The digitalization wave is sweeping across every segment of business and society. The lead theme of CeBIT 2016 reflects this megatrend, which is fundamentally changing the way we live and work.
It's official. The lead theme of CeBIT 2016 will be "d!conomy: join – create – succeed." "The new theme will put the focus squarely on people and their role as deciders and creative designers, which puts them right at the center of the processes that are driving the digital transformation. That's why it's only fitting that, in this early phase of the digital age, the call to action should be "join, create, succeed," said Oliver Frese, the Deutsche Messe Managing Board member in charge of CeBIT, on Tuesday in Hannover.
Following close consultation with the digital industries, Deutsche Messe made a conscious decision to once again address "d!conomy" as the theme highlighted in 2015. Frese: "Digitalization is impacting every area of business and society. And far from being a short-term phenomenon, it will continue to open up a steady stream of big opportunities well into the future. So now is the time for companies to secure their own future by actively engaging with the new challenges posed by digitalization."
CeBIT's new lead theme, "d!conomy: join – create – succeed," denotes an ongoing process rather than a final state. It therefore speaks to every decision-maker and every company across all industries and at all stages of digitalization. "Current studies show that SMEs, in particular, are still ambivalent about embracing the digitalization trend," said Frese. For instance, a recent study by Roland Berger revealed that only one in two companies had investigated the implications of digitalization for their own business models, and that nearly two thirds of companies did not consider themselves to be digitally advanced.
"Those are significant findings, especially considering that digitalization will affect every link in existing value chains across all industries. The problem is further compounded by the disruptive influence of young, agile companies with radical new digital business models that are looking to upend established markets and edge out existing players in a very short space of time," remarked Frese.
According to Frese, the chosen "d!conomy: join – create – succeed" theme also highlights the universal nature of the benefits afforded by digitalization, which everyone has the opportunity to share in, be they in business, public administration, politics or society in general. "That's why today, in the early years of the digital age, we have to create an overarching framework for the digital transformation, including an appropriate policy framework for key aspects, such as data security and privacy. We also need to develop new business models, customer interfaces and business and production processes as well as new ways of communicating and working," explained Frese. "Companies wanting to survive in an ever more dynamic marketplace need to start seizing the opportunities of digitalization today. And they will find all the information, inspiration and innovations they need at CeBIT."
In 2016, the world's leading showcase for digital business will once again provide a complete overview of all the opportunities and challenges of digitalization. It will also provide a discussion platform for a huge range of topics, including the more controversial issues of the day. Next year's event will place major emphasis on user-centric showcases, while panel discussions and presentations at the CeBIT Global Conferences will deliver a vast array of new visions and concepts from renowned industry leaders. Disruptive business models will also feature strongly throughout the fair, for example at SCALE11 – a special display dedicated exclusively to young startups.
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