforce of the future, we need to understand that these areas allows us to unlock a lot of potential for the future growth of digital economies.
New technologies can unlock new kinds of value and revenue generation. Thanks to automation, workers can spend time on more valuable, mission-critical work and less time on repetitive, automate-able tasks. Innovation with regards to social welfare has also resulted in better health and wellbeing with the introduction of new services. We are also seeing this in the development of clean energy, which is a clear and present priority for governments and organisations the world over.
Expanding business opportunities
Digitisation spurs the development of new industries as in the case of e-commerce, mobile finance, IoT, and cloud computing.
These contribute to national GDP while promoting growth of industries such as logistics, infrastructure and payments. These opportunities are not only limited to the ICT industry, but disrupt traditional industries to unlock speed, lower costs, and ensure higher quality. The manufacturing sector has been transformed with the incorporation of sensors and devices within an IoT network, allowing for the speedier analysis of data and increased efficiency. This, in turn, leads to an increase in the region’s productivity and competitiveness – lowering unemployment rates and creating higher wage and higher impact jobs.
Exceptional citizen experiences
Creating a digitally connected environment also helps governments serve its citizens better. For instance, today’s citizens expect public services to be digital, personalised and responsive and the use of advanced analytics allows governments to leverage data to do so.
Social media and mobile platforms are replacing traditional channels to interact with government, report concerns and provide feedback. In addition, technology helps enable and enhance citizen services that are key to improving the overall quality of life, which in turn promotes economic growth and increases the global competitiveness of countries. Across the GCC, we are seeing an immense number of initiatives where governments are rolling out robust e-government programmes to transform the services they offer.
In summary
Winning in the digital economy requires a combination of technical understanding, pioneering leadership, and a sense of vision and determination to encourage an ecosystem of innovation. Leaders who engage with these possibilities today could be reshaping the economy of 2030 for the greater good.
By placing new digital and ICT transformation programmes at the heart of their national plans and through collaborations with leaders and entrepreneurs committed to building a better future, governments in the Middle East are already leading the way in securing a viable future for their citizens while also raising their national competitiveness profile at a global level.