IBM study reveals how African businesses can bridge technology gap

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IBM today announced the results of a new  study which found that while nearly 87 percent of African IT leaders rank new technologies such as analytics, cloud, mobile and social media as being critical to business success, only 53 percent are pushing forward with adoption. 

The findings also confirmed that 36 percent of the African businesses embracing emerging technologies could be considered “Pacesetters” among their peers in terms of their focus on prioritising and rapidly adopting technologies.

The new study is entitled Setting the pace in Africa: How IT leaders deliver on the potential of emerging technologies.

 A total of 180 Africa-based IT leaders across 29 industries in Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Morocco were surveyed by IBM’s Center for Applied Insights, in collaboration with the IBM Center for CIO Leadership*. 

African economies are expected to sustain high levels of economic growth over the next decade, boosting consumer-facing industries by an estimated US$400 billion by 2020.

Sectors pegged for growth include retail/wholesale, retail banking, telecommunications and tourism.1 This represents an enormous opportunity for African businesses – if they are prepared to seize it. 

However, the IBM study found that a lack of technology adoption is preventing many African businesses from achieving growth and progress.

IBM General Manager for East Africa, Nicholas Nesbitt, said: “The primary reasons for not moving on adoption were a need for technology leaders to play a greater role in strategic business leadership, a lack of IT skills development across the continent, and information security concerns,”

African businesses identified as Pacesetters in the IBM survey take a very different approach to addressing IT concerns. For example, 85 percent of Pacesetters link IT investments to business outcomes, compared with 67 percent of their peers.

A total of 79 percent of Pacesetters use metrics and scorecards to assess IT risk, compared to 46 percent of their peers. A total of 46 percent of Pacesetters develop IT skills to meet future business needs, compared to 26 percent of their peers. 

Forward-thinking African companies have found ways to empower their IT leaders through a cultural shift, the report adds.

The Pacesetters also garner management support and view IT as integral to business strategy, not just a supporting player in the company’s success.

This level of internal engagement requires clear, open communication and collaboration between IT leaders and their business peers, something the Pacesetters do 40 percent more often, according to the IBM survey. 

“Africa is characterised by an innovative mindset, and a billion-strong market ready for innovative products and solutions,” Nesbitt said.

“Regardless of individual realities, the opportunity for business growth through IT adoption cannot be denied.

“The Pacesetters in Africa’s business community have seen the potential and taken action to help them realise it. With the right strategy, their peers can follow suit.”