TALKING BUSINESS
augmented reality (AR) and virtual
reality (VR), which merge physical and
digital realms; and block chain, a new
approach to the basic bookkeeping
behind commercial transactions.
However, most companies are not better
prepared in 2017 to adopt emerging
technologies than they were a decade
ago. African executives are focused
on digital innovation, but may not
have the processes in place to execute
on strategy: 87% say identifying
opportunities to digitise their enterprise
is a critical part of their innovation
process (vs 79% of others), but only
63% take a systematic approach to
evaluating emerging technology (vs
76% of others).
Similar to organisations in other parts
of the world, investments in Africa
are focused on the IoT and AI (69%
and 42% are investing heavily today,
respectively), and are expected to
continue over the next three years
(63% and 60%). African firms are more
focused than their global peers on virtual
reality, with 21% investing significantly
compared to 7% of others.
African executives tend to take a
different approach to exploring
emerging technologies than their
peers, including collaboration with
other companies. They are also more
likely to network with other industry
leaders (54%
vs 27%) or with
vendors (40% vs
31%). Meanwhile,
they are somewhat
less likely to use
industry analysts
(66% vs 78%)
or competitive
intelligence (56%
vs 69%).
WHAT IS ‘GOOD ENOUGH’
SECURITY REALLY
COSTING YOU?
The human
experience
While tech is
important, the role
of customers and
employees (including
employees like the
CDO and CIO) and
their ability to adapt to change and
utilise digital and emerging tech are
critical in advancing transformation.
However, addressing the full spectrum
of human experience remains a serious
challenge for most organisations. Like
their peers around the globe, African
companies lack many necessary digital
skills, particularly in user experience and
human-centered design (40% say this
skill is well-developed in the workforce
vs 38% globally). Further, they could do
more to close these skills gaps: currently,
just 65% regularly update their talent
model to address changing digital skills,
compared with 72% of others.
“It is vital that companies invest in
digital solutions if they want to be
successful. It is even more important
that they think through how their
investment in digital can drive new
business models and financial results.
“Having a high Digital IQ is about
integration, and requires fitting
together the pieces of the puzzle – the
business, the customer and employee
experience and the technology – to
build one cohesive and transformative
solution. This is what will give a
company the competitive edge,”
concludes Botha.
Truth is, good enough security is just not good
enough. You simply can’t focus on just prevention or
detection and call it a day. When — not if — a breach
happens, who do you want on your side? The experts
who are on the front lines of comprehensive detection,
analysis and response or the other guys?
FireEye. Know the truth.
www.FireEye.com/truth
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