FEATURE : DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
model transformation as well as process and domain transformation ,” he said . “ Emphasis is being laid on making employees more effective , strengthening security , making faster business decisions and building more effective business partnerships .”
Kaippada explained that the aim of transformation is to change the traditional way of doing things in an organisation and it works to increasing revenue generation . “ It strives to integrate technology into
STAFFING ISSUES REMAIN BY FAR THE TOP BARRIER TO DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVES . YOUR SMART RESOURCES ARE TIED UP JUST KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON AND APPS RUNNING .
businesses and while the basics of business operations change , it aims to deliver customer value ,” he said . “ Customer behaviour and interactions are captured and processed in such a way that the patterns are used to deliver or set expectations which eventually increase the customer service . The CIO ’ s role is to take the challenge of transformation and ensure the idea cascades within the team for smooth execution .”
Digital Transformation is the incorporation of computerbased technologies into an organisation ’ s solutions , processes , and strategies . Companies undertake Digital Transformation to better engage and serve their workforce and customers and thus improve their ability to compete . The feature looks at how enterprises in the Middle East are winning with Digital Transformations , business benefits and digital technologies .
Sanjit Bardhan , Vice President and Head of Emerging Markets Business Unit , HID Global , said Digital Transformation has brought with it a move to service models supported by the power of cloud computing . “ This means new opportunities for security to manage access control applications , physical assets , and data across new form factors . Identity management delivered ‘ As-a-service ’ rather than via on-premises infrastructure , will expand the security perimeter and create new opportunities around identity and access management ,” he said .
Bardhan noted that software-as-a-service ( SaaS ), hardware-as-a-service ( HaaS ) or platform-as-aservice ( PaaS ) are becoming more relevant and more widely used . “ CIOs must consider the underlying governance that accompanies cloud-first mandates , including technology decision-making processes that incorporate engagement with audit , privacy , IT operations , and information security ,” he said .
Given the momentum around the As-a-Service business model , CIOs are being urged to lookout for some of the key Digital Transformation trends .
Soham Chokshi , CEO and Co-Founder , Shipsy , said Digital Transformation trends can be very unique depending on the industry a CIO caters to . Chokshi said for instance , a CIO in the healthcare industry will drive Digital Transformation to meet evolving privacy and compliance standards of patient information . “ A banking , financial services and insurance ( BFSI ) CIO will focus on battling growing competition posed by FinTech brands , especially delivering that seamless experience of doing financial transactions ,” he said . “ On the other hand , CIOs in the supply chain and logistics space , even in retail , will be using Digital Transformation to optimise delivery turnaround times , customise home delivery experiences , improve inventory visibility , gain insights on understanding customer ambitions and expectations beyond urban regions and more . “ From a general perspective , I think CIOs need to watch out for the following trends that including enabling seamless digital payment processes , equally critical in the B2B space and address the growing need for omnichannel customer engagement .”
While it ’ s undeniable that Digital Transformation delivers immense benefits , it also hugely expands the attack surface organisations have to defend .
The digital-driven business demands speed to stay competitive in the market . As IT attempts to keep up , and Digital Transformation continues to power on , security teams and developers must reinvent the way they think and work together . This should include ensuring that the whole organisation and its business stakeholders are aligned .
Claude Schuck , Regional Director , Middle East at Veeam Software , said benefits aside , there are serious barriers to Digital Transformation that many customers are facing today . “ Staffing issues remain by far the top barrier to Digital Transformation initiatives . Your smart resources are tied up just keeping the lights on and apps running . To add to that , the reason most of your resources are tied up is due to the business need to keep your legacy systems active ,” he said . “ You have
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