Investing just one US dollar in digital transformation can generate an astonishing 8.3 US dollars return within a country’s digital economy, as highlighted in the recently unveiled Global Digitalization Index (GDI) by Huawei at GITEX Dubai 2024.
Developed in partnership with the International Data Corporation (IDC), the GDI evaluates the maturity of a nation’s ICT sector by assessing various digital infrastructure indicators, such as computing power, storage solutions, cloud capabilities, and green energy utilization.
The report forecasts that digital technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) will account for a substantial 70% of global economic growth over the next five years.
However, Huawei cautions that while some nations aggressively advance their digital agendas, others risk falling behind.
“Our aspiration is for the GDI to provide every nation with a clearer vision and strategic roadmap for their digital and intelligent transformation,” stated Leo Chen, Senior Vice President and President of Enterprise Sales at Huawei.
Bridging the Digital Divide
The report highlights significant challenges in the current digital landscape. Presently, less than 50% of devices are connected, while computing resources remain costly, energy-intensive, and in limited supply.
Additionally, AI adoption across various industries stands at a mere 12%. Existing gaps in ecosystem development, talent readiness, and policy frameworks pose further hurdles to progress.
Leo emphasized, “Beyond these broader issues, there are complex problems such as data silos and the intricacies of integrating diverse processes within industries. Additionally, retraining a workforce traditionally reliant on manual labour for more agile roles poses a significant challenge, alongside pressing cybersecurity concerns linked to cloud migration.”
However, these complexities can be mitigated through collaborative efforts among multiple stakeholders to design custom, agile, and secure solutions that lead to cost reductions, efficiency improvements, and new business models.
Technology-Driven Industry Evolution
“There are already promising developments across sectors like energy, where AI and IoT-driven insights are being used to optimize resource allocation, reduce waste, and streamline operational processes,” Leo added.
In response to these needs, Huawei is partnering with stakeholders to deliver industry-specific solutions, including a national government cloud initiative and an ICT talent development program.
“Huawei is committed to collaborating with customers and partners to facilitate industrial digital and intelligent transformation, ultimately enhancing people’s lives and work worldwide,” Leo affirmed.
As Huawei looks ahead, the GDI is a vital resource for policymakers and business leaders seeking to assess their digital transformation journeys. This initiative aligns with Huawei’s mission to make cutting-edge digital technology more accessible and practical for businesses of all sizes, fostering a more inclusive digital economy.