“Digital disruption is happening now.” This was the key message at the second annual Datacentrix showcase event which took place in Johannesburg on Thursday. The theme of the event was “the reality of singularity”, which looked at tackling the future of technology and the transformation that will result from its integration into every aspect of our lives.
The event was kicked off by two fascinating keynote speakers, the first of which was former CEO of First National Bank (FNB), Dr Michael Jordaan.
Jordaan, who is now a venture capitalist and a part of the Singularity University alumni, broke down the rate of disruption noting that “various industries have been disrupted beyond recognition.” Jordaan also pointed out that although this may be an exciting time for consumers, for the businesses affected by these disruptions, it is an uncertain and scary time.
He then proceeded to identify the latest innovations in technology such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence, Drones, Solar Power, and showed how these technologies could impact an array of industries. The former FNB CEO noted that there are obstacles to these disruptions, such as licensing, but the cost saving, accuracy and efficiency that that these new technologies offer will likely see them overcome any obstacles they may face.
“How do you think about the world? The choice is yours. We can use these innovations to our advantage and to the benefit of not only you and me but also the earth if you and your business are ready to adapt,” said Jordaan in concluding his address.
The second keynote speaker was David Chalmers the Chief Technologist, VP EMEA at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Chalmers opened his address by pointing out that “every generation has its defining technology which shapes culture and change. Information Technology is the defining tech in this era and this disruption is happening now.”
Chalmers built on Jordaan’s address by giving examples of real life disruption and then highlighting the two dimensions of change that these disruptions have brought about. The first dimension is scale. With the data explosion that is currently underway, businesses need to be concerned about storage and processing power. “If you think you have enough storage, think again,” said Chalmers, pointing out how businesses need an enhanced cloud strategy.
The second dimension identified by Chalmers is speed. “Today is the slowest day you ever going to have again because everything is speeding up.” He then pointed out that businesses need to build an infrastructure capable of handling this increase because if you can’t keep up, it could kill your business.
“To remain static is to lose ground. There is no standstill option. If you do not adapt to new technologies you will be left behind,” concluded Chalmers.
After the keynote addresses, various executives from an array of industries took part in 20-minute breakaway sessions which unpacked various aspects to this ever changing digital business environment.
By Dean Workman
