CIO OPINION recovery is to ensure these funds are used to their fullest to ensure that our way of living , learning and working is as green , globally minded and digital as possible .
Technology has already shown its potential and centrality to societal progress during the pandemic era , keeping citizens connected , powering vaccine research , enhancing healthcare and sustaining education throughout the peaks and troughs . But as we enter a new chapter – coinciding with the technology revolution that promises an explosion in Big Data with 5G speeds – digital tech has an even greater role to play .
Tech to continue as the great enabler
Moving beyond recovery and settling into a new reality , technology will do more than sustain us . Companies that invest in innovation during a time of crisis outperform their peers during the recovery . Industry leaders can achieve even greater productivity increases from investments in new technology , pushing them ahead of later adopters . We know that technology underpins our resilience , reinforcing all kinds of businesses with remote capabilities , providing real-time insights across sectors and enabling more impactful Digital Transformations . Robust digital infrastructures are the foundation for those organisations that remain competitive today , confident in their data management and cybersecurity practices .
Tomorrow , technology will take us a step further – helping us to reimagine the way we live , how we connect and stay healthy . It will transform the relationship between citizens and governments , personalise blended learning in schools and put patients at the heart of their care plans . Businesses will provide services that are truly innovative , giving consumers experiences they don ’ t yet know they desire thanks to new 5G speeds , AIpowered insights and Edge computing capabilities .
Overcoming data challenges together
But the complexities of the task at hand should not be understated . Ongoing challenges are buffeting economies around the world and organisations are wrestling with their own data paradoxes as the sheer scale of data explodes . This is just a taste of what is to come in the zettabyte era – and capturing the opportunities on the crest of the Fourth Industrial Revolution means solving these challenges now . That is why collaboration continues to be an essential ingredient for sustainable progress . Bringing together the brightest sparks from the private and public sectors to turbocharge our new reality is key to ensuring everyone benefits – and that those benefits are meaningful and sustainable .
It takes an entire ecosystem to generate momentum , whether that ’ s creating vaccines for future pandemics , restructuring for a data-centric enterprise or facilitating the growth of the digital economy . None of these can be done in isolation and without the close collaboration already underway between governments , tech experts and key organisational stakeholders we could not have achieved the level of recovery already experienced .
As the world continues to gain momentum with the move beyond recovery towards our next reality , similarly collaborative approaches should become the new norm – redefining progress with a fresh collectivism . A better reality is one that is inclusive , sustainable and built for everyone . Technology is the vehicle transporting us there now and as we look towards 2022 and beyond .
There ’ s a long road ahead , but we have the route planned out – we just need to make sure there ’ s room for everyone on board . p
40 INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA www . intelligentcio . com