Page 31 - SAMENA Trends - January 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Key Findings and Rankings:
• Of the top-10 largest economies in the
world by total GDP, only the U.S. ranked
in the top-10 for Digital Readiness at
#3. However, readiness varies across
the country which is also true for many
countries.
• Singapore took the top ranking with
strong performance in all seven
components, including the top score
in Human Capital and Business and
Government Investment.
• Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland,
Iceland, and Singapore are the top-five
countries for Technology Infrastructure.
• The U.S., Canada, Luxembourg,
Singapore, and the United Arab
Emirates are the top-five countries for
Technology Adoption. general, improvements in these three benefit from improvement in this area.
• Japan, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, components will have the most impact The report also showed that all countries
and Iceland are the top-five countries overall on a country’s level of digital could benefit from additional investment in
for Basic Needs. readiness. Technology Infrastructure, such as access
• Singapore, Iceland, New Zealand, • Human Capital is critical across every to broadband, secure internet servers, and
Switzerland, and Kazakhstan are the stage of digital readiness to build a more. Cisco’s Global Digital Readiness
top-five countries for Human Capital. workforce capable of utilizing and Index is one of many projects driving our
• Luxembourg ranked the highest in creating technology, and developing work to create a more inclusive digital
Europe at #2 overall, Israel ranked new skills in emerging fields. world. This includes corporate social
the highest in the Middle East at #21, • There is strong correlation between responsibility initiatives like the Cisco
and Botswana ranked the highest on countries’ digital readiness scores Networking Academy, which provides
mainland Africa at #76. and other performance indicators. For best-in-class training for students and
• Singapore ranked the highest in example, the higher a country’s digital professionals for the most in-demand
Southeast Asia at #1, South Korea readiness score, the higher its GDP per IT jobs in networking, cybersecurity,
ranked the highest in East Asia at #8, capita. and IoT. Cisco also provides grants and
and Australia ranked the highest in Three stages of digital readiness emerged technical partnerships to nonprofits and
Asia-Pacific at #12. based on the findings: Activate, the lowest non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• The U.S. took the top ranking for North stage of digital readiness; Accelerate, the focused on basic needs like reducing
America at #3, Chile took the top spot middle stage; and Amplify, the highest food insecurity, and increasing access
for South America at #34, and Costa stage of digital readiness. The factors that to affordable housing, clean drinking
Rica took the top spot for Central impact a country’s digital readiness differ water, and sanitation. Cisco has in-
America at #47. depending on which of the three stages house programs that respond to natural
It may be intuitive that technology it falls. For example, those countries in disasters – improving the speed, efficiency,
infrastructure and adoption are strong the Activate stage would primarily benefit and effectiveness of humanitarian
indicators of a country’s digital readiness, from improvements in Basic Needs and and disaster relief. Cisco also works
but our research shows that technology Human Capital development. The report through its Country Digital Acceleration
alone is not the answer. Developing skills, showed that while countries in the Amplify (CDA) program to partner with national
ensuring basic human needs are met, stage lead in digital readiness, there is still governments, industry and academia to
creating a business friendly and start- plenty of room for advancement. These deliver real digital outcomes faster and
up environment, and making private and Amplify countries universally scored more effectively. “At Cisco, we believe it is
public investments in innovation and well for Basic Needs, including access to important to contribute research to help
technology will aid countries in their digital safe drinking water and electricity, and the continuing dialogue on technology’s
future. On these measures, there is a wide Ease of Doing Business, but they need to future impact,” Yoo added. “We hope to
spread of how nations are ready. continue investing in these components to serve in partnership to bridge the digital
• The strongest components of retain their position. However significant divide and foster a more inclusive future
digital readiness include: “Basic variation in terms of Business and where all citizens can participate and
Needs,” “Human Capital,” and Government Investment was identified, thrive.”
“Technology Infrastructure.” In with many countries in a position to

31 JANUARY 2020