intelligent

Manish Mishra , Head , Middle East & Africa , Freshworks and upgrading the processes can then be extended to other potential areas .

With this approach , SMEs can leverage new technologies and achieve their Digital Transformation goals . Choosing the right technology vendor who is at the forefront of market demands and can offer innovative solutions that will help overcome the challenges and constraints encountered during Digital Transformation is key to avoiding failure .

MANISH MISHRA , HEAD , MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA , FRESHWORKS

Also consider your business goals and map your procurement plan against a strict roadmap . And watch out for regional nuances in things like language , regulatory compliance or business-support hours before selecting a service or vendor .

2022 will witness companies continuing to deploy AI , cloud-based solutions and IoT infrastructure without owning a single server or proprietary piece of cognitive code . Modern no-code interfaces will become more popular as a lack of programming knowledge will cease to become a barrier to smaller organisations – allowing them to offer worldclass customer and employee experiences through cloud technology .

Soham Shah , Founder and CEO of Selfdrive . ae

THE KEY TRAP TO AVOID THROUGH

2022 IS THE ASSUMPTION THAT MOVING TO THE CLOUD WILL , ON ITS OWN , BE A SOLUTION FOR ALL PROBLEMS .

Competitiveness today requires a digital agility that you cannot get outside a cloud-based environment . This is especially relevant for SMEs . Because of the cloud ’ s architecture , you have this innate ability to pilot use cases easily and affordably . That allows smaller businesses to take innovative leaps with less risk and to subsequently scale rapidly and capitalise on new market opportunities .

Today , decision makers across all industries are aware of the need to optimise digital experiences for customers and employees , which can only be done through rapid rollout cycles . Hence the need for cloudbased solutions .

At the same time , the rise of the cloud has fundamentally changed how businesses use the software , with most organisations rushing to embrace a slew of SaaS solutions that cater to specific processes within the company . This could easily create silos and CIOs and IT leaders will face the uphill job of consolidating tech and making sure the CX and EX software is intuitive and integrates well with each other . These pitfalls with cloud are fundamentally no different than those of legacy technology investments .

The key trap to avoid through 2022 is the assumption that moving to the cloud will , on its own , be a solution for all problems . Predictable as its pricing models may be , CIOs should still consider the Digital Transformation journey based on cloud solutions as a five-year venture and calculate the long-term TCO – say , three to five years – accordingly .

SOHAM SHAH , FOUNDER AND CEO OF SELFDRIVE . AE

Small and medium enterprises are often known to cater to customer needs given the flexibility and quick decision making that they have compared to large enterprise companies . Their understanding on markets makes it easy for them to transform their way of working with the changing times . Digitisation can help any SME scale to new heights and provide a better experience to clients who have already accustomed themselves to digital platforms given that digital is the way forward .

One way for SMEs to digitise is to ascertain if the modules required are available via acquiring the needed technologies which are known as ‘ Plug and Play ’ systems . This will accelerate the Go-To-Market strategies of the SMEs helping them bring the product to the market without massive indulgence in budgets . In all fairness , this is a great way to begin digitisation . This is an efficient system given the investment costs are well managed when outsourced to a third party .

If SMEs have a clear vision regarding the digital requirements for their customers , they can also hire a team of skilled professionals recruited through proper channels and establish their own setup , the hierarchy of which would flow from the Chief Technological Officer ( CTO ) to a channel of communication between the tech and core operations team . Through this team of core and tech individuals , the company can