Five Tech Developments at Expo 2020 That Will Transform the Business World
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Five Tech Developments at Expo 2020 That Will Transform the Business World
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By Naam Chakravorty, Gulf Region Analyst, Botho Emerging Markets Group
September 2, 2021
The World's Fair (now called the World Expo) has historically been one of the largest forums to introduce new technological advancements to the public. From the worldwide début of IMAX cinema at Expo 1970 Osaka, to the launch of George Samuel Hurts’ Accutouch touchscreen at the 1982 Expo in Knoxville, groundbreaking ideas have debuted at the event, which takes place every five years. Expo 2020 will build on this tradition by showcasing the latest technological innovations from around the globe. Under the theme “Connecting Minds and Creating the Future,” Dubai's Expo 2020 will showcase several technology initiatives that may have far-reaching implications for the future of global business in a digital-first world.
The "Office of the Future," the world's first large-scale smart integrated network architecture, will transform the workplace into a cohesive and well-connected environment
Global tech giant Cisco will manage Expo 2020's full IP networking infrastructure as a network operator. During the event, the network will host over 8,000 Wi-Fi access points, serving up to 300,000 people per day and supporting over 400 endpoints in the Internet of Things (IoT) applications. In designing this solution, Cisco collaborated with a variety of complementary technology companies. For example, Etisalat, the Expo’s Official Telecommunications Partner, will assist with the on-site 5G implementation. Meanwhile, partners such as Siemens, Accenture, and Mastercard will provide all attendees, both physically present and virtual, with a digitally connected experience. Following the event, 80% of the Expo-built infrastructure will be repurposed as part of District 2020, an integrated “smart city” and “the office of the future” that will retain the Cisco network to be one of the most integrated locations on the planet in terms of operations, architecture, and connectivity. As companies revise their operations models in preparation for the post-pandemic era, such technologies are more critical than ever. Cisco’s solution will demonstrate how geographically separated workforces, visitors, and business transactions can operate seamlessly.
The world’s largest smart building management system at Expo 2020 will emerge as a blueprint for future smart cities
Siemens, Expo 2020's Infrastructure Digitalization Partner, will implement its digital building management system Desigo CC across the entire Expo 2020 site. A cloud-based energy analytics platform will connect 137 buildings in one of the world's largest installations of Siemens Navigator. The digital solutions will use MindSphere, a cloud-based operating system to link, monitor, and operate buildings across the site. At the event, MindSphere will also power data collecting and analysis for intelligent decision-making and actions. In doing this, the Siemens project will advance Expo 2020's energy efficiency, safety, and security goals and provide policymakers with a glimpse into the potential of smart cities.
A new end-to-end automated procurement system will promote transparency and efficiency across Expo 2020’s supply chain for large enterprises and SMEs
SAP, Expo 2020’s Innovative Enterprise Software Partner, will use a unified end-to-end digital procurement payment platform to digitize and automate procurement operations throughout the event. The SAP Ariba platform provides registered companies with a simple, efficient process to tender, collect payments, sign contracts, submit invoices, and track payments in real-time. More than 25,000 suppliers worldwide have already benefited from this initiative, with over AED 1 billion in transactions performed. In the future, the SAP Ariba platform and its performance could be used as a model for other global commercial events.
Digital mobile fuel distribution will facilitate safe and quick access to fuel, helping Expo 2020 maximize efficiency
All Expo fleet operations will be managed behind the scenes using ENOC Link's digital technology. ENOC Link will showcase features such as an end-to-end digital fueling experience, advanced fuel analytics, fleet management, and mileage reporting. The Expo fleet staff will also have access to a macro and micro picture of fuel consumption to assist with tracking at a global level, by site, and by vehicle or equipment. The ENOC Link arrangement with Expo comes after the ENOC Group unveiled its design of the “Service Station of the Future” earlier this year. The eLink Station, which is designed as a future mobile fueling format, does not require assembly and can readily relocate to a different location based on the demands of UAE residents and variations in fuel demand without any downtime. It is a response to the region's evolving consumer and corporate needs—and a model that other global fuel companies could adapt.
A vision of “the future of learning” will emerge as several ed-tech companies disrupting the education system around the world come together.
Ensuring access to quality education in the digital era is a cornerstone of many Expo 2020 initiatives. For example, Eduboki, an Uruguayan project, combines software, pedagogy, video games, and textbooks to increase students' interest in learning. Another technologically based project, Seenaryo, is a Lebanese art and education group that is changing refugee children's education through its Kindergarten Playkit, a smartphone app available in Arabic, French, and English. These and other projects have been carefully curated as part of the Expo Live and Expo 2020 Global Best Practice Programme, in partnership with Dubai Cares, and will be showcased during Expo's education-focused thematic week. Knowledge & Learning Week is the fifth in a series of ten themed weeks held during the Expo to bring together key policymakers, thought leaders, and the general public to shape education system discussions. These technologies, if adopted, have the potential to improve access to education in emerging markets by preparing a global workforce for a fast-changing environment.
Although much has been written about the mega-events economic and societal effects, the same cannot be said for its technological impact and how it is accelerating the future of innovation. Expo 2020 aims to explore technology's role in connecting businesses and communities and its potential to influence how we live, work, and interact amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Furthermore, Expo 2020 will inspire future generations by demonstrating and interrogating these technologies to spark adoption of the innovations that will shape the next stage of global technological development.
Naam Chakravorty is the Gulf Region Analyst at Botho Emerging Markets Group
For more information, contact Naam here.