Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa Real Estate Investor Magazine - March 2017 | Page 12

FEATURE ARTICLE

FEATURE ARTICLE

Tech Disruption in

SA Real Estate

A Look at the Movers and Shakers

BY JEAN BROWN

Rapid and ongoing advances in digital technology continue to disrupt almost every industry across the globe . From self-driving cars and 3D printers that can directly fabricate products , to blockchain technology that promises to revolutionise the way people transact , the impact of digital innovation has been considerable and widespread .

According to Klaus Schwab , Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum , this Fourth Industrial Revolution ( as it is now being termed ) is characterised by “ a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical , digital , and biological spheres .”
As this revolution continues to impact all disciplines , economies and industries , Schwab ’ s concern is that organizations , governments and societies will continue to lag further and further behind . He believes that recent tech advancements and trends need to be embraced , employed and regulated , both to capture their full benefits and ensure that the right measures are in place to mitigate any associated risks .
Consumers like to have their cake and Tweet it One of the biggest incentives for embracing digital innovation is that consumers already have . As of June 2016 , there were over 3.6 billion recorded Internet users in the world , with a reported 40 percent of
10 MARCH 2017 SA Real Estate Investor www . reimag . co . za