TRENDING
It is already hard to imagine a modern business that is not , to some extent , digital . As we wade ever deeper into the Fourth Industrial Revolution ( yes , it ’ s still with us ), businesses should be prepared to address a range of issues , from the employee experience and its association with technology procurement to the ongoing pressures of regulatory compliance and ESG .
The technology foundation is there to accommodate the relatively young workforces that span the Middle East and Africa .
Here are four trends that will shape the region ’ s digitisation stories in 2023 .
1 . Employee expectations regarding flexible working
In May this year , multiple media sources in the UAE were abuzz with the finding in a Cisco survey that 90 % of the nation ’ s workers preferred remote or hybrid work and that 61 % would be less likely to look elsewhere for opportunities if their employer implemented flexible work schedules .
Collaboration tools and the plethora of supporting platforms that governed , monitored and scheduled work from afar during pandemic lockdowns were not wasted investments . The technology foundation is there to accommodate the relatively young workforces that span the Middle East and Africa .
The good news is that businesses have already seen the productivity benefits that go along with homebased work . Far from the feared slow delivery and stale service that stopped pre-pandemic moves to remote-work models , we have seen staff morale and productivity receive notable boosts . Flexibility and automated workflows are recruiting badges , attracting young and driven professionals with much to offer . Firms will have a choice – deliver flexible work or try to get by with a stale unmotivated workforce .
2 . Talent sought , but where ?
This issue compounds the first in that the very talent that is expecting enhanced work experiences can afford to make such demands because it is also in short supply . As time goes on , companies that do not respond to such trends will be hit by talent drains that will impact operations and service levels . At the same time , these same elements will be enhanced at enterprises that offer more alluring environments to their staff .
A recent survey by PwC showed that 47 % of Middle East companies were addressing talent gaps by upskilling their workforces . Meanwhile , some 32 % had opted for automation , including automation that enhanced the employee experience . This digitisation taking place side by side with upskilling is the ideal environment for young professionals , as it gels with their outlook and ambition . So , in 2023 , tools and training that empower each employee to innovate independently while working flexibly will be critical .
3 . AI and business intelligence
In a crisis , everyone looks around for reassurance . Businesses look around for ways of getting through the crisis and becoming immune to the next one . ‘ Resilience ’ has been the word of the day for countless months . It remains so because of the aftershocks of the pandemic – supply-chain issues and inflation being just two examples . AI-powered analytics does not just allow real-time insights into the efficiency of processes and the profitability of business models ; it clears the way for predictive analyses that show a path to longterm success .
Mark Ackerman , Area VP for Middle East and Africa at ServiceNow
When technology stacks include mechanisms for extracting meaningful , useful data from structured
26 INTELLIGENTCIO MIDDLE EAST www . intelligentcio . com