Reference News Network September 8 report: The U.S. Forbes magazine website published an article by Noono Bokett, CEO of Data Sentinel, titled "Five Experiences of China's Digital Transformation" on September 5. The following is the translated version:

When I went to China, I was full of expectations for innovation, but I didn't expect to feel like time-traveling. From the moment I arrived in Shanghai, to the blurred image of the high-speed train, and then to the holographic cultural program projected on a mountain (yes, it's a mountain), everything clearly showed that China is not just catching up. What they are doing is completely different.

Here are five insights on digital transformation I gained from this trip to China. Frankly speaking, every business leader and policy maker should recognize these points:

Speed is a feature, not a flaw.

In the blink of an eye, I was on the high-speed train heading to a small city with only 8 million residents (yes, in China, this is considered a small city). What really caught my attention was not just the speed of the train, but the speed of everything, including infrastructure and service delivery. China's digital transformation is not slow and cautious, but bold, fast, and ambitious.

This speed is reflected in: In business activities, instead of dragging out a 24-month planning cycle for transformation projects, we focus on quick wins. Quick trials, quick iterations. If your strategy takes longer than the technological cycle you invest in, it's already outdated.

Technology plus culture creates magic.

In that small city, I watched a performance that embodied traditional cultural traditions, with the entire performance projected on a mountain using holographic technology. Here, there is no conflict between tradition and high technology, but rather harmony and coexistence.

Transformation does not mean erasure, but evolution. Use technology to amplify unique brand stories, national traditions, and the voices of the nation. Let culture participate in leading innovation, rather than being marginalized.

Smart cities are not the future, but the standard.

I felt that Shanghai and Beijing are not like cities, but more like platforms. Everything is seamlessly connected: public transportation, mobile payments, and facial recognition for check-in procedures are all seamlessly integrated and smooth and efficient.

We also need to absorb this energy and start thinking about what our development would look like if every process were integrated, intelligent, and inherently connected, and then strive towards that direction. We have always talked about smart commerce and smart management, but we forgot that smart means connectivity and rapid response.

Cultivating digital literacy is not optional, but a national strategy.

The people I met, from elderly market traders to Gen Z creatives, were all proficient in digital technology. Cashless transactions are not only common but taken for granted. Services are mobile-first, not mobile-friendly.

It's time to stop viewing digital skills as the responsibility of the IT department. Whether you're leading a startup, a government agency, or running a side business, being tech-savvy should be written into your talent strategy. Frankly speaking, our government should treat the cultivation of digital literacy as seriously as public health or education: it should be a right, not an added benefit.

Imagination is the only limiting factor.

When I saw bridges that double as digital billboards, glasses that can record and translate in real-time, and my face being my ticket, I realized: this is not about technology for the sake of technology, but purposeful innovation.

The lesson we need to take away is: are our transformation goals bold enough? Are we engaging in next-generation technological innovation, or just improving on the old? Digital innovation is not about adopting tools, but expanding possibilities.

On my way back home, I had a feeling: did I just visit the future? If we want to compete on the global stage, we need to rethink how we approach digital transformation.

This is not just about the application of cloud computing and artificial intelligence. It's about imagination, about integration. It requires us to start building the future now, rather than waiting until later. (Translated by Pan Xiaoyan)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7547553062852854306/

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