Kenyan Manufacturers Urged to Embrace Emerging Technologies

“It is important to understand that the digital transformation journey is not a vertical process but a horizontal process meaning its implementation shouldn’t be left to only one department or an individual in a company, it is a process that involves multiple departments and multiple people. Successful digital transformation only happens when there is a coordinated change effort through all aspects of the business,” she said.

While businesses can gain massive value opportunities in these areas, companies undertaking these efforts quickly learn that the technology in digital transformation is often the easiest part of change. Development gains from digital transformation are not automatic and can result in new divides and widen inequalities.

SYSPRO note ICT adoption has been identified as a key factor that can increase competitiveness for Kenyan businesses. However, for this to happen, there is need to have human resources with the knowledge and skill to implement the relevant technologies, financial resources to purchase these technologies and access to the latest technology locally.

Companies need skilled technical expertise within the company and in the external ecosystem where these technologies are purchased in order to have tailor-made, affordable solutions with local support.

Under the Big 4 Agenda, manufacturing is a priority sector for the Kenyan government. It currently contributes 9.6% of the GDP while the goal is to get it to contribute 20 percent of the GDP by 2022. ICT is seen as among key factors that will play a major role in the success of this goal.

Automation of manufacturing processes influences the production, quality of products and in turn affects the competitiveness of products in the market. There is therefore an urgent need to intervene in this sector as SMEs form the backbone of the Kenyan economy.