Digital transformation demands fundamental change across every part of the organization and this change must come from the top. What, exactly, should CEOs and business leaders do? How do we achieve this change in an equitable, sustainable way? What mindsets must leaders adopt, and what concrete approaches should they implement across their organizations, supply chains and communities? The World Economic Forum asked 10 business leaders at the forefront of the digital transformation their strategies for Industry 4.0 success. Here’s what they had to say.
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Predictions 2022: Business leaders on how can we ensure a safe and equitable digital transformation
The past 18 months have transformed society – and sped up the digital transformation of our world.
On the plus side, digital technologies allowed business and society to continue to function even during lockdowns – helping companies survive, vulnerable people access healthcare and children continue to learn. When the worst of the pandemic is, someday, behind us, we’ll be able to take many of these lessons – and technological advancements – with us to enable greater access to healthcare (especially mental healthcare), education, job training and finance.
And it provided a much-needed boost to the pandemic economy. The UN’s Sustainable Development Report 2021 highlighted the role of technology manufacturing as a key driver of the economic recovery, citing the rise in demand for computer electronics due to the global shift toward working from home, remote-learning and e-commerce.
However, with 3 billion people worldwide still offline, the pandemic also exposed and exacerbated digital inequality and the gaps that still exist in digital access, according to a report from the World Economic Forum and BCG.
And while many countries and industries were able to quickly access and seamlessly adapt to new forms of human interaction and remote work, the speed of the transition has led to vulnerabilities and risk. In 2020, we saw a 358% increase in malware and 435% increase in ransomware attacks. This further exacerbates digital inequality, with attacks on large and strategic systems carrying cascading physical consequences across societies, and prevention entailing higher costs. Intangible risks—such as disinformation, fraud and lack of digital safety—will also impact public trust in digital systems.
William Crane, CEO of IndustryStar, an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based on-demand supply chain services and software technology company that partners with mobility leaders to reduce the cost, time and risk of bringing new vehicles, modules and components to market. William is a trusted advisor in supply chain with demonstrated results starting, launching and enhancing procurement, logistics, supplier quality and manufacturing organizations. His work has appeared frequently in the Institute for Supply Management, Sourcing Industry Group, Disruptor.com and Modern Material Handling. William’s passion for bringing technologies to market that have a positive impact on the world can be found via his blog Supply Chain for Tomorrow’s Technology. William is also Host of the Supply Chain Innovation podcast where he interviews top change-makers to uncover strategies, tips, and tools for improving new product launches.
