Reflecting on MWC 2017: IoT, Chatbots, Endless Innovation, and the Need for Gender Diversity

With over 108,000 delegates and thousands of companies displaying the latest and greatest new technologies, there’s always a lot going on at Mobile World Congress (MWC). And that was certainly true this year. From new smartphone launches, Artificial Reality and Virtual Reality developments and connected cars to wearables, nearables and chipsets, the event’s overall theme came through loud and clear: in a hyper-connected world, mobile’s everywhere. It’s the ‘Next Element’, inextricably linked to the innovations that are radically reinventing enterprises and consumer marketplaces in every industry.

After consuming all that MWC had to offer last week, I took a moment to reflect on the conference. In the end, there were four big digital takeaways for me. At a high level, they involved the IoT, chatbots, the path to innovation, and gender diversity. Now, diving into these takeaways a bit further.

Internet of Things continues to be pervasive. We’re now deep into what Accenture calls the ‘Third Phase of Enterprise Mobility.’ This new phase looks beyond empowering users with mobile devices and services, and sees the nuts and bolts of businesses, their processes and operations, being fundamentally transformed by new connections. The disruptive technologies sitting behind devices, namely the IoT, are injecting unprecedented efficiency, effectiveness and intelligence for businesses and consumers alike.

Such IoT-enabled benefits were displayed in Barcelona. For instance, Korea Telecom debuted an IoT connected outdoor jacket that connects to a SIM card to help emergency services find the person wearing the jacket if they went missing. While this is a consumer example, it opens the doors to imagining how an IoT solution like this could benefit enterprise worker safety in various industries, such as mining. 

Another example involved the connected car. Accenture Digital, together with Shell and Jaguar Land Rover, showcased the world’s first in-car payments system using the Shell app and a Jaguar. This new innovation allows Jaguar Land Rover drivers to process payments at Shell stations in the UK, using the in-car touchscreen.

These examples only scratched the surface. Many more IoT examples were on display at MWC.

Chatbots and the impact of AI. Chatbots are inexorably transforming how people interact with technologies. And they are gaining momentum across industries.

To name a few new bots: Samsung unveiled a retail chatbot, Nexshop Training, for the retail industry that aims at helping retailers train their staff. Also, Avianca Airlines announced their chatbot, Carla, that provides travellers with a range of helpful travel-related services and real-time information, enhancing the airline’s digital customer experience.

AI’s impact on mobile and chatbots was also discussed heavily in keynotes and during panels. I participated in a Mobile World Live panel and shared how AI will enhance the consumer experience. Along these lines, the 2017 Fjord Trends report’s humanizing bots trend states that, “AI will make a further leap forward this year, driving services with contextually aware experiences and the ability to understand and respond like a human.” 

Chatbots have come a long way already, and it will be interesting to see how this space evolves. 

The path to Innovation. The decisive evolution from mobile connectivity to hyper-connectivity is enormously significant. That’s why it was so exciting to see the broad scope of new innovative technologies on show this year. And it’s even more exciting to think about what will be coming next.

Through my experience at Accenture, and personally being an active angel investor, I’ve found that the path to innovation and disruption can be different for every company. While one company may need help with ideation, another may be facing a challenge with execution or funding.

With this understanding, Accenture launched our Innovation Architecture at MWC. This capability offers innovation-focused research, ventures, labs, studios, design and delivery centers to our clients. Helping them to develop, deliver and scale the next generation of disruptive innovation.

During the conference, we shared 50 different innovations that we delivered with clients across the various Architecture elements. They involve work with brands like Ducati, Lego METRO Madrid and more -- you can watch the Ducati demo and read about the other demos here.

A gender diversity and equality call to action. Gender equality is a global issue today. We’re seeing it across industries and around the globe. Why? Gender diversity and equality can make companies stronger, smarter and more innovative. Plus, quite simply, it’s the right thing to do.

At Accenture, inclusion and diversity are fundamental to our culture and embedded in our core values. And we feel that it’s extremely important to be a part of this conversation. At MWC, we were a sponsor of the Women4Tech event and participated in two relating panels. My colleague Bob Sell stated during his panel: "It's the women who I work with who have made me a better professional." I second that notion.

Until next year…So, another year, another MWC. My head’s still buzzing from the vast variety of innovation on show. And the two Glomo Awards we won for our collaborative work with Airbus and Shell and Jaguar Land Rover. Clearly, mobile has emphatically taken its place at the core of the new. And the future’s looking more exciting than ever. Bring it on.