Generative AI- GenAI and AI are expected to profoundly transform industries in the future, according to 91% of South African respondents (global: 81%) to the Dell Technologies Innovation Catalyst Research. This figure drops to 89% (global: 91%) for organizations reporting high (15%-25%) revenue growth in 2023.
Based on responses from 6,600 IT and business decision-makers across 40 countries, the research suggests that while there is broad optimism for AI and GenAI, the extent to which organizations are prepared for the rapid pace of change varies greatly. Locally, 92% (global: 82%) state they are well-positioned competitively and have a solid strategy. Simultaneously, 28% (global: 48%) of respondents are uncertain about how their industry will evolve in the next three to five years, and 31% (global: 57%) report struggling to keep pace. They attribute challenges to the lack of the right talent (33%, global: 35%), data privacy and cybersecurity concerns (35%, global: 31%), and a shortage of budget (36%, global: 29%) hindering innovation efforts.
GenAI Moving from Ideation to Implementation
South African respondents highlight GenAI’s potential for transformation or significant value in enhancing IT security posture (45%, global: 52%), productivity gains (41%, global: 52%), and improving customer experience (40%, global: 51%). They are also cognizant of challenges to overcome: Seventy percent (global: 73%) agree that their data and IP are too valuable to be entrusted to a GenAI tool where a third party may gain access.
More broadly, responses indicate that organizations are grappling with GenAI practicalities as they move from ideation to implementation, although only 21% (global: 58%) report having initiated GenAI implementation. As adoption rates rise, concerns focus on understanding where risks lie and who bears responsibility for them. Seventy-one percent (global: 77%) agree that the organization, rather than the machine, the user, or the public, is accountable for any AI malfunction or unintended behavior.
Doug Woolley
General Manager for Dell Technologies South Africa, Doug Woolley, says “GenAI is the next big leap for technology, promising to bring unseen levels of productivity and efficiency to businesses worldwide. We can expect faster decision-making, streamlined workflows and smarter data analysis.”
Organizations are meeting today’s threat challenges head-on
Cybersecurity remains a persistent challenge for organizations. These concerns are substantiated by the fact that 81% of South African respondents (global: 83%) report being affected by a security attack in the past 12 months. The majority, 91% (global: 89%), are pursuing a Zero Trust deployment strategy, and 87% (global: 78%) have an Incident Response Plan in place to address cyberattacks or data breaches.
The top three issues cited include malware, phishing, and data breaches. Phishing issues underscore a broader problem highlighted in the report: the role employees play in the threat landscape. For instance, 67% of local and global respondents believe that some employees circumvent IT security guidelines and practices due to concerns about efficiency and productivity delays, while 69% (global: 65%) express significant concerns about insider threats. This underscores the importance of prioritizing training, as employees constitute the first line of defense.
The right tech infrastructure ensures organizational success
The research highlights the critical role of modern data infrastructure as technologies like GenAI gain momentum and data volumes increase. Investing in a modern, scalable infrastructure was identified as the top area for businesses to enhance innovation. The majority of IT decision-makers (85%, global: 82%) express a preference for an on-premises or hybrid model to address the challenges anticipated with implementing GenAI.
The capability to share data across the organization is also crucial for innovation. However, only 31% across the EMEA region (global: 33%) report being able to turn data into real-time insights today to support innovation efforts. Nevertheless, responses indicate that organizations are addressing this challenge, with 91% of South African respondents (global: 82%) emphasizing that data is the differentiator and that their GenAI strategy must involve utilizing and safeguarding that data. Additionally, thirty-seven percent of EMEA respondents (global: 42%) anticipate that the majority of their data will originate from the edge in the next five years.
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