AVEVA has revealed global survey findings identifying the key investment drivers of digital transformation across 1,240 EMEA, North America and APAC decision-makers across nine industry verticals.
The Middle East demonstrated less demand for AI (45% vs global mean 75%) and Advanced Process and Engineering Design (44% vs global mean 74%) yet led global demand in five technologies, more than any other nation:
- 3D Visualisation (59% vs global mean 27%)
- IoT / Edge (56% vs global mean 30%)
- Enterprise mobility (51% vs global mean 31%)
- Model Simulations (50% vs global mean 25%)
- Laser Scanning (41% vs global mean 21%)
“New emerging technologies like AI are taking time to gain traction in the Middle East so the research findings mirror what we are witnessing in the market. AI has the potential to disrupt markets in the Middle East by creating innovative new services and entirely new business models. We are already witnessing its impact in Europe and North America across several industries and market sectors and we are confident that the trend will follow in the Middle East region. With the eruption of AI, some of the market leaders five to ten years’ time may be organizations that are not even key players today,” said Mohamad Awad, Regional VP for the Middle East, AVEVA.
The research also identified three key global investment priorities for organisations when it comes to embarking upon the digital transformation journey:
Making sense of data utilising artificial intelligence and real-time data visualization
- The research highlighted a strong demand for technologies that provide predictive outputs from large data flows, with AI and Analytics listed as the most important enabler (75%), closely followed by Real-Time Data Visualization (64%), Augmented, Virtual or Mixed Reality (60%) and Big Data Processing (59%).
- AI was a top three enabler across all industries globally, with the greatest importance assigned in Power and Utilities (81%) and Oil & Gas (particularly upstream 79% and midstream 78%).
- Japan (88%) and China (84%) prioritised AI highest, with the UK (79%) and US (77%) following closely behind.
Fostering collaboration through Advanced Process and Engineering Design
Advanced Process and Engineering Design was the second most important technology (74%) and was in the top three technology priorities across all industries globally, scoring highest among Engineering, Procurement and Construction professionals.
- This was perceived as an essential technology for global production, ranked as the most important enabler for Marine Ship Building (75%), Buildings/Infrastructure (74%) and Packaged Goods (73%), with Oil and Gas and Energy all ranking the technology highly.
- Japan (85%) and Germany (82%) are early adopters with high importance attributed across all regions.
Stepping up cybersecurity and safety capabilities
- Cybersecurity was the third most prioritised technology enabler (71%) and in particular a focus for Mining (76%), Downstream Oil and Gas (75%), Power & Utilities (70%) and Marine (70%) and the highest priority for Planning & Scheduling specialists.
- Improving Safety and Security through technology investment was a priority across all regions, with the Middle East (68%), Australia (63%) and India (60%) particularly highlighting this issue.
For global corporates the two most valuable assets are their people and their data. Businesses today have great responsibility to protect employees and customers, with technology that provides the foresight to critical failures before they occur. Lisa Johnston, CMO, AVEVA commented, “As digital transformation moves to the forefront of the industrial agenda, the power of technology to unify data and break silos is allowing specialists to collaborate and change business models. The world’s most capital-intensive projects, from sustainable energy production and mining to smart factories and connected cities are now being designed, planned and delivered by global multidisciplinary teams all connected seamlessly through technology.”
