Emerging Technologies and Digital Transformation
Emerging Technologies and Digital Transformation tests whether you can separate a useful capability from hype and govern it. Expect AI, cloud, IoT, blockchain, RPA, big data and 5G, plus transformation principles.
Core rules
- Digitisation converts analogue records; digitalisation improves processes with digital tools; digital transformation changes strategy, culture and service models.
- Cloud models: IaaS, PaaS, SaaS; deployment can be public, private, community or hybrid. Choose by data classification, control, cost and exit.
- AI/ML needs quality data, clear purpose, human oversight and bias testing. Blockchain suits shared tamper-evident records but is poor for private high-volume data.
- IoT increases attack surface; RPA automates rule-based tasks; 5G adds bandwidth and low latency but coverage and cost matter.
Worked example
A department wants cloud email and a citizen-records system. Reasoning: email may fit SaaS public cloud with standard controls; citizen records need a data protection impact assessment, residency and access review, and perhaps private/hybrid hosting. Do not use one cloud decision for both workloads. Run a pilot, define success measures and an exit plan.
Traps
Do not adopt technology before the problem is defined; do not assume blockchain guarantees truth; do not treat a pilot as transformation; and do not ignore vendor lock-in, connectivity or skills. AI output is not automatically evidence.