How fintech innovation is driving digital transformation for communities across the globe

How fintech innovation is driving digital transformation for communities across the globe

Subscribe 3 min read To meet the demands of today’s consumers, enterprises must be continuously innovating. But innovation doesn’t happen in silos. Fintechs, for example, have been transformational for the financial services industry, from democratizing finance to establishing digital currencies that revolutionized the way that we think of money. As fintechs race to keep up with the needs of their customers and co-create with larger financial institutions, they can leverage AI and hybrid cloud solutions to drive true digital transformation and meet these evolving demands. How Dollarito is connecting larger financial institutions with financially underserved communities According to research from the US Government Accountability Office, roughly 45 million people lack credit scores because they don’t have certain data points that credit scores are based on, which limits their eligibility. Traditional credit report models use parameters such as the status of an active loan or credit card payment records to give an individual a credit score. If someone does not fit within these parameters, it can be difficult to procure a loan, take out a mortgage or even buy a car. However, with a more accurate model, such as one powered by AI, financial institutions can better identify applicants who […]

The Digital Transformation Guide from the American Press Institute

The Digital Transformation Guide from the American Press Institute

Illustration by Sylvia Asuncion-Crabb The local news industry has been in turmoil for years. You’re probably aware that the number of local newspapers in the U.S. is shrinking, from 8,891 in 2005 to 5,591 in 2024, with 208 U.S. counties lacking any news outlets . You or someone you know has likely been among the 9,508 local and national news professionals laid off since 2021 . Fighting disinformation and trying to earn back the trust of your community is your day-to-day reality. Despite the challenges, there are success stories across the media landscape. There are newspapers that have more than doubled their number of digital subscribers in two years. There are broadcast TV stations that have revamped their coverage plans, including developing audience-focused mission statements to guide their work, resulting in new coverage topics and newsletter subscribers. And there are organizations that have owned up to the harm they’ve caused their communities and begun the process of reconciliation and rebuilding trust, listening to audiences of color and creating journalism for them, growing their audiences and creating new products to serve these communities. These accomplishments didn’t come quickly or easily. News organizations overhauled their workflows and learned new skills. They […]

Ethical AI, geospatial data and the future of digital transformation

Ethical AI, geospatial data and the future of digital transformation

Generative AI will help tp make geospatial data more accessible and user-friendly Manish Jethwa, chief technology officer at Ordnance Survey (OS), looks at how AI will impact the world of geospatial data and why it has developed the responsible AI charter. Oh no, sadly you have viewed the maximum number of articles before we ask you to complete some basic details. Don’t worry, it’s free to register and won’t take you longer than 60 seconds! Join us Already a Member? Login or claim your subscriber account Remember Login Register | Reset Password

Top 10: RPA Companies

Top 10: RPA Companies

Technology Magazine looks at some of the world leaders in RPA The RPA market sees evolution as leading tech providers integrate Gen AI, cloud computing and intelligent automation capabilities across the world Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has transformed from a niche technology into a cornerstone of enterprise digital transformation worldwide . Born from screen scraping and workflow automation tools in the early 2000s, RPA now leverages AI to automate complex business processes across finance, healthcare and manufacturing sectors. While the industry faces challenges around scalability and integration with legacy systems , adoption continues to accelerate as organisations seek to reduce operational costs and improve efficiency. Now, recent advances in Gen AI have opened new possibilities for intelligent automation , despite concerns about job displacement persisting – so Technology Magazine looks at some of the leading companies in this industry globally and what they’re doing. 10: Pega Pega is an AI-powered, low-code RPA platform for workflow automation CEO: Alan Trefler Headquarters: Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA Pegasystems (Pega) is an AI-powered workflow automation and customer engagement software company, aiming to simplify business complexities through low-code platforms and Gen AI. From expanding its Gen AI capabilities to integrate with AWS and Google Cloud’s […]

Q&A: How One Novant Health Leader Is Applying Digital Transformation Lessons in 2025

Q&A: How One Novant Health Leader Is Applying Digital Transformation Lessons in 2025

Onyeka Nchege, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital and Information Officer at Novant Health, says his organization was an early adopter of artificial intelligence. With the rise of virtual care options and a growing range of digital access points, healthcare has taken notes from other industries to provide the services that patients have come to expect. Today, many patients can schedule appointments online and communicate with their physician through messages in a portal. Even as digital tools continue to improve access to care, human relationships remain paramount to success in the industry. Onyeka Nchege, executive vice president and chief digital and information officer at Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health , knows that well. With previous experiences as a leader in manufacturing, IT and nonprofit spaces, he understands where healthcare can stand out. “Our patients are counting on us to get it right the first time,” Nchege says. “Developing relationships and trust with key stakeholders, team members, the board — that’s all critical for collaborating on solutions and implementing what’s best for the organization as a whole, and not just for a single challenge.” Nchege discusses ongoing priorities for his team, strengthening cybersecurity and how his organization has approached the growth […]

Tinubu lauds Google CEO for advancing digital transformation in Nigeria

Tinubu lauds Google CEO for advancing digital transformation in Nigeria

Tinubu lauds Google CEO for advancing digital transformation in Nigeria President Bola Tinubu has commended The Chief Executive Officer of Google, Mr Sundar Pichai, for the interest of the company in advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital transformation in Nigeria. Tinubu met the Google team in Paris on Wednesday in company of Mr Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesman said in a statement. “The Google team engaged in constructive discussions with President Tinubu aimed at forging a strategic partnership to enhance Nigeria’s journey toward AI and digital transformation. “The collaboration seeks to position Nigeria as a prominent technology and innovation hub, leveraging AI, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure to foster economic growth and enhance global competitiveness.” It stated that the conversations focussed on key initiatives such as expanding digital infrastructure in Nigeria and equipping the workforce with essential digital skills for the future. They also included promoting AI-driven research and innovation, encouraging greater cloud adoption across various industries, and establishing Nigeria as a key player in the global digital economy. “President Tinubu emphasised that this partnership aligns seamlessly with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, centred on economic diversification through […]

Biggest Hurdles SMEs Face in Implementing Digital Technologies

Biggest Hurdles SMEs Face in Implementing Digital Technologies

In today’s fast-paced and technology-driven world, digital transformation has become an imperative for any business, whether big or small. However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may find the transition to new technologies particularly challenging. While large organizations have the capability and expertise to implement cutting-edge technologies swiftly, SMEs face unique barriers that make adopting digital technologies seemingly arduous. This article dives into the largest challenges that SMEs are experiencing while adopting digital technologies, provides examples of successful digital transformations, and looks at how these businesses can utilize emerging technologies to their best advantage. Challenges Faced by SMEs in Digital Adoption Limited Financial Resources One of the major challenges facing SMEs is the financial burden of embracing digital technologies. Small businesses tend to have limited budgets and, therefore, cannot afford the expensive digital tools and solutions that are available. The cost of purchasing, implementing, and maintaining new technologies appears to be prohibitively expensive for businesses that are just beginning to scale. Solution: SMEs can fight this challenge by starting small. They can opt for cloud-based services, such as competitive services that have lower upfront costs and scalable pricing models to avoid large investments in on-premise infrastructure. Lack of Expertise and […]

For digital transformation, tools like Vault API unlock new possibilities

For digital transformation, tools like Vault API unlock new possibilities

Did you know Autodesk Vault connects to cloud-based technology? (Image: Autodesk.) The digital transformation of engineering workflows can get complex. An obvious example is when a manufacturer’s legacy technology must be integrated within an organization’s new cloud-based engineering platform. These systems may not be compatible out of the gate. There are other hurdles; for example, consider an aerospace company with government contracts. For national security, they may be restricted from storing data on the cloud. Meanwhile, another company’s in-house software may be unable to function with data on the cloud. Cloud-based engineering platforms exist, and most offer the ability to transfer whole product lifecycle workflows — from design, to manufacturing and beyond — into a single ecosystem. For many organizations, these platforms offer a great method to implement a digital transformation — but they are not for every company. “We need to meet our customers where they are,” says Philip Lord, business strategy manager at Autodesk. “We are building a complete platform for design and make, but we don’t expect our customers to adopt it all at once. We’re providing flexibility to connect systems they’re using to bring them along with future platform capabilities. One of the biggest barriers […]

Time for industry to stop ‘Dream-Selling’ digital transformations

Time for industry to stop ‘Dream-Selling’ digital transformations

The digital transformation landscape is fraught with challenges and often littered with costly failures. To ensure success, the industry must shift from "dream selling" to delivering true value. By emphasising proper design, understanding real business needs, and utilising proven solutions, companies can achieve meaningful and sustainable results in their digital transformation initiatives. Time for industry to stop ‘Dream-Selling’ digital transformations It’s a little talked about, but concerning, fact that around 75 per cent of businesses that invest in digital transformation to increase productivity, gain competitive advantage, or enjoy other benefits, don’t realise the outcomes required on the solution that was sold to them. More daunting is that only around five per cent of digital transformation projects achieve the outcomes promised at the start, on time and within budget. Another 20 per cent of them, while not complete failures, deliver the business benefits the project intended to achieve, but either over budget, behind time or both. The rest are among the millions of dollars’ worth of projects that are half-finished, abandoned, or irreparable. The funds wasted on these projects extend beyond the project costs, with the failure also delivering a massive hit to a company’s bottom line, decreasing staff satisfaction […]

Wesco pushes ahead with $500 million digital transformation plans

Wesco pushes ahead with $500 million digital transformation plans

Key achievements so far include the integration of generative AI analytics, automation of order fulfillment, and improvements in working capital efficiency. Wesco experienced a year of stagnant sales and profits in 2024 but remains committed to its ambitious digital transformation initiative. For the year ending Dec. 31, 2024, Wesco reported flat sales of $21.818 billion. That compares with $22.385 billion in 2023. Net income also dipped, coming in at $660.2 million versus $708.1 million the previous year. Wesco is a leading public distributor of industrial supplies, electrical products, lighting systems, and power distribution equipment. Despite this lackluster financial performance, Wesco is forging ahead with its $500 million digital transformation strategy. CEO John Engel expressed confidence in the company’s trajectory during the year-end earnings call with analysts. “Key developments in 2024 have positioned us well for future margin expansion and industry outperformance,” Engel stated. “We’ve made considerable progress on our enterprise-wide digitalization efforts and broader business transformation. We’re more than halfway through our technology buildout, which will drive earnings growth through enhanced cross-selling and improved cost efficiencies.” How Wesco approaches digital transformation Wesco has already invested $270 million in this digital transformation initiative, focusing on upgrading its ecommerce platform, modernizing […]