How to strike a balance in the digital world?

The digitization of processes in the company is already an integral part of the functioning of any business. We have seen this, especially in recent times, when the digital transformation has been further accelerated in the face of the covid-19 pandemic-related struggles. When appreciating the possibilities offered by new technologies, it is worth focusing on their most effective operation and further development. However, a few critical conditions must be met for this to happen.

Based on previous analyses and cooperation with over 130 companies that are part of the Chamber, the Polish Chamber of Information Technology and Telecommunications has formulated ten foundations for the ICT industry. They focus on the conditions necessary to ensure the correct digital development of the ICT industry and the entire Polish economy. In the opinion of the Chamber, the industry’s voice should be heard and included in the plans and actions of the government because it is entrepreneurs who primarily bear the costs of digital development and thus are responsible for creating economic resilience.

The immediate and necessary action aimed at the modernization of the Polish economy is to ensure a systemic change in universal access to broadband networks. The above will provide the possibility of communication and data transfer adapted to the current requirements and give the prospect of their easy expansion, responding to the rapidly growing needs. Entrepreneurs will need dedicated gigabit connections and data transfer infrastructure for various new services, including cloud computing. The same applies to schools and hospitals in providing stable and effective e-education and e-health services. Admittedly, operators are responsible for proper actions in this area, but it is also the state’s role. It should create a friendly legal environment and financially support infrastructure and networks where market mechanisms have failed. At the same time, the direction of changes should be to make the possibilities of action more flexible where regulations are excessive, such as in the field of creating conditions for the development of Big Data Analytics on the telecommunications market, which could be the basis for Industry 4.0 and Smart Cities. The above, in turn, would open up many new paths for the development of digital solutions.

For further development, digital transformation also needs external stimuli that will trigger all sectors related to the ICT industry. New opportunities in this regard are opened by various types of financial resources, from projects such as European Funds for Digital Development or the National Reconstruction Plan. Thanks to them, smaller companies also have a chance to implement innovations. Equally important in the digitization process are local initiatives that have an enormous impact on digital technologies, e.g., in public administration. The observed changes also require appropriate digital competences from the staff, which may soon be necessary to take up any job. In this case, it is essential to provide employees with proper training and out-of-school mechanisms to encourage lifelong learning and changing professional qualifications. Constant training, also on your own, is an opportunity to build competitiveness in the labor market, and in a broader perspective – to strengthen the national economy.

Digitization and technological development are also directly related to the theme of ecology. There is much talk about green innovation and reducing the adverse climate effects that we are struggling with now. Technology gives us the tools to reduce the negative impact on the environment, e.g., by using the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence solutions in economic development or management by local governments. Through the widespread use of digital solutions, local governments have the opportunity to create a large scale of existing green innovative activities. The annual increase in traffic in telecommunications networks is also associated with an increase in electricity consumption. Entrepreneurs are already taking their initiatives to support the introduction of more effective data transmission technologies. However, a comprehensive approach and public support in reforms leading to zero-emission of the ICT sector is essential. The above is particularly important in the context of European countries’ efforts to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, in line with the European Green Deal initiative.

Equally significant in increasing the competitiveness of the Polish ICT sector is strengthening its importance on foreign markets. It should be one of the priority actions of the state administration for the development of the economy. The basis for the promotion of Polish ICT abroad should be the constant dialogue and cooperation of the industry with institutions such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development, and the Polish Development Fund. Increasing the competitiveness of Polish ICT out of the country may also be supported by participation in organizations such as DigitalEurope or Gaia-X through the newly created Polish hub.

The efficient functioning of the ICT services market is an essential condition for the operation of the entire economy – constant connectivity and automation are the basis of our lives. Digital service operators and providers create a crucial system for the functioning of the whole economy and its development, so it is vital to ensure favorable conditions for the best performance of these functions. It also requires the administration to create a stable, predictable, and responsible regulatory environment that will constitute the basis for further, rapid digital development of the country, its competitiveness, and attractiveness compared to other countries.

Most of the postulates raised by the Chamber in the ten foundations of the Polish ICT sector can be found in post-Covid support programs, which have been the subject of social debate in recent months. However, the most important in these plans are the details of implementation, on which depends the fundamental strengthening of processes related to digitization in Poland.

Author:

Polish Chamber of Information Technology and Telecommunications

Last Updated on January 24, 2022 by Łukasz