‘ITERATIVE INNOVATION’ KEY AS UAE DIGITAL PIONEERS EMBRACE EMERGING TECH

As one of the world’s few nations to have conducted a successful mission to another planet, hardly anything is left to be said of the United Arab Emirates’ technological credentials. But for the record, the nation was the first to appoint a minister of state for artificial intelligence; is a perennial early adopter of everything from big data to mixed reality; and is one of the few countries to have clearly defined national strategies for IoT, blockchain, and everything in between.

Also noteworthy are the country’s moves on Web 3.0, the Metaverse, and crypto assets. We could discuss its ambitions around AML, cybersecurity, and many other areas, but I believe the case is made. If we are in the age of Industry 4.0, then the UAE is the standout example of Nation 4.0 — primed and prepped for the digital age, and already a global hub for innovation. The public sector is awash with e-services, bots (DEWA’s Rammas being a prime example), and digital workflows. Government leadership has inspired the private sector too. In the BFSI industry, Mashreq stands out as a world leader in digital banking and self-service branches, and grocery chains from Spinneys to Carrefour have enlivened their customer experiences. But digital transformation is a journey, not a destination. Those who have been successful at digital acceleration will tell you so, just as they will tell you that to keep the expedition on track, you must put the end user at the head of the caravan. We have in the past seen the hype around chatbots die down and customers return to favouring human agents. But with the emergence of GPT technology, conversational AI has become more viable, so implementation of these bots may now yield a competitive advantage.

No Shortcuts

Just because digitisation is a journey, does not mean you cannot take leaps forward. These are not the same as shortcuts. Everything is still implemented with due diligence. But being on the lookout for that window of opportunity that lies between jumping the gun and missing the boat is an art that must be honed. Think of how quickly GPT emerged. Today’s windows close quickly. And IT budgets are shrinking. Digital pioneers exist in a symphony of challenges, where they need to be smart about where they focus their efforts. The best way to move forward without tripping

NICK CURRAN Head of Endava, Middle East and North Africa

over your ambition is to focus on emerging technologies, evaluate them for cost and potential, and adopt the ones that are affordable and have the greatest potential to transform the business quickly — in, say, six months. You may find great potential in others but by the time you have convinced purse-holders of their value, the window may have closed.

Recent research by Endava reveals the trending technologies for businesses looking to drive impact in 2023. Big data (75%), AIdriven automation (71%), and predictive analytics (72%) occupy the podium places. A third of respondents had already implemented all three technologies and a further third were in the process of doing so.

A Missed Boat

“Greatest potential” and “affordable”, remember? Not all of these digitisation stories will end in successful transformation within six months. Different businesses will have different uses for different technologies. E-commerce firms will add value with predictive analytics that paints a personalised portrait of the customer, while workflow-heavy organizations like manufacturers and banks will benefit more from automation.

pertains to staff numbers. And predictive analytics just flies off the shelves towards would-be innovators who want a glimpse of what is beyond the horizon — everything from a new market trend to malfunctioning mission-critical equipment. But back when I said “greatest potential” and “affordable”, I made no mention of “obvious”. If we concentrate on trends alone, we may keep up, but we stand little chance of standing out. Our research uncovered a mistrust of overhyped technologies. The Metaverse, for example, was well-known among respondents but 30% of them had not included it in their strategy, and half of that 30% reasoned that the technology was irrelevant to their business. And Web 3.0 was of interest to only 27% of those polled. The very fact that they are in the minority could spell a missed boat for these brands.

Iterate Towards Perfection

A focus on driving short-term efficiency and shunning overhyped technologies is exactly the mindset that leads to “Why change?” anti-strategies and aging infrastructure. Such lumbering mainstays will, in the main, not stay. A least not for long once nimble disruptors gain momentum. Here is the thing about emerging tech: every must-have element of today’s technology suite was once emerging tech. Even if it is a fad, any new tech that can be affordably evaluated is worth the hassle. The risk to the business of being the last to adopt the next big thing is just too great.

Big data, AI-driven automation, and predictive analytics are the bread and butter of digital businesses. It is why they are being prioritised. Big data makes sense of previously unanalysable information (like social feeds) that is becoming more common and more relevant to businesses. Automation addresses the do-more-with-less directive faced by many technologists, especially as the “less”

Back to the journey. If we treat digital transformation as an ongoing, iterative process, then the introduction of technologies such as the Metaverse, or Web 3.0 are less of a culture shock. We start small and affordable, sandboxing projects until we can perfect our use of them. Once the capabilities are understood and the business can devise ways of adding value, then greater investment can be justified. It is worth saying at this stage that just because a competitor has released an experience into the market does not mean the window has closed. Even if the release is a relative success, there will be opportunities to improve upon it. Develop expertise, experience, and confidence; build something eye-catching and value-adding; and drive positive change. n