--
Technology sets economic trajectory for 2014 --
Thu, 05 Dec 2013 12:05
--
Forecasts for the new year suggest that technology will have a strong impact on businesses as well as consumers. Industry experts weigh in on how information and communications technologies could shape economic growth in 2014.
Challenging the status quo
With current technology evolving and growing at a rapid pace, the ability of governments and businesses to harness its benefits and provide prudent oversight to its impact will be tested. Frank Rizzo, technology sector leader at KPMG Africa says: The exponential growth in the volume and speed of access to information and communication has numerous effects. It can generate new markets and challenge existing institutions but what we are likely to see is:
Big data initiatives creating better insight for both public and private sector entities;
The boundary between what is considered public and what is considered private for individuals becoming increasingly blurred;
New social service models enabled by technology;
The evolution of security initiatives and policing to focus on dealing with the increase of cyber threats and cyber crime;
A transformation of communication due to increased mobility demands by consumers and the workforce.
Smartphone sales dominate
According to the US Consumer Electronics Sales and Forecasts, industry sales growth is forecasted to increase by 4.5% with industry revenues reaching $211.7bn.
George Ferreira, vice president and COO of Samsung Electronics Africa, comments: There is no doubt that the smartphone and more specifically the premium smartphone has made huge inroads across Africa in recent years and this is not set to change any time soon due to demand and compatibility. As a result, building locally and relevant content and services directly related to the African market will remain key to consumer electronic brands as this not only demonstrates company commitment to the continent, but positively impacts and enhances the lives of consumers.
The rise of digital content
The International Data Corporation (IDC) predicts that the big data market will grow at a rate of 31.7% until it reaches $23.8bn in 2016, due to increased demand for digital content.
Martin Rennhackkamp, CIO at PBT Group says that as a result, interest in and the application of influence analysis will likely rise.
The biggest change I foresee is on the social media/social analytics front. Many organisations are doing, or are interested in doing sentiment analysis. It s all good to analyse what is being said and what the sentiment of that is but we also need to consider the influence and context of the speaker/tweeter/poster, remarks Rennhackkamp.
Dawie Harmse, co-founder and head of technology at Maven Agency agrees, saying: With all the data comes the remarketing of it and the opportunity to analyse and interpret it to best suit the business. As a result, customer relationship management (CRM) and email re-marketing should see a rise in popularity once more. Through in-depth analysis of the data, businesses can send the consumers on targeted journeys of communication that fits their interests and criteria.
A breakout year for Wi-Fi
As demand grows for free and accessible Wi-Fi, solving congestion issues for mobile network operators and increasing open access networks in public spaces, will be imperative.
We are likely to see more Wi-Fi in malls, stadiums and public places, says Michael Fletcher, sales director for Ruckus Wireless Sub-Saharan Africa. While we have seen a large uptake from the hospitality and education sectors, we are likely to see more Wi-Fi in public places and hotels that will be forced to provide good quality Wi-Fi and in most cases for free.
Creating niche content
Generating content which is readily available on all forms of mobile devices for a specific target audience is going to be a big trend in 2014.
Brands will need to focus on genuine quality of their content to not only build solid brand awareness but also loyalty. Additionally, by making some content available only to a select audience, brands can build value into key relationships.
Images will outrank words for valuable data. Less will become more and a big trend will be to simplify marketing messages in 2014, taking away the guess work and leaving a solid impression on the consumer, adds Harmse.
Consumer is key
Advances in various sectors, particularly technology, have empowered people to demand a degree of transparency and participation in all aspects of decision- making.
Says Rizzo: Consequently, growing individual empowerment will present numerous challenges to government structures and business processes, but if harnessed, could unleash significant economic development and social advancement.
Kappers agrees, concluding: With the convergence of technologies we are seeing more business centric solutions as companies need to look at collaborative ways of working/operating that will encourage both employees and their consumers to become actively involved in the business or brand. As such, we are bound to see a big focus on collaborative software (social business software) and a slow migration away from email centricity.
Related Articles
-- --
-- --
-- Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. comments powered by Disqus
Most recent headlines
17/02/2025
TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night
By Jenny Priestley
Published: February 14, 2025 ...
17/02/2025
Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 17, 20...
17/02/2025
As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...
17/02/2025
EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...
15/02/2025
At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...
15/02/2025
Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom
Rob Christensen February 15, 2025
0 Comments
Whether you want to remove distracting ...
15/02/2025
Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...
15/02/2025
DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...
15/02/2025
Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...
15/02/2025
Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...
15/02/2025
When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...
15/02/2025
Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...
15/02/2025
Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV.
The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...
15/02/2025
Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...
15/02/2025
Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...
15/02/2025
LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...
15/02/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....
15/02/2025
KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....
15/02/2025
SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...
15/02/2025
Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...
15/02/2025
NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...
14/02/2025
Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
14/02/2025
The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...
14/02/2025
Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025
Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...
14/02/2025
World Radio Day: On the same wavelength
By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec
To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...
14/02/2025
DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...
14/02/2025
Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...
14/02/2025
CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...
14/02/2025
Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...
14/02/2025
Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow
Brie Clayton February 14, 2025
0 Comments
80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...
14/02/2025
A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...
14/02/2025
Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail
By C...
14/02/2025
BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration
By Jen...
14/02/2025
The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 14, ...
14/02/2025
A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...
14/02/2025
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...
14/02/2025
NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...
14/02/2025
WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...
14/02/2025
Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....
14/02/2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...
14/02/2025
DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...
14/02/2025
Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...
14/02/2025
2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...
14/02/2025
14 Feb 2025
VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....
14/02/2025
Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season
Max
Warner Bros. Television Group
The Pitt
New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...
14/02/2025
This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...
14/02/2025
NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...
14/02/2025
LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...
-- 
