SystemInitiativeonShapingtheFutureofDigitalEconomyandSocietyDigitalTransformationInitiativeMaximizingtheReturnonDigitalInvestmentsMay2018IncollaborationwithAccenture©WorldEconomicForum2018–AllrightsreservedNopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,includingphotocopyingandrecording,orbyanyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem.Theviewsexpressedarethoseofcertainparticipantsinthediscussion,anddonotnecessarilyreflecttheviewsofallparticipantsoroftheWorldEconomicForum.REF120418Contents3Foreword4ExecutiveSummary5ObjectivesandApproach7ValueImpactofDigitalInvestments13MaximizingValuefromDigitalInvestments22QuestionsforFurtherInvestigation23Acknowledgements26EndnotesTheDigitalTransformationInitiative(DTI)waslaunchedbytheWorldEconomicForumin2015aspartoftheSystemInitiativeonShapingtheFutureofDigitalEconomyandSociety.ItisanongoingprojectthatservesasthefocalpointattheForumfornewopportunitiesandthemesarisingfromthelatestdevelopmentsinthedigitalizationofbusinessandsociety.ItsupportstheForum’sbroaderactivityaroundthethemeoftheFourthIndustrialRevolution.MoreabouttheDTIisavailableat(s)anddonotnecessarilyrepresenttheviewsoftheWorldEconomicForumoritsMembersandPartners.WhitePapersaresubmittedtotheWorldEconomicForumascontributionstoitsinsightareasandinteractions,andtheForummakesthefinaldecisiononthepublicationoftheWhitePaper.WhitePapersdescriberesearchinprogressbytheauthor(s)andarepublishedtoelicitcommentsandfurtherdebate.3MaximizingtheReturnonDigitalInvestmentsForewordDigitaltransformationisoccurringatanunprecedentedpace.Itisakeydriverofsweepingchangeintheworld,improvingpeople’slivesandcreatingamoreconnectedworld.Italsoopensnewopportunitiesforbusinessestogrowandcreatevalue.Companiesareusingnewtechnologies,suchastheinternetofthings(IoT),robotics,artificialintelligence(AI),bigdataanalyticsandmobile/socialmediatobuildnewbusinessmodels,enhancecustomerexperiencesanddrivenewefficiencies.Whiletheapplicationshavesignificantpotential,onlyafeworganizationsarereadytotakefulladvantageofthem,whichisfuellingadebatearoundtheproductivityimpactofdigitalinvestments.Organizationsmustidentifywheretobesttakeadvantageofdigitalizationandinvestintheactivitiesthatwillhavethemostpositiveimpactandacceleratetheirperformanceinthelongterm.Mostbusinessleadersunderstandthepotentialeffectofdigitaltransformationonbusinessandsociety.However,manydonotseeaclearpathtobridgingthegapsthatinevitablyoccurwheninnovationmovesfasterthanexistingorganizationalandsocietalframeworks.Thiscreatesagapbetweenleadership’sstrategicdigitalintentanditsoperationalexecution.ThisisoneofthemaininhibitorstounlockingthevalueofdigitalizationandtotheFourthIndustrialRevolution.Thispaper,whichformspartoftheWorldEconomicForumDigitalTransformationInitiative(DTI),aimstocontributetothedebateonthereturnondigitalinvestments.Throughquantitativeandqualitativeanalysesofexistingdigitalinvestments,itprovidesaframeworktogivebusinessleadersthebestpossiblechanceofaddressingmanychallenges–drivingculturalchange,bridgingthedigitalskillsgapacrossworkforcelevels,changingcustomerexpectations,dataprivacyandsecurity–andmaximizingthereturnonupcominginvestments.Launchedin2015,theDTIservesasthefocalpointfornewopportunitiesandthemesarisingfromthelatestdevelopmentsinthedigitaltransformationofbusinessandsociety.Sinceitsinception,theinitiativehasanalysedtheimpactofdigitaltransformationon12industriesandseveralcross-industrythemestodriveengagementonsomeofthemostpressingtopicsfacingindustriesandbusinessestoday.DTIispartoftheWorldEconomicForumSystemInitiativeonShapingtheFutureofDigitalEconomyandSocietyandsupportstheForum’sbroaderactivitiesaroundthethemeoftheFourthIndustrialRevolution.ThispaperwaspreparedincollaborationwithAccenture,whomwethankfortheirsupport.WewouldalsoliketothanktheWorldEconomicForumcommunityofdigitalleadersandindustryexpertswhohelpedshapetheinsightsandrecommendations.ThepaperembodiestheWorldEconomicForum’scommitmenttohelpingleadersunderstandtheimplicationsofdigitaltransformation.Weareconfidentthatthefindingswillsupportthemonthejourneytoshapebetteropportunitiesforbusinessandsociety.JonasPrisingChairmanandChiefExecutiveOfficerManpowerGroupArneSorensonPresidentandChiefExecutiveOfficerMarriottInternationalBruceWeineltHeadofDigitalTransformationWorldEconomicForum4DigitalTransformationInitiativeDigitaltechnologiesoffernewwaysforcompaniestogrowandbemoreproductive.However,itisnotcompletelyclearhowinvestmentsinnewtechnologiesimpactproductivity.ThisWhitePaperaddressesthatissuebyanalysingthebusinessvalueimpactofnewtechnologyinvestmentsandprovidingrecommendationsformaximizingthatvalue.Itincludesaneconometricanalysisoftheproductivityimpactofnewtechnologiesusingdatafromasampleofover16,000companiesfrom14industriesandananalysis,throughinterviewsandworkshopswithindustryleaders,ofkeyenablersandexecutionprinciplestomaximizethereturnondigitalinvestments.Theanalysisofproductivityandnewtechnologyinves