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