Kathy Gibson reports from Gartner Symposium – Digital business is as relevant in Africa as anywhere.
Rene Jacobs, MD of Gartner Africa, says that digital business ushering an unprecedented convergence of people, business and technology creating new revenue opportunities as well as new challenges.
“This is an exciting time to be a an IT professional especially here in Africa – ne of the most dynamic environments in the world,” she says.
She points out that seven of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world are in sub-Saharan Africa. By 2017, mobile subscriptions will reach 1-billion more than half got the mobile money services in the world are in sub-Saharan Africa. By 2040, Africa will have the biggest workforce on the planet, growing faster than any other region.
“There are many examples of innovative use of technology and business models for the African context,” Jacobs says.
“No doubt Africa is poised to benefit from cost effective transformation that digital business provides.”
She warns, though, that this untapped potential has not gone unnoticed by the rest of the world. “CEOs around the world are making substantial investments on the continent
“As business and IT leaders it’s important that we ask ourselves if we are fully benefiting from the advances on our doorstep; are we making the changes we need to harness Africa’s growth? Or are we going to allow the rest of the world to beat us to that opportunity?”
