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On the second closing day of the Bahrain International eGovernment Forum 2018, specialized sessions presented by 11 speakers covered tracks on Cloud Computing, Data Analytics and Blockchain technology.

On the topic ‘Operating on Cloud Computing’, AWS Enterprise Strategist from the UK Mr. Thomas Blood presented the impact of the cloud technology on structures and entities’ work mechanisms. He also added that organizations are facing changing environments in terms of customers’ high expectations as well as rapid and constant changes. Public entities also have existing advantages such as deep knowledge, skilled and committed employees, financial resources and customer base. He further stressed that everything in the world today became software, innovation is inexpensive and that according to his notion, organizations must ‘Think big, start small and go fast’.

On the same topic, Center of Technology in Government & Research Director Dr. Theresa Pardo spoke about transformation of cloud computing and its adoption by having a clear vision that is based on three success factors represented in having top leadership support; deep understanding of management, policy and technology; strategic planning as well as culture of coordination and shared decision-making which will massively assist in expanding the spread of adopting the cloud. Dr. Pardo also addressed USA’s experience in cloud computing by indicating that cloud adoption rates have risen from 0.3% in 2010 to 7% in 2016. Additionally, very small and largest companies have the highest rates and are the heaviest adopters of cloud computing.

Mr. Simon Bradford, Cloud Technologies Director in Microsoft, said that approaches to take in the journey to the cloud requires building trust and skills required then getting on the journey; having a clear information management strategy; as well as protecting and controlling what is really important.

During the ‘Data Analytics: Opportunities & Trends’ topic; EMEA Regional CTO AppDynamics Mr. James Harvey estimated that by 2021, $2.1 trillion is estimated to be spent on digital transformation. Also, he believes that 80%-90% of initiatives fail to digitally transform because organizations don’t understand the definition of transformation nor have a vision.

Mr. Dean Lacheca, Research Director of Gartner, said that Singapore is heavily investing in data and that Artificial Intelligence continues to reshape analytics. He continued that by 2020, Artificial Intelligence will eliminate 1.8 million jobs worldwide while replacing them with other 2.3 million jobs.

Ms. Jeanne Holm, Senior Technology Advisor to the Mayor and Deputy CIO from Los Angeles, spoke during her track ‘Open Data: History, Challenges and the Future’ about government open data which will ignite the opportunity of open data and sparkle new economic growth. As for Alessio Bagnaresi, Microsoft EMEA Artificial Intelligence Director; he added during his session that organizations must design Artificial Intelligence to earn trust.

Chairman Adsertor UK & CEO of THSA Solutions Mr. Tim Roberts said that data today are ‘The new oil’ and that organizations should expect an increase in its data between 10 and 1,000 during one year as it will contribute in increasing revenue, speeding the decision-making process, improving customer satisfaction as well as reducing unnecessary costs.

During its last session on ‘Blockchain Technology: Emerging Trends’ which involved the participation of three speakers, the first being Dr. Gregory Curtin (Founder, Chairman and CEO of CivicConnect) clarified that this technology is considered as one of the recently-launched 4th Industrial Evaluation Elements which has been essential and will continue in the future like the cloud computing.

GBM Regional Competency Leader of IBM Blockchain in UAE Mr. Moller Agaiby addressed this technology which is not limited to financial transactions as known. It expands to all fields such as health and education based on a number of criteria that determine the level of need and level of its contribution in setting solutions. He also addressed the challenges it currently faces.

Mr. Joy John, Cloud Platform Leader at Oracle, stated that Blockchain is a platform that investigates managerial processes, documents issued by concerned entities and the exchange of data.