‘DIGITAL ECONOMY IS NEW NORMAL’

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU COVID-19 has had a massive impact on internet adoption, the economy and how businesses operate in Zambia, indicating that a digital world is the new normal. The businesses that adapt will survive and thrive, says Mark Townsend, Chief Executive Officer of Liquid Intelligent Technologies Zambia. “It is no longer about coping short-term, it is about applying technology to create seamless collaboration, improve data security and stimulate future growth with emerging tech such as artificial intelligence. “Remote and hybrid work is the future, and the right digital strategy is the key to success,” Mr Townsend said in his write-up on enabling businesses to overcome challenges of remote work. He observed that since the pandemic, e-commerce was growing in Zambia with rankings improving in United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) B2C E-Commerce Index 2020 to 120 from 125. The UNCTAD B2C E-commerce Index measures an economy’s preparedness to support online shopping He also observed that efforts by Government to further develop an e-commerce strategy and reviewing its national Information and Communications Technology policy would encourage digital transformation. He further said for remote workers and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that Did not have access to an in-house Information Technology team, secure, efficient systems and support help ensure workers remained connected and as productive as possible. Meanwhile, Mr Townsend said cybercrime was on the rise and increasingly sophisticated.