(Expansion) – I feel that when we talk about technological ecosystems we take for granted that digitalization is a kind of already included accessory. But the truth is that behind the scenes there are a series of factors, as essential as putting salsa on tacos, without which it would be unlikely that you would be reading this from your computer or smartphone.
In a place with as many areas of opportunity as Latin America, it is convenient to take a meticulous look at the current technological powers to find our own secret recipe for digital transformation.
Despite the obstacles, our region has all the qualities to become one of the technological navels of the planet, but before dreaming big, it must be taken into account that the winning formula of this digital transition must have, yes or yes, three essential ingredients, through which it will be possible to maximize the existing potential:
· Here the star ingredient is innovation, through which it is possible to promote the creation of all kinds of technologies that previously seemed to be taken from a George Lucas movie, from powerful chips that work like the brain of most of our technological toys (because everything looks more and more like a computer), even the infrastructures necessary to design and build the famous .
· The second step is to add a spoonful of talent development, because clearly we cannot talk about innovation without specialized people to invent and manipulate with their own hands, as if they were magic wands, that technology with which the encyclopedia of products is created that we use in our daily lives, such as computers, televisions, cars, smartphones, to name a couple.
· Finally, the icing on the cake is the deployment of technologies, and by this I basically mean the ease with which people, regardless of where they are on the planet, can access the great benefits of innovation.
But, the secret is not as simple as throwing the ingredients in the blender and magically expecting a smoothie of limitless technology for everyone. In this scenario, one of the basic soft skills we learned in kindergarten must be put into practice: teamwork. Here, collaboration between companies, universities and the public sector is weighed in gold for digital transformation.
For example, in my work, participation with universities and the public sector is constantly promoted to develop talent training projects in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers with the aim of finding solutions for the current shortage of students in these areas of study. Activities like these can generate real impacts on society, and precisely this must be one of the most important cards of technology.
And… what awaits us?
Technology has helped us tackle the toughest challenges of our times, whether we’re talking about the ‘n’ number of contributions that computing and connectivity play in our day-to-day activities or the huge catalog of solutions that artificial intelligence and cloud foster in the industry.
It is a reality that the adoption of digital technologies is currently as necessary as drinking water. It is no coincidence that 34% of Latin American businesses have increased their digitization spirit during the pandemic, according to a study carried out by the World Bank Group.
It is true that there are still some countries in Latin America where the digital divide is a central problem, however, some unprecedented factors, such as the new patterns of consumption of technological devices, or the hybrid era of education and work, have caused the digitization trend points to be more favorable day by day.
For example, research conducted by ComScore revealed that throughout the region the education sector grew digitally by 64%, and this trend could undoubtedly continue to increase if we succeed with the efforts put in place.
Today the ecosystem is already digital, but that does not mean that we do not have work to do. We are in one of the most critical moments in the long history of our passage through the planet, and here the technological apogee will be necessary to face head on high the most demanding challenges of the present and future.
For this reason, technological adoption must be deliberately promoted in search of continuous social, economic and business progress in our region.
Editor’s note: Ana Peña is Communications Director for Intel Americas. Follow her on . The opinions published in this column belong exclusively to the author.
