Gulf region's businesses need to recruit more digital strategists

The Middle East’s enterprises need to recruit higher level strategists to drive digital transformations, chief information officers from around the globe told attendees at the GITEX Technology Week in Dubai this week.

Approximately 50 billion globally connected devices are expected to exist by 2020 as part of the Internet of Things. This will spawn new services, data streams, and control over customer and supplier products.

Global and regional experts debated how best to embrace the digital disruption that these devices and their accompanying complex business processes will create during the week's GTX Ignite conference and GTX Innovation Tech Talks.

"Over the next five years, business leaders in boardrooms across the Middle East will face a tough challenge in the digital economy, requiring them to disrupt themselves or lag behind,” Jonathan Becher, chief digital officer and head of SAP Digital, said. “They need to simplify operations through real-time analysis of data from different divisions, such as HR, logistics and marketing.”

Collaboration is key, Chris Brown, director of innovation for Vodafone Global Enterprise, said. He gave attendees examples of how Vodafone has opened new opportunities and fostered an innovation culture.

Experts assembled at GITEX noted that advancing those technologies will do much to develop the Smart Cities regional leaders aim to create for future generations.