An interview with Jyoti Lalchandani, Group Vice President & Regional Managing Director (META), IDC, a market research firm that provides insights, market intelligence and advisory services on information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets, answers a few questions on the upcoming CIO summit in UAE.
Techx – The IDC Middle East CIO Summit 2023 will run under the theme “Enabling the Digital Economy’s Leaders”. How do you evaluate the current state of the digital economy in the region?
Lalchandani – The rise of the digital economy is one of the main tech trends shaping 2023. Indeed, the rate of digital adoption is increasing rapidly across the Middle East as organizations adapt their business models to the changing characteristics and demands of their customers. Governments across the region have launched numerous strategies and policies to facilitate this growth, with a focus on developing the infrastructure, innovation platforms, skills, and regulations required to support the expansion of digital businesses. The shift towards the digital economy is uneven across different countries; however, with governments and organizations leveraging advanced technologies like AI/ML, IoT, edge, and 5G to create innovative use cases, it is fair to say that the region is on an accelerated journey toward a truly digital economy.
Techx – The accelerated digital transformation across the Middle East presents organizations with opportunities and challenges. What are the main challenges facing organizations in 2023?
Lalchandani – The region will continue to face several headwinds throughout 2023, including volatile demand, high inflation, interest rate hikes, supply chain uncertainties, and currency fluctuations. In order to navigate these storms of disruption, organizations will need to invest in strengthening their digital resiliency so they are better positioned to not only survive but thrive in new market environments as conditions continue to change.
Techx – 2023 marks the 16th edition of the IDC Middle East CIO Summit. What is new for this 16th instalment?
Lalchandani – The 16th annual instalment of the IDC Middle East CIO Summit, will take place on February 22-23 at Dubai’s iconic Atlantis, The Palm. The Summit has long been the region’s foremost gathering of CIOs and industry leaders, and as usual, delegates will be able to explore a broad range of themes central to their ongoing digital journeys.
The agenda for 2023 has been intricately tailored to provide organizations with the essential guidance they require to keep up with the shift toward a digital economy. Sessions will focus on hot tech trends and themes such as sustainability, the metaverse, Industry 4.0, customer experience, and digital sovereignty.
A series of the end user–led “For the CIO by the CIO” panel discussions will showcase insights from some of the region’s most respected CIOs and IT executives, while we have also incorporated a variety of fun, exciting, and memorable experiences for our delegates to enjoy while at the event — all of which will help to ensure that this year’s IDC Middle East CIO Summit stands out from the crowd!
