EDITOR ’ S QUESTION
WALID YEHIA , SENIOR DIRECTOR , PRESALES –
MERAT , DELL TECHNOLOGIES
The enterprise IT market in the Middle East has continued to have steady growth despite the challenges . Disruptive technologies have triggered both the public and private sectors in the region to accelerate the adoption of the latest technologies to remain relevant . Governments have formulated strategies to increase the contribution of IT to GDP of their countries , which will further drive Digital Transformation initiatives . There has been wide acceptance of disruptive technologies such as Internet of Things ( IoT ), Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) and progressive 5G expansion is making its way to several industry applications , thus opening areas for market growth . Additionally , we have seen increased demand for innovation through new applications , infrastructure , implementation for cloud and computing services , and the introduction of Edge Computing as organisations try to keep up with the wealth of data and fast pace of transformation .
CIOs are more on the strategic side of the house but they need to keep up with disruptive and emerging technologies to drive their Digital Transformation and the innovation effectively . There are a few things CIOs can do to stay up-to-date with the wealth of information out there . To start with , engaging with their technical or engineering teams on what recent technologies they are finding disruptive or useful is vital . Other times , it is more about researching what newer technologies can solve existing business problems , as these challenges can be the drivers behind quick technology adoption . have seeped into different aspects of everyday life and created the potential for organisations to continually grow and push boundaries .
CIOs really need to be flexible and agile , with quick ability to understand and execute on next generation technologies . They should have digital leadership and nurture strong relationships with partners and C-suite executives to keep up with demands . CIOs skilled at identifying digital opportunities that align with business priorities and mobilising the organisation towards that change will stand out .
Creating a culture that celebrates innovation and collaborating with talent acquisition teams to acquire the next wave of the workforce will help their organisations better embrace digital disruption . It is crucial for CIOs to be one-step ahead of the transformation and have the ability to develop new business models that prioritise innovation .
I think there will be two main drivers of disruptive technology adoption in the Middle East : One is the governments and the other is the start-up culture being created . Middle East governments have already begun the move towards digitisation initiatives and the implementation of national visions that support the advancement of technology . This opens new avenues for them to enhance policies and legislation for adopting these technologies in different sectors .
Engagement is really important , whether offline with peers , stakeholders or vendors in the industry . It is imperative to stay abreast of the latest industry trends and get a hands-on understanding of some of the newer technologies .
Disruptive technologies are transforming products and services in ways that the market never expected . They
CIOs really need to be flexible and agile , with quick ability to understand and execute on next generation technologies .
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