FINAL WORD
South Africa is ripe with
digital opportunity
David Meads, Cisco Vice President, Africa,
discusses how the Fourth Industrial Revolution
is moving Africa forward like never before and
how Cisco is catering for this future.
As South Africa prepares to host
the World Economic Forum (WEF) in
Durban, the city with its largest and
busiest port, there is much to focus
on as the country continues to
promote itself as a promising
investment destination.
Primarily, the event presents
opportunities for governments to
collaborate with regional and global
leaders from business and civil society
to identify and craft tangible plans to
create economic opportunities for all.
Digital transformation is part of many
of these opportunities.
In the context of the Fourth Industrial
Revolution’s disruptive effects on all
economies, there are three elements
to consider as South Africa aims to
maintain its leadership position
in Africa:
• The development of digital skills
is paramount
• All industries are being digitally
disrupted which presents an
opportunity for a growing
digital economy
• Public-private partnerships are
powerful levers for change
Digital opportunities
outweigh threats
David Meads, Cisco Vice President, Africa
o c . i c t n e g i l e t n i .
The ‘real economy’ and the
‘digital economy’ are not mutually
exclusive. The two have become
one and the same as technologies
blur the lines between the physical,
digital and biological spheres. The
exponential potential of the Fourth
Industrial Revolution is still not being
fully grasped. Cisco, industry and
governments have a responsibility
to unpack its potential for citizen
service delivery, customer experience
and innovative solutions for a better
life for all.
INTELLIGENTCIO
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