Partners play a crucial role in bridging Australia’s digital skills gap in the era of AI, contributing to the nation’s productivity and economic growth through the effective utilization of digital technologies. The recent Digital Pulse report by the ACS has underscored the pressing need for AI and cybersecurity skills in businesses, signaling potential challenges in advancing digital capabilities amidst ongoing disruptions.
While talent shortages and digital disruptions affect partners as well, they are poised to play a pivotal role in building capacity and supporting organizations in embracing digital transformation. According to Jane Livesey, APJ president of Cognizant, the current landscape presents a period of significant change and opportunity, necessitating a focus on both technical and ‘soft’ skills to navigate the evolving digital terrain.
Industry experts emphasize the importance of combining AI and technology skills with critical thinking and business acumen to thrive in the digital ecosystem. Partners are urged to step up as solution providers and skills accelerators, offering managed solutions and strategic guidance to address the evolving business landscape.
The rise of AI technologies, including agentic AI, is reshaping workforce dynamics by automating tasks, disrupting workflows, and permeating various business functions. This trend opens avenues for partners to position themselves as trusted AI integrators, advisors, and trainers, requiring them to upskill and embrace change to cater to evolving customer needs.
With the digital economy witnessing a surge in cyber threats, the demand for cybersecurity expertise is on the rise, creating opportunities for partners to enhance offerings in managed cyber services, resilience, and customer education. However, partners must also address cyber skills shortages within their own workforce to meet industry requirements and bolster their cybersecurity posture.
As the digital landscape evolves, the integration of AI tools offers new capabilities to detect and respond to cyber threats, highlighting the need for continuous learning and adaptation to stay ahead of cyber risks. Partners must align with industry standards and customer expectations to provide robust cybersecurity solutions, leveraging AI augmentation to enhance monitoring and threat identification processes.
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