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Digital economy is here [ITWeb](ITWeb Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) A fundamental change in technology and the way businesses operates is already being catered for. Banks that contact you when your ATM card is swallowed; shops that lure you in for specials when you are already in the mall; social media that tells you when a friend is in a nearby coffee shop – all this futuristic-sounding interaction will emanate from the so-called digital economy, which is taking shape now. The shift is happening because aspects such as social media, cloud computing, mobility, big data and localisation are becoming even more integrated, creating the need for new software and technology to deal with this convergence. This will enable (../index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=138455:New-OS-in-the-offing-says-Scoble&catid=147) an environment in which people will be tracked in terms of their behaviour or location, and their needs catered for, says Robert Scoble (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Scoble), chief start-up officer at Rackspace, futurist and blogger (http://scobleizer.com/). The "digital revolution", as it is already being referred to in Germany, will prove to be disruptive for traditional businesses. Those that become digital – to take advantage of forces such as social media, cloud computing, big data and localisation – will be the winners, says (../index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=138430:Digital-economy-is-fourth-revolution-&catid=69) Software AG CEO Karl-Heinz Streibich. To make the move, companies will need to be agile, and integrate across all layers. R "Ray" Wang, principal analyst, chairman and founder at Constellation Research, adds (../index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=138520:Digital-demands-a-new-business-model&catid=69) the digital disruption currently taking place is more than a technological shift; and requires a change in business models. Once the world moves into an era of mass personalisation, it will have become a truly digital economy, he says. launched (../index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=138454:Software-AG-claims-digital-first&catid=250) its Digital Business Platform, which is middleware software that sits between the back and front office. Companies such as SAP have created (http://www.saphana.com/welcome) cloud-based in-memory computing platforms, while Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella yesterday announced (../index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=138592:Microsoft-unveils-cloud-strategy) several enhancements to its hyper-scale hybrid cloud platform. Huawei has also put an agile network in place, notes Segev. Being watched However, ICT veteran Adrian Schofield says, while there are great commercial opportunities to be gleaned from the shift, there are concerns about the shift to the so-called digital economy. He notes, for example, he does not want criminals knowing where he is, and also has concerns about "big brother's" ability to detect spending patterns, or speeding via the information people unwittingly disclose. "The potential for big brother is daunting." Schofield notes "the world doesn't behave quite so ethically and morally," so while there are opportunities for companies to innovate, the market is still too immature to contemplate such a change, which he sees as 10 to 15 years away. In addition, Schofield questions whether the shift will be cost-effective for businesses, and if the average business will be ready to deal with the potential market it creates. He also queries whether people will want to be opted in to this world. "Do I want my life to be shared in that commercial environment, or would I rather have more personal control over the decision-making process?" (c) 2014 ITWeb Limited. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). |