Cyprus – Digital Reality: Mind the Gap!
Two years after the abrupt dive into the maddening spiral of crisis, Cyprus is now in the midst of a re-organization trajectory, because its own reflexes succeeded in pulling the country towards the right direction and out of it.
However, the road to recovery isn’t exactly an easy one… Cyprus society has to go through a re-engineering period in every level and a complete transformation of people’s mentality, which means that much more time is needed in order to reach the desired goal.
The good news is that… change is already here! Digital technologies are already embedded in everyday life and working habits and the issue of a ‘respectable level of digital skills for everybody’ is not only one of the most important targets, but a critical social bet, as well.
Moreover, the adoption by all citizens of digital technologies and innovation –that plays its own quite important role in the improvement of productivity and competitiveness- are still the two major pillars on which Cyprus should base the creation of value added products and services, that will help its national economy advance on the difficult road of growth.
However, in spite of the enthusiastic welcome and the adoption of Information & Communication Technologies by the entire spectrum of local enterprises, lack of reciprocity between the real economy and the value added one, still remains. This gap should be bridged by the willingness of both State and citizens to recognize digital entrepreneurship as a high-priority issue, mainly via the adoption of solutions that don’t require capital expenses.
1st SESSION
It’s all about data: The Data Network (10:00 – 11:30)
Following Cyprus Republic membership in European Union and telecom market’s liberation, Cypriot consumers have many more available options for telecom services. Nowadays, the country’s telecommunications backbone infrastructure has nothing to envy in comparison with the most technologically advanced networks all over Europe. However, speed and availability for the consumers are still lagging.
Public access in a high-speed network, which offers a much wider variety of services, may still be reached via an alternative operational approach based in all-IP platforms, which mix fixed-line, wireless and satellite solutions in the best possible way. All these are of vital importance because, as it is depicted in statistical results, a 10% rise in broadband penetration may increase a country’s GNP by 1%, due to the augmentation in productivity and competitiveness.
As a result, the 1.9 multiplier of ICT projects makes every investment to bring back in a long term almost double its cost. Access to the Network along with cloud computing remain the basic pillars of the Information Society.
2nd SESSION
The CAMS Revolution – Cloud, Analytics, Mobility & Security (12:00 – 14:00)
Cyprus’ role is not restricted to that of a buyer; due to its exceptional geographical position, Cyprus could host important datacenters operating as hub for three continents and improve its prospects as a critical access point in the global ICT map.
Access is only one side of the coin. The other one is the cloud! At a consumer services level, Cloud Computing has established itself as a one-way road which most enterprises will follow, in order to lower their investment costs for infrastructure, while increasing at the same time their efficiency and productivity because of the access to greater computing power.
Even if cloud solution seems unavoidable for small and medium size companies, large organizations are on the contrary still quite cautious, as far as data security is concerned. Is it possible for the providers of solutions to offer guarantees as well? What are the main problems and threats? What are the technology solutions offered?
3rd SESSION
CEO Summit – Working in a Changing World (14:30 – 16:15)
Distinguished leaders of the Cypriot market share their opinions regarding the transition period of the national economy, as well as the integration of networks and services to a unified offer.
Market is changing; it will not take long for consumers to just buy services (telecom, IT and media), not caring who their real provider is. On the other hand, new revenue streams (data, M2M, media, telecom and IT convergence) have made a dynamic appearance, covering all the needs coming from the digitization of the market, while the launching of «e» and «m» services (payments, health, tickets, government κ.α.), change radically the way we live, work, get informed and entertain ourselves.
What will be the shape of all these in the future? In what way will they be offered to the public? What will be the next wave of technology and what are the changes it will bring? How many players are considered enough for this market and how will the landscape be after the privatization? Market leaders will be asked to answer in a series of “hot” questions that all of them are facing in a daily basis…
4th SESSION
Innovation is the everyday startup (16:30 – 17:15)
Whether in a crisis or not, Cyprus market is –frankly speaking- rather small to support the ever growing need for entrepreneurship. The best solution is an exit to the international markets with innovative products and services. Some Cypriot companies have already succeeded making a name in the international arena.
Is there a road that leads all the way from the very first idea to implementation? In what way needs are created? A strong team takes shape? What about challenges, problems, seed money, necessary preparations, proof of concept, innovation?
Together, we will check all the necessary components to build something bottom-up, while operating in a most difficult entrepreneurial environment. Who is gonna help? Some start-ups have already done it – how are they going on? What factor was the critical one that made a difference? And, surely, another important factor is what investors really want from a start-up and what they expect from their investments…
What are the main criteria? What terms do they prefer to impose? What are the results they are taking into account? What are their prospects for exit? Are there any strategic investments on the way? How accelerators are preparing the ground for them? Is there a special meaning in the selection of the location for the company’s HQs? What are the best success stories? Everything you would like to know about start-ups and innovations wrapped up in a practical and user-friendly way!
Company 3.0: The Social & Mobile Marketing (17:15 – 18:00)
Connected customers may not yet substitute traditional ones (at least, not for the time being) that still visit shops to buy things. However, new generations of consumers follow a different approach. Right now, there are certain markets (e.g. air tickets, hotels etc.) where e-transactions are almost a must and the exceptions are scarce. Those markets are growing and for them e-commerce is a one-way street. Yet, how an e-shop may attract its customers? What are the best available solutions? What makes an e-shop a successful enterprise?
Flexibility, provided by social media and mobile marketing for a targeted and continuous communication with customers, has resulted in an exponential increase of sales, especially for all those exploiting the advantages of the new media.
How much «e» and social media-friendly is your company? What are the new trends that are changing the shape in this sector? What are the steps a company has to follow in order to pass from the “traditional” approach to the new media era?
In addition to all this, mobility has to be taken into account. Nowadays, the trend is not only towards the «e», but also towards the «m»… As large volumes of information are already in the cloud, the distance from there to the user’s mobile phone is almost minimal. The use of mobile applications is not only restricted in «on the go» finding of the information we need or the realization of online transactions. The «m» factor is everywhere, influences everything and it is a strategic tool for growth affecting every enterprise.