However, a panel of leading women in technology told a flash forum, hosted by Wired for Women and Gibs, that employee fears around automation and digitisation had to be addressed. These concerns demonstrate the need to bridge the gap between what appears to be a terrifying new normal and building the future.
“A business’ ability to solve real social problems, their ‘why’ is critical. Businesses have to be aware of the environment they operate in and cultivate a niche.” Organisations who can pivot and reskill their workforces are those who will emerge as winners, she continued, citing the example of virtual meetings, which have demanded a change in systems and talents.Penny Futter, Group CIO at African Bank said she has been “amazed at how quickly organisations are able to change and adapt. Survival is a great motivator for change.”
While data offers the opportunity to understand customer needs and offer the right products and services, Futter said this includes a burden of trust. “Our customers have high expectations for us to ensure that their travels are safe, and we have had to rethink many of our tech platforms in the new normal,” she said.
The successful completion of the project, whose unprecedented scale and complexity had not been seen in recent times in South Africa, provided priceless learnings for the group.