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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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Posted on February 12, 2025 The Future of SME Banking: Embracing Digital Transformation In the rapidly evolving landscape of financial services, the digital transformation of SME (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise) banking is not just a trend but a necessity. As we look towards 2025, several key developments are shaping the future of SME banking, driven by technological advancements, customer-centric models, and the integration of various financial and non-financial services into seamless digital ecosystems. Expanding the Digital Ecosystem The integration of non-banking services into banking platforms is not just a trend but a strategic move to create comprehensive26 financial ecosystems. According to the SME Finance Forum , banks are increasingly offering services like tax consultancy and market analysis, transforming themselves into one-stop-shops for SMEs. This approach not only streamlines operations but also fosters innovation by providing end-to-end solutions that meet the diverse needs of SMEs. By offering a comprehensive suite of services, banks can enhance their value proposition and strengthen their relationships with SME clients, positioning themselves as indispensable partners in their growth journey. The digital ecosystem model allows banks to integrate various services, creating a seamless experience for SMEs. This integration is crucial in today’s fast-paced business environment, where […]

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The town of Macclesfield is in Cheshire East | Credit: Public domain The unitary authority serving towns including Crewe, Macclesfield, Sandbach and Congleton is recruiting for a new senior executive to support a major reform scheme including the redesign of all services Cheshire East Council is seeking to recruit a head of customer experience to lead the authority on a “challenging journey” of digital transformation. The authority, which serves a population of about 400,000 people, wishes to appoint a senior leader to spearhead “the design, development, and implementation of the council’s strategic approach to customer experience”, according to the role profile. This will involve working “across all council services, with partners and with members to drive the council’s cultural and operational transformation”. The postholder will also act as the “senior customer for the council’s digital transformation programme, commissioning products that enhance the digital customer journey, drive customer satisfaction and deliver efficiencies across all council services”. This reform drive will involve the “redesign of all council services… to create seamless customer journeys, promoting the benefits of digital developments, seeking out new opportunities, challenging existing practices, learning from the experience of others and trialling innovative solutions”. Related content South Tyneside offers […]

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HMEL seeks to collaborate on initiatives such as the development of a CoE and a next-generation Refinery command centre AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, and HPCL Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL), a leading Indian integrated refining and petrochemical company, have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement enables both companies to advance digital transformation in India’s refining and petrochemical sector, aligning with the government’s Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives while supporting the nation’s Net-Zero 2070 vision. With India’s refining capacity set to increase from 250 million metric tons per annum (MMTPA) to 450 MMTPA by 2030, digital solutions will be crucial to ensuring facilities operate at global standards of efficiency and sustainability. AVEVA offers its portfolio of industrial software solutions, including its cloud-based industrial platform, digital twins, advanced analytics, and AI-driven technologies, along with comprehensive support services and global implementation expertise. A digital-first organisation, HMEL operates one of India’s most modern integrated refinery-petrochemical complexes – the ‘Guru Gobind Singh Refinery’ – in Bathinda, Punjab. With powerful capabilities in refining operations, deep domain knowledge, and extensive technical expertise in petrochemical manufacturing, the complex comprises an 11.3 MMTPA Crude Oil Refinery and a 1.2 MMTPA Multi-Feed Cracker […]

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Trident Digital Tech Holdings Ltd, a leading catalyst for digital transformation in technology optimization services and Web 3.0 activation based in Singapore, announced Wednesday the signing of an implementation agreement with the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Technology of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This agreement marks the beginning of the deployment of the national digital identity system. This preliminary collaboration agreement signifies the operational launch of a comprehensive digital identification and authentication platform in the DRC. It formalizes the initial collaboration between Trident and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, transitioning from strategic planning to contractual execution, according to the statement. The agreement outlines specific deliverables, including the development and deployment of an integrated digital identity verification and authentication system based on a secure infrastructure for delivering government services. Furthermore, the system will incorporate robust data protection measures aligned with international standards, ensuring the security and confidentiality of citizens’ information. These fundamental elements aim to revolutionize interactions between citizens and the government, marking a major step toward a digitally integrated nation. This technology will also benefit citizens by enhancing the efficiency and security of government services while ensuring user control and consent. Soon Huat Lim, Founder, […]

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WAM The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Development Programme to enhance cooperation on digital transformation, AI governance, and public policy development across the Arab world. The partnership aims to strengthen MBRSG’s role as a leading academic institution specialising in policy research and government leadership development. It highlights the School’s commitment to driving innovation, fostering data-driven policymaking, and contributing to regional cooperation in digital governance and advanced technology. The MoU outlines several key objectives, including improving government performance, enhancing digital governance, and leveraging AI to boost the quality and efficiency of public services. The agreement also aims to embed sustainability principles into digital transformation processes, creating integrated digital platforms that provide fast, seamless government services. Speaking to the ARN News Centre at the World Governments Summit, being held in Dubai, Dr. Yasar Jarrar, a Member of the Board of Trustees at Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government said that more than ever the event has the world becomes more "complicated".

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