Forum to focus on digital trends in key sectors

ICT investments in the EMEA region are expected to hit $213 billion in 2019.

Businesses across the Middle East region today need to have a firm grasp on the intricacies of digital transformation so that they can establish solutions that allow them to improve productivity, engage customers, develop talent, and transform products and services, experts said ahead of the Digitrans 2019 Forum.
Organised by Khaleej Times and MITSloan, the third edition of the event is taking place at the Address Dubai Mall between October 30-31, 2019. The annual event has evolved into a powerful discussion driven by companies to create better and sustainable solutions for a more evolving economy. This year's event promises to be the flagship of digital transformation by gathering eminent names in the regional digital community, sharing experience and knowledge, brainstorming solutions to challenges, and exploring opportunities to drive future generations to use technology in transforming their business operations. The forum will focus on the trending digital practices in six industry tracks, namely government, banking, healthcare, retail, education, and transportation.
With the Middle East region being on the verge of a significant digital disruption, technology needs to be widely adopted to enhance efficiency and meet consumer expectations, while optimising costs. In the past decade, the region has witnessed exponential investment in technology. This digital transformation has resulted in analysts expecting a total of $973 billion in IT spending in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), with ICT investment expected to hit $213 billion in 2019.
Elaborating on how digital transformation is affecting the healthcare sector, Eugene Borukhovich, global head of G4A Digital Health at Bayer, said: "Some examples would include over 150 startups in just "AI for Drug Discovery" helping life sciences companies find better therapies for our patients. New sources of data that our bodies generate 24/7 helping us as a society to understand our biology better. Technology also helps patients manage their health, via smart pill boxes and digital therapeutics. The list goes on."
AntWorks, which has joined the forum as the Lead Sponsor, is a global artificial intelligence and intelligent automation company, creating new possibilities with data through digitisation, automation and enterprise intelligence. "Automating your processes without addressing data quality means you speed up doing the wrong thing. At AntWorks, our AI infused cognitive machine reading solution ANTstein SQUARE, allows us to read structured and unstructured documents, images and text - extract valuable information and apply your business rules executing transactions via API's or Robotic Process Automation," said Mike Hobday, senior vice president of Sales - Europe at AntWorks.
The forum has already confirmed participation from Barclays, Digital Health (G4A) Bayer, Virgin Hyperloop One, AREA 2071, Careem, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Emirates NBD, Aster DM Healthcare, Landmark Group, American Hospital Dubai, Varkey Group & GEMS Education, Ministry of Education, Department for Education and Knowledge (ADEK), the UK and Indian Government, among other participants.
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com