Digital transformation is a major and far-reaching challenge for the global economy, aiming both at the complete digitalization of business production processes and at the establishment of a new culture, which will lead to the immediate utilization of digital transformation tools. In other words, what some today call “Industrial Revolution 4.0” is not limited to the mere logistical transformation of businesses, but to a more comprehensive change that will radically affect the productive factors of the economy. This process is dynamic and brings together all those characteristics that are necessary to achieve economic growth at the microeconomic and macroeconomic levels. It is estimated that the expansion of the digital economy and the integration of businesses into the new technological era can increase the GDP of the world’s most developed economies by 1.36 trillion dollars by the end of the current decade, according to a relevant study by Accenture (2016-2021).
In an era where the broader economic environment tests the resilience of national economies and intensifies the competition of the most powerful countries on the global geopolitical chessboard, digital transformation is probably the means of creating new markets and laying the foundation for fairer development prospects for all. The case of Estonia is a typical example to reinforce this view. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the proclamation of Estonia as an independent Republic (1991), the country devoted itself to the seamless implementation of a specific digital strategy, which today has made it one of the most important digital powers in Europe with a very high integration of the respective technologies in the Public Sector. At the same time, Tallinn is considered one of the most hospitable destinations for the establishment of start-ups and technological research, while in schools students have the opportunity to be taught coding from an early age. It is characteristic that 99% of Estonian Public Sector services are provided online, creating an excellent environment in the relations of the state with citizens and businesses.
The European Union, moreover, has placed the new digital era very high on the list of its strategic priorities, allocating resources for the regular and detailed monitoring of the performances of the member states. In this context, the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) captures the degree of commitment of European countries to the digitalization process through the statistical depiction of their performance in five (5) specific directions: Human Capital, Connectivity, Digital Public Services, Digital Technology Integration, Use of Online Services. The DESI index also informs us about the network of technologies that make up the concept of digital transformation, including applications and software in a cloud environment, Internet of Things (IoT), social media, mobile technology services, 3D printing applications, cybersecurity and data analysis.
Digital transformation is a major and far-reaching challenge for the global economy, aiming both at the complete digitalization of business production processes and at the establishment of a new culture, which will lead to the immediate utilization of digital transformation tools. In other words, what some today call “Industrial Revolution 4.0” is not limited to the mere logistical transformation of businesses, but to a more comprehensive change that will radically affect the productive factors of the economy. This process is dynamic and brings together all those characteristics that are necessary to achieve economic growth at the microeconomic and macroeconomic levels. It is estimated that the expansion of the digital economy and the integration of businesses into the new technological era can increase the GDP of the world’s most developed economies by 1.36 trillion dollars by the end of the current decade, according to a relevant study by Accenture (2016-2021).
In an era where the broader economic environment tests the resilience of national economies and intensifies the competition of the most powerful countries on the global geopolitical chessboard, digital transformation is probably the means of creating new markets and laying the foundation for fairer development prospects for all. The case of Estonia is a typical example to reinforce this view. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the proclamation of Estonia as an independent Republic (1991), the country devoted itself to the seamless implementation of a specific digital strategy, which today has made it one of the most important digital powers in Europe with a very high integration of the respective technologies in the Public Sector. At the same time, Tallinn is considered one of the most hospitable destinations for the establishment of start-ups and technological research, while in schools students have the opportunity to be taught coding from an early age. It is characteristic that 99% of Estonian Public Sector services are provided online, creating an excellent environment in the relations of the state with citizens and businesses.
The European Union, moreover, has placed the new digital era very high on the list of its strategic priorities, allocating resources for the regular and detailed monitoring of the performances of the member states. In this context, the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) captures the degree of commitment of European countries to the digitalization process through the statistical depiction of their performance in five (5) specific directions: Human Capital, Connectivity, Digital Public Services, Digital Technology Integration, Use of Online Services. The DESI index also informs us about the network of technologies that make up the concept of digital transformation, including applications and software in a cloud environment, Internet of Things (IoT), social media, mobile technology services, 3D printing applications, cybersecurity and data analysis.