Embracing Digital Transformation
Lessons from My Experience and the Road Ahead
I have worked in different field of business during my career including business development, marketing, and customer services at the Kerman Chamber of Commerce for more than 15 years and I have been witnessed how digitalization has progressively changed the ways we interact, engage, serve, support and expand our business community. My everyday tasks from issuing trade cards to o setting up international trade delegations and advertising investment possibilities have become tech enabled.
Digitalization in Kerman Chamber of Commerce: Past and Present
when i started working at Kerman chamber of commerce, where I used to work before moving to Finland most of tasks, were done manually Including issuing certificates of origin, organizing events, and contacting members. but, over the years, we shifted to digitizing our services like our member database, handling virtual exhibitions, and facilitating communication by digital platforms. This change developed efficiency, decreased mistake, and allowed us to expand our audience.
For example, before digital tools, it took a lot of calls, faxes, or face to face meetings to get in touch with businesspeople or manage an international event. but now, we can complete these tasks in a fraction of the time due to digital archives, virtual meeting, email automation and virtual platforms. In addition, it helps us save more time for strategic planning and innovations.
The use of digital analytics also helped us identify which industries had potential for exports, and which markets to target. This sort of insight, previously based on intuition and paperwork, became data-informed, offering clearer direction and better outcomes for our members.
Looking Ahead: Future Ideas for Digitalization
Digitalization in our industry does not mean only digital tools it involves imagining the whole customer service and company development ecosystem. I believe in the future we are witnessed of more integration of AI, big data, and automation in organizations and chambers of commerce as well. For instance:
- Smart CRM systems are able to predict their demands.
- AI-powered matchmaking can link local companies with international investors.
- Blockchain technology is very essential for global transactions or the verification of certifications of origin.
- Virtual trade exhibitions will become commonplace for global cooperation.
With these developments in digitalization, Chambers of commerce may develop into a smart business hub that help them growth, make connections, and trust across international networks.
The Risks of an Open Digital Society
while technology advances, responsibility advances as well. I as a professional that handles important business data and has relationships with international businesses, I am well aware of risks associated with hyperconnected world. There are some concerns regarding this issue including cybercrime, misuse of personal or company information, and data breaches.
The speech by James Lyne, “Everyday Cybercrime,” was particularly enlightening. Many attacks are simple, and they are focusing on human error, such as antiquated systems, thoughtless clicks, and weak passwords. His advice is effective: everyone should be involved in cybersecurity.
I also found Andy Yen’s discussion about email privacy to be very important. Although email was the basic means of communication in our organization, but I had hardly considered how vulnerable it could be. I can say, I’ve learned more about the importance of data hygiene and encrypted services.
Data Protection Reform: How GDPR Has Impacted Us
There is a major shift in how companies collect, and also use of personal data. This shift was introduced by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). GDRP was enforced in 2018. so far GDPR has had an important global impact, particularly for those that interact with EU partners.
In my previous work at Kerman chamber of commerce, GDPR means being more aware and systematic about:
- Receiving permission before communicating,
- Restricting the data access of our members,
- Our privacy policies at Kerman chamber are being updated, and
- Make ensure that papers and private information of our members are stored securely.
Benefits:
- It causes increased accountability and transparency for data handling.
- It increased confidence from partners and businesspeople, particularly European partners.
- Motivating us to improve our electronic security mechanisms through the chamber.
Negative consequences:
- more administrative effort to accomplish with new regulations.
- slower procedures as a result of huge permission and paperwork levels.
Despite of these obstacles, GDPR has supported in our transition to a digital society that is safer and more moral.
My Experience Using ChatGPT in the Business Field
I tried using ChatGPT to ask questions about my field as part of this project. I asked:
- What are effective ways to advertise international trade in the developing countries such as Bangladesh?
- How can chambers of commerce support small and medium sized businesses digitize?
- What is the future of customer relationship management (CRM)?
The answers that I received from ChatGPT were thoughtful, and well-organized. ChatGPT highlighted international trends, provided helpful advice, and also suggested frameworks and tools. But i think the answers lacked the regional context or cultural knowledge unique to Iran or the Kerman province area. I believe One of AI’s limitations is that it lacks local nuance and explains based on global facts.
Totally, I think ChatGPT can support research, by checking interview questions, translate content, and helping in ideation.
What I Learned: Self-Evaluation
I can say, now I have a better knowledge of the digital revolution that causes changes in society and industry. The TED Talks were a great source of motivation and helped my practical observations:
Kenneth Cukier’s speech on Big Data highlights that having more information is only useful if we know how to use it, ant it requires developing our analytical skills and mindsets.
Marco Annunziata’s Industrial Internet talk , helped me think how digital tools can be used for smart systems throughout industries, not only for office work.
I was impressed by Pranav Mistry’s SixthSense talk about how easy-to-use and priced technology could transform the way we deal with information, especially for small enterprises with limited funding.
Maurice Conti’s Intuitive AI talk taught me that AI is not a threat if we learn how to collaborate with it. It’s an enhancement to our creativity and ethics.
I learned from Maurice Conti’s Intuitive AI presentation that if we can learn working with AI, it cannot be a threat. It can develop our ethics.
Philip Ross supported me to see the job as an experience rather than a place. This is especially important after COVID, where hybrid work is now the norm.
What I’d like to know more about:
- How to use blockchain technology to improve safe digital tools for certificate authentication?
- How can the Chambers use AI in its customer service systems?
- What are Effective strategies for teaching companies to improve digital mindsets?
References:
- Cukier, K. (2014). Big Data is Better Data. [TED Talk]. https://www.ted.com/talks/kenneth_cukier_big_data_is_better_data
- Annunziata, M. (2014). Welcome to the Age of the Industrial Internet. [TED Talk]. https://www.ted.com/talks/marco_annunziata_welcome_to_the_age_of_the_industrial_internet
- Yen, A. (2015). Think Your Email’s Private? Think Again. [TED Talk]. https://www.ted.com/talks/andy_yen_think_your_email_s_private_think_again
- Lyne, J. (2014). Everyday Cybercrime — and What You Can Do About It. [TED Talk]. https://www.ted.com/talks/james_lyne_everyday_cybercrime_and_what_you_can_do_about_it
- Mistry, P. (2009). The Thrilling Potential of SixthSense Technology. [TED Talk]. https://www.ted.com/talks/pranav_mistry_the_thrilling_potential_of_sixthsense_technology
- Ross, P. (2015). Office of Today, Workplace of Tomorrow. [TED Talk]. https://www.ted.com/talks/philip_ross_office_of_today_workplace_of_tomorrow
- Conti, M. (2017). The Incredible Inventions of Intuitive AI. [TED Talk]. https://www.ted.com/talks/maurice_conti_the_incredible_inventions_of_intuitive_ai
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