With the rapid changes in global technology and business landscape, leading Software Company, Microsoft, has enjoined organizations in the country to embrace digital transformation as a sure way to remain competitive, as well as ensuring business profitability and continuity. This much was made known at Empowering Digital Transformation Summit held at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
In his opening address, Industry Solutions Sales Director, Microsoft Middle East and Africa, Beny Rubinstein, established that 86% of CEO’s consider digital as their number one priority, as they believe that technology will transform their businesses more than any other mega global trend. He further unbundled the four pillars of Digital Transformation concept which are – customers’ engagement, employees’ empowerment, operations optimization and product and services transformation. According to him, “Digital Transformation is a prevailing global inclination and which emerging markets are beginning to embrace.”
Delivering his keynote on the role of Digital Transformation in the Financial Sector, the MD/CEO of Diamond Bank, Uzoma Dozie, confirmed the importance of digital transformation for organizations, stating that 80 per cent of transactions at Diamond Bank are done outside banking halls, and this could have only been made possible via digital technology adoption. “One phenomenal feature of digital transformation is that it enables organizations to be agile, flexible and more effective in their approach,” Dozie said.
During the panel discussion set up to examine the role of digital transformation in a recessed economy, the Group Head IT & ERP, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Ebenezer Onwuama, stated that when choosing a digital transformation partner, consistency and knowledge of process are key factors to be considered. On his part, the Head of Legal Affairs at Microsoft Nigeria, John Edokpolo, noted that while most people believe in the importance of digital transformation, they have fears embracing it. Using cloud as an example, he said over 60 per cent organizations believe they would have security issues when considering cloud option, while after moving, 94 per cent feel more secured in Microsoft cloud than they were before.
On the issue of data privacy, Edokpolo stated that Microsoft has a contractually-backed commitment with consumers on data privacy, security, control and transparency. In his words, “It is interesting to mention that over 42 per cent of companies on Nigerian Stock Exchange are on Microsoft Cloud and our cloud has the widest range of certification in the world, while to ensure security, we do penetration testing of our system to spot vulnerability and possible areas of improvement.”
