The Pace of Change: How Connected is your Business and How Fast is it Moving?

- Trends and technologies driving change in the way we do business will be unveiled at Frost & Sullivan's GIL 2014: Africa

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, June 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan's GIL 2014: Africa congress returns for the fourth consecutive year on Thursday 14 August at the Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa. The central theme of the one-day congress "Disrupt, Collapse and Transform" will focus on key trends and technologies driving change in the way we do business.

Although the fundamentals of business have remained unchanged, the pace of change and the resultant level of competition at industry level most certainly has. The key driver underpinning this acceleration is of course the advancement of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). It is what connects us to individuals, to industries, to each other, to everything. Global mobile data traffic grew 81 percent in 2013, reaching 1.5 Exabyte per month by the end of 2013. As the Internet of Things becomes a reality, this trend will only accelerate.

"This increased level of connection is generating countless levels of data faster than what we can analyse," notes Operations Director for Frost & Sullivan Africa, Hendrik Malan. "However, if we can develop approaches to harness this information through technology, the increased efficiencies and level of effectiveness we will be able to achieve will be absolutely staggering."

Anything from curing cancer to ensuring free and fair elections - and everything in between - has already been made possible by this trend. One of the key differentiating factors of corporates, cities and economies of the future will be their ability to harness and apply closely monitored and analysed data.

"These data and technology trends impact absolutely everyone - no matter which industry, country or profession -manufacturing, education, financial services, healthcare and even government," states Malan. "As a business or organisation, failing to proactively develop a framework to manage these trends could be disastrous."

Mr Malan will address some of the key trends and technologies driving these profound changes and explain a framework for how companies should evaluate and respond to these challenges and opportunities.

The GIL 2014: Africa congress will start at 9am and will also uncover the latest trends in the automotive and transportation industry, blue sky innovation, and energy and environment.

This annual one-day event is part of Frost & Sullivan's exclusive GIL community that represents a worldwide network of over 5,000 senior executives.

To attend Frost & Sullivan's GIL 2014: Africa congress, or to inquire about sponsorship or media partnership opportunities, please send an e-mail to Samantha James, Corporate Communications for Africa at samantha.james@frost.com

Frost & Sullivan's Global GIL Community continues to be the industry's only resource that supports CEOs and their management teams in critical decision-making, offering tools that help industry leaders in achieving the three essential objectives of Growth, Innovation and Leadership. GIL 2014: Africa will provide CEOs and their growth teams an opportunity not just to attend GIL, but to actually experience it.

Schedule:
GIL 2014: Africa
The Table Bay Hotel at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Cape Town, in South Africa
The Global Community of Growth, Innovation and Leadership
14 August 2014

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organisation prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies? Contact us: Start the discussion

Contact:
Samantha James
Corporate Communications – Africa
P: +27 21 680 3574
F: +27 21 680 3296
E: samantha.james@frost.com

T: @FrostSullivanSA
http://www.frost.com