The concept of the ‘Digital Economy’ has gained significant prominence over the last few years, and the rate of digital adoption is increasingly rapidly across the Middle East region as organizations adapt their business models to the changing characteristics and demands of their customers. This dynamic will shape discussions at the 16th annual installment of the IDC Middle East CIO Summit, which takes place on February 22-23, 2023, at Dubai’s iconic Atlantis, The Palm.
Speaking on the relevance of the event, IDC’s Group Vice President and Regional Managing Director for the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa, Jyoti Lalchandani said: “Today, almost every country in the region has a cohesive national vision for a digital economy that focuses on driving local economic value, employment creation, and social development by reaching the underserved. Whether it is accessing essential government services, purchasing products on digital platforms, or the shift to online learning and working, the impact of this mass transition to digital is evident everywhere.”
He goes further to note that IDC research shows that mobile broadband penetration in GCC countries has reached 100%, more than 50% of consumers in the region shop online, and in the UAE, 80% of digital payments are now contactless. “To set themselves apart in an increasingly competitive market, organizations need to leverage infrastructure, data, and skills alongside critical technology enablers such as 5G, the cloud, and AI. Only then will they be able to successfully re-invent their business models, create new customer experiences, and drive innovation with their partners.”
Taking place under the theme ‘Enabling the Digital Economy’s Leaders’, the IDC Middle East CIO Summit 2023 will examine the current state of the digital economy, assess its ongoing impact on citizens, customers, employees, and operations, address the key challenges that need to be overcome, and outline proven best practices and strategies for driving future success.
It will incorporate five different ‘Transformation Zones’ demonstrating pioneering use cases and technological advances in the areas of the metaverse, DevOps, customer experience, sustainability, and Industry 4.0. An enviable lineup of expert speakers will be on hand across both days to explore some of the region’s most pressing tech concerns, providing essential guidance on topics such as:
- Driving Sustainability in the Technology Vendor Selection Process
- Enhancing Application Modernization Strategies
- Ensuring Effective Hybrid Cloud Deployment
- Developing AIOps Strategies and Practices
- Leveraging Low-Code / No-Code Platforms
- Orchestrating Digital Infrastructure for Hybrid Environments
- Charting a Data-Driven Digital Strategy
- Embracing Intelligent Automation
- Implementing Predictive Analytics
- Embracing a Zero Trust Security Approach
- Making Sense of Cybersecurity Policies, Regulations, and Compliance
- Optimizing the Impact of 5G: Network Architectures, Market Strategies, and Use Cases
The event will also feature insights from IDC’s CIO Advisory Council for the Middle East, whose members include some of the region’s most respected ICT leaders and experts.
The IDC Middle East CIO Summit has been a staple of the region’s ICT calendar for 16 years, serving as the ICT community’s premier source of learning about the industry’s latest developments. The 2023 edition will feature an intricately tailored agenda of informative presentations, in-depth discussions, and expert-led panel sessions on today’s hottest ICT issues. The IDC Middle East CIO Summit 2023 is supported by Kuwait’s Central Agency for Information Technology (CAIT).
