IDC Directions 2022 - Johannesburg | International Data Corporation (IDC) | 10 May 2022 | Regus - Johannesburg Bryanston The Campus, Cnr Main & Sloane Street Bryanston The Campus, Ground Floor, Twickenham Building, Johannesburg, 2021, South Africa

Overview
The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust us into a digital-first world where new digital habits are reshaping consumer behaviour. At the same time, end-user organizations are taking a digital-first approach to products, services, customer and employee experiences, and operations. For these organizations, accelerating the journey to becoming a digital enterprise is essential not only for navigating the uncertainties brought about by the pandemic and building digital resiliency, but also for thriving long into the future.

End-user organizations across the Sub-Saharan African region are increasingly embracing this new approach to business, leveraging advanced technologies to drive innovation, transform their products, and facilitate critical business outcomes. Indeed, IDC predicts that ICT spending across Sub-Saharan Africa will increase at a CAGR of 6.1% over the 2021–2025 period, while investments in digital "innovation accelerators" such as 3D printing, AI, AR/VR, robotics, blockchain, and IoT will increase at a CAGR of more than 19% over the same timeframe.

In a recent IDC survey of CIOs across Sub-Saharan Africa, IoT emerged as a key innovation priority, with 41% of respondents indicating that they are planning to significantly increase their spending in this space over the next 12–18 months. The same survey revealed that Big Data and advanced analytics (34%) and software-defined infrastructure (33%) will also be key focus areas for investment. It's critical, therefore, that technology providers serving the region ramp up their capabilities to address these evolving needs.

They must focus on building a portfolio that incorporates a significant share of advanced technologies such as cloud, IoT, AI, and edge computing, while also engaging in business-outcome-focused conversations with customer executives. Strengthening their skills in advanced technologies, deepening their industry-level knowhow, and fostering an innovation mindset will all be essential competencies that tech providers need to develop if they are to sustain and increase customer wallet share in the digital-first world.

2022 Speakers

Andries Lombaard
Country Manager, IDC South Africa

Mark Walker
Associate Vice President South, East and West Africa, IDC

Jonathan Tullett
Senior Research Manager, IT Services

Keoikantse Marungwana
Senior Research and Consulting Manager, IDC