Digital technology has steadily increased business growth through online dissemination of information using digital channels to reach a wider audience irrespective of their age, location, gender or social status.
Digital transformation leads to more information, increased productivity, better data-driven decisions and a wider customer reach for businesses, especially for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), which have often been the main driver of post-COVID-19 economic recovery.
Ways Digital Transformation Accelerates Sustainable and Inclusive Development
Digital technology brings tremendous opportunities to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, but it can also widen socioeconomic gaps for those who lack connectivity, affordable devices or the skills to benefit from digital services.
Digital transformation is the integration of digital technologies into all areas of business, changing how economic and social activities are conducted.
While it’s important to acknowledge that digital technology can bring tremendous opportunities, like accelerating progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it can also widen socioeconomic gaps for those who lack Internet connectivity, affordable devices or the skills to benefit from digital services.
Equally, vulnerable people and groups who don’t have training in digital skills can be more susceptible to online risks such as fraud, data disclosure, identify theft and cyberbullying.
“The future is digital, defining how we will live, work, and interact with each other. Whether technology becomes an empowering force for good or a sower of more division and exclusion will depend on the choices we make now.”
To leverage the potential of digital marketing for growth, we need to make an intentional effort to steer technological development and digital transformation in a direction that is inclusive and sustainable.
- Address the needs of the poorest as well as the most vulnerable and marginalized groups, including women and people with disabilities.
- Ensure that digital transformation doesn’t exacerbate existing inequalities, with a vision to leave no one behind
- Empower underrepresented groups to take part in meaningful ways and promotes gender equality
- Protect people from the adverse effects of digital technologies
- Encourage the use and development of digital technology that’s open, responsible and rights-based
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the digitalization processes for many countries, resulting in a growing demand for digitisation over the past three years.
With its whole-of-society inclusiveness, MSMEs responds to COVID-19 by advertising and increasing their online digital strategies and governance frameworks, implementing digital public infrastructure, deploying digital solutions, fostering digital literacy and more.
Several insights have emerged as we look across our country-level digital interventions. Below are three ways that digital transformation is driving more sustainable and inclusive growth through enabling economic development, resilience building and climate adaptation.
“Digitalization serves as an important foundation for navigating not just development but also crises such as conflict situations in fragile contexts, natural disasters, or pandemics.”
Benefiting business & economy
Those who lacked digital skills and access to the Internet or devices, especially in Nigeria.
The government has provided digital skills with the help of United States African Development Foundation (USAFD) In fragile contexts and in a situation of human-made crises, digital technologies and infrastructures can provide continuity in both government and private sector-provided services, helping communities to organize more effective aid and support programs, mitigate risks and improve preparedness.
Helping businesses sustain growth thereby providing employment opportunities.
