WHAT’S BUZZING
Here’s how the Russia-Ukraine conflict will impact Apac organisations
The impact of the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine is expected to impact Asia Pacific in the short and possibly long-term, according to International Data Corporation (IDC).
The market intelligence firm foresees sanctions, commodity shortages, and higher prices for oil, gas and other essential goods to further fuel inflationary pressures. Those factors are also likely to damage information and communications technology (ICT) supply chains that support the regional consumer electronics and semiconductor manufacturing as well as distribution industries.
For instance, an extended Russia-Ukraine war will exacerbate the chip shortage in the Asia Pacific and increase transportation costs that may be passed on to customers. Besides that, cyber warfare may also spill over beyond the conflict combatants and into the region.
While inflation may cause some buyers to delay IT investments, IDC surveys suggest inflation is not likely to reduce investments. This varies by country, with Singapore and Japan more likely to report possible delays compared to China and Indonesia.
See also: Tesla Cybertruck to go on tour in China to burnish tech cred
Inflationary impacts also vary by technology. Asia Pacific respondents report that investments in telco/networks, software-as-a-service (SaaS), and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) are more likely to have budget increases because of inflationary pressures.
“Given the fluid nature of the war, IDC recommends that companies create action plans that enable them to anticipate and react to potential disruptions resulting from it, such as supply chain disruptions, chip shortages, increased inflation, and cybersecurity threats. The impact of events can change quickly, and so must your plans. Leveraging technology for resiliency should be top of the agenda,” said Sandra Ng, group vice president and general manager at IDC Asia/Pacific.
Less than a quarter of Singapore firms have digital skills training plans
See also: Samsung races Apple to develop blood sugar monitor that doesn't break skin
Over the next year, the number of Singapore workers requiring digital skills training for their jobs is projected to increase by 647,000, representing 29% of Singapore’s workforce. However, less than a quarter (24%) of employers in Singapore have a training plan in place, which could affect their competitiveness in such areas as productivity, innovation, and employee retention.
The Building Digital Skills for the Changing Workforce report by cloud giant Amazon Web Services (AWS) also reveals that 65% of Singapore workers believe they need training in cloud-related skills by 2025 to progress in their careers. They feel the need to learn how to make use of cloud-based tools in their work (45%), migrate on-premises facilities to the cloud (30%), and acquire cloud architecture design skills (26%).
Other advanced cloud skills, such as machine learning, will be in high demand in businesses from healthcare to agriculture, fintech to media and entertainment, emerging as the fourth most demanded digital skill by employers by 2025.
According to the report, employers who support skills training programmes see significant benefits, including im- proved employee productivity (87%), increased revenue (83%), and higher employee retention (81%).
To prepare the next generation of cloud professionals, AWS is working with higher education institutions, non-profits, workforce development organisations, governments, and employers on a range of digital upskilling programmes. This includes the “Cloud Ready SG with AWS” programme, a national workforce development programme developed in collaboration with the Singapore government.
Through the AWS Academy programme, AWS also provides 13 higher education institutions in Singapore with a ready-to-teach cloud computing curriculum for their diploma programmes. AWS has trained over 100,000 individuals in Singapore with cloud skills since 2017.
IN PICTURE
To stay ahead of the latest tech trends, click here for DigitalEdge Section
Photo: TNT Surveillance
TNT Surveillance (TNTS) is combining its expertise in artificial intelligence (AI), surveillance and security to create safer journeys among Singapore’s transportation fleets. More than 10,000 vehicles across Singapore are currently using its solutions.
TNTS’s key solutions cover anti-distraction (T-Guard) and fatigue, blind spot detection, 360° surround view system and a 24/7 command centre to review videos of driving behaviours.
The active safety technology for TNTS’s T-Guard system can conduct intelligent and instant image analysis, providing a forward collision warning of up to 2.7 seconds before a possible accident with a stationary vehicle. Meanwhile, the 24/7 command centre feature helps increase operational efficiency by up to 90% as it offers real-time tracking of vehicles and dynamic communication with drivers at all times.
DIGITAL LIFE
While there is a lot of push from companies and governments to meet sustainability goals, our actions as individuals can make a difference too. Here are some mobile apps that can help us adopt greener habits to fight the climate crisis:
Available on the SP Utilities App, My Carbon Footprint is a feature aiming to promote behaviour and lifestyle changes to reduce our carbon emissions. You can use it to calculate your carbon footprint from everyday habits such as transportation and use of electrical appliances, to food and lifestyle choices.
Get rewarded for living a more sustainable lifestyle with susGain. You can collect points for your eco-friendly habits, such as using water refill stations or recycling bins, and earn cashback on net spend when you shop at more than 200 susGain’s partner stores.
Stridy is the litter pick up app that empowers you to declutter your world at your pace. All you have to do is collect discarded thrash to gain points. Also, when you take a picture of every piece of litter collected, Stridy aggregates that data to better understand the litter landscape of your area.
