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The Digital Transformation Forum examines how the new technological reality drives competitiveness

On September 29 and 30 of this year the first annual meeting of the Digital Transformation Forum (www.forotdigital.com) will be held in Madrid. The project is a unique initiative, the first of its kind in Spain and exceptional in the European arena. The key aim is to provide a meeting point for all agents involved in the study and development of competitiveness and digital transformation.

“This integrative platform provides us with a base from which to approach two major challenges,” says Julio Linares, Vice President of the board of directors of Telefónica S.A. and President of the Digital Transformation Forum. “First we aim to raise awareness about the impact and implications of adapting management and production models to the new digital era. And we also plan to drive knowledge and experiences in order to meet the challenges of digital transformation, as well as generate debate and networking to make the necessary changes happen. In short, intention is not enough, what is needed is action.”

Juan José Güemes, Vice President of IE Business School and Vice President of the Digital Transformation Forum explained that the Forum is a strategic opportunity for companies and organizations. “The platform will enable us to examine the adaptation of digital businesses and explore the impact that digital transformation has on business organizations, the economy, and society, in Spain and in Europe.”

As an observatory, DTF aims to analyze and provide a response to questions that society, the economy and business organizations are asking about the methodologies, formats and management of competitiveness through new technologies, as well as the impact that this fourth revolution is having on sectors and organizations.

The initiative has been driven and organized by FCP (www.fcplatforms.com) in collaboration with IE Business School (static-frm.ie.edu), and digital communications consultant Neolabels (www.neolabels.com), with Telefónica (www.telefonica.com) as technology partner, and the strategic support of companies like Adigital (Asociación Española de Economía Digital www.adigital.org).

The Digital Transformation Forum (FTD) comprises a platform where members can focus on networking, knowledge and business. A Think Tankhas been created to examine the main questions that affect the development of digital transformation and to serve as an interface between administrations, public opinion and communication media. This permanent work group is made up of people heading the transformation of leading Spanish companies. In this initial phase it will comprise representatives from IE Business School, Neolabels, Telefónica, Adigital, Correos, Santander, Renfe and El Corte Inglés.

The group is already working on producing a snapshot of the processes involved in digital transformation in Spain from a social, regulatory, political, economic and corporate perspective, to serve as a reference. The aim is to establish a series of guidelines on how the new digital process affects businesses and citizens, in order to understand what is needed to adapt to and leverage the digital environment with a view to maximizing competitiveness.

Sectorial work groups are also being created to tackle the specific needs of each sector in a segmented manner. These groups will work on different areas of competence: banking, insurance, retail, education, tourism, public administrations, consulting, healthcare, construction and infrastructures, industry, digital content and leisure, and civil society. The groups will also examine transversal areas which affect all fields, such as legislation, human resources, payment methods, security, logistics and transport.

Finally, and with the objective of sharing knowledge and experiences, an annual meeting of experts, firms and institutions will be held in Madrid, the first of which will take place on September 29 and 30 of this year.

The Digital Transformation Forum has the support of an advisory board, chaired by Julio Linares López, Vice President of the board of directors of Telefónica S.A., who has extensive professional experience and enjoys renowned prestige in the field of telecommunications. Linares holds a degree in telecommunications engineering and has spent almost his entire career at Telefónica, where he has held a range of positions, including CEO of Telefónica S.A. from 2007 to 2012.  Juan José Güemes, Vice President of IE Business School will serve as Vice President of the Forum. The advisory council comprises a large group of experts in the Spanish and European digital ecosystem from a range of business organizations and institutions.

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