A culture of innovation is key for South Africa’s future

Innovation is most often sparked through the need to solve a problem that impacts people and substantive innovation, our biggest scientific discoveries, have been driven by this need to solve human problems.

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of these challenges. A few short months of enormous, unprecedented global disruption where entire industries were shut for months, borders were closed, and people were confined to their homes.  The pandemic is not something we’ve been faced with before, and yet under this strange pressure, human innovation has risen to the forefront.

As a leader in technology, I have seen first-hand how South African organisations, large and small, have embraced digital technologies like never before and innovated to find success and hope.

The world has changed, that much is certain. But it is precisely in these times of change that we must seek new answers, systems, and solutions. And I believe South Africa is well poised to embrace this change and step forward into the digital future.

One of my favourite recent examples is Broadreach, who are using AI and Cloud computing to change how healthcare is delivered to communities.

Preparation is the key to rapid change

We have all heard the saying ‘Change is the only constant’. It is a great reminder not to become attached to a single way of doing things, and to always expect that today’s norms will one day be replaced.

The acceleration in technological progress has meant that the rate of change in the modern world is rapid. In order to remain competitive, South Africa’s businesses will need to be equipped with the technologies that enable rapid change at scale. But how do we achieve that?

A recent Forbes article makes the case that for businesses to be able to truly innovate, they may need to reconsider the structures they have in place that enable innovation as these may no longer be fit for purpose. In other words, as a result of the pandemic, it may now be time to innovate around how we drive innovation.

One way to do this is to create a digitally empowered, and technologically mature business environment to begin with. Having the infrastructure, skillsets, and capabilities already in place means that innovation can be focused on using what we have to solve problems. According to Deloitte, businesses that are digitally mature have an advantage over those who are still transforming when it comes to rapid innovation.

Of course, there is no way to prepare for every outcome. But by building digital technologies into the heart of South Africa’s organisations, and by aligning digital strategy with overall business goals and purpose, I believe that innovation becomes a fundamental part of how the organisation will function. In essence, digital technologies will, and in fact have, become the fuel that drives agility, innovation, and growth.

Digital will create a culture where people are excited by new ideas, and eager to try new things and push the boundaries. And I believe that South Africa must embrace this culture of change if we are to push the boundaries of our own potential, and thrive in a connected, digital world.