Page 109 - SAMENA Trends - July-August 2022

ARTICLE SAMENA TRENDS

The number of intelligent devices in homes has increased grapple with skills issues as digital
technologies
environments
in
work
exponentially: by 2025, 90% of people will use personal become rapidly widespread. To tackle the
assistants on their smart devices. Intelligent devices also skills issue and improve organizational
play a role in the ways consumers interact with enterprises. agility, digital enterprises are increasingly
investing in technologies such as Robotic
It is estimated that, during the pandemic, customers Process Automation (RPA), AI, and
spent 25% more time with those companies whose digital Machine Learning (ML). Organizations that
effectively use AI-augmented automation
transformation plans enabled them to quickly and easily to boost efficiency and contain costs will
adapt to the realities of the crisis. gain a significant competitive advantage
as the digital economy evolves.
commerce. The Saudi Arabian government, Thriving in the Digital Economy
for example, has introduced a digital-by- To thrive in a digital-first world, organizations Infrastructure Buildouts and the Cloud:
default and mobile-first approach to public need to transition into digital enterprises. Organizations seeking to transform into
services as part of its Smart Government Fueled by data, a digital enterprise provides digital enterprises, master data, and
Strategy 2020–2024. And e-commerce personalized experiences to customers use intelligent automation often face
already accounts for 17% of all retail through digital platforms, backed by challenges with their existing, legacy
business in GCC, compared to the 3% share constantly evolving and expanding digital Information Technology (IT) environments.
it enjoyed just five years ago. infrastructure. However, 62% of enterprises Most have multiple, disconnected IT
in the Middle East are yet to reach sufficient systems that hinder organization-wide
The Future of Operations and Work: Digital digital transformation maturity to take change. A digital enterprise's capacity
is also changing how work is conducted, advantage of the digital economy. To to generate revenue depends on the
with increasingly automated operations get there, they must re-invent business responsiveness, scalability, and resiliency
and location-agnostic working cultures. It is models, create new customer experiences, of its infrastructure, applications, and
predicted that, by 2025, the manufacturing reimagine work models, and innovate with data resources. Cloud-centric digital
sector will have 103 robots for every 10,000 partners. Such efforts often face significant infrastructure and applications are
employees. At the same time, working internal challenges, which organizations essential for any organization's transition
culture has experienced a dramatic shift must overcome through well-executed into a digital enterprise. Many features
since 2019. The hybrid work model of the change management. needed for the digital economy are now
future will not be constrained by the location only available in cloud-based applications,
of employees, offices, or other resources. Data Use and AI-Infused Analytics: The requiring organizations to rapidly
By 2023, 70% of G2000 organizations success of any organization in the new modernize legacy applications into cloud-
are expected to have deployed remote or economic paradigm will depend on native versions, to support new customer
hybrid-first work models that redefine work its capacity to collect, synthesize, and and operational use cases.
processes. analyze data, as well as its ability to apply
resulting insights at scale. However, Embrace the Future
The Future of Consumers and Living: Just most organizations struggle to achieve Today, a nation's future heavily depends
as in the workplace, digital technologies such success due to the large volume on advancements in science, knowledge,
have a significant impact on homes. The and variety of available data. AI-based innovation, and technology. Many countries
number of intelligent devices in homes has automation can enhance each step in in the Middle East are nurturing such
increased exponentially: by 2025, 90% of the business intelligence and analytics advancements by developing foundational
people will use personal assistants on their process, from finding and preparing to elements — such as infrastructure, data,
smart devices. Intelligent devices also exploring, analyzing, and acting on data. and skills — through investments in critical
play a role in the ways consumers interact Such solutions can also help businesses technology enablers like 5G, the cloud, and
with enterprises. It is estimated that, during re-architect into data-native enterprises, AI. For digitally determined enterprises
the pandemic, customers spent 25% more creating superior customer experiences in the region that have embarked on their
time with those companies whose digital and making more informed decisions. digital journeys, renewed focus on these
transformation plans enabled them to foundational elements and technology
quickly and easily adapt to the realities of Skills Availability and Process Automation: enablers will reveal significant opportunities
the crisis. In the digital economy, organizations to thrive in the new world.

109 JULY-AUGUST 2022