With a focus on digitalization and innovation, Siemens is well-positioned to support Africa’s growth, driving economic progress and improving lives
Sabine Dall’ Omo
CEO,
Siemens Sub-Saharan Africa
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is transforming the global industrial landscape, driven by automation, artificial intelligence, and digitalization. Africa is poised to leapfrog traditional development models, harnessing these technologies to drive growth and innovation. While some fear job losses, others see humans and machines collaborating to enhance productivity.
Siemens, a pioneer in industrial technology, believes in the integration of humans and automation. With a rich history dating back to 1847, Siemens has navigated numerous technological revolutions, leading innovations in fields like energy, transportation, and digitalization. Today, the company is organized into seven divisions, addressing complex markets and driving digital transformation.
Under Sabine Dall’Omo’s leadership, Siemens Africa is steering the continent towards a brighter future, leveraging IT and data to create smarter cities and industries. With a focus on digitalization and innovation, Siemens is well-positioned to support Africa’s growth, driving economic progress and improving lives. Siemens’ expertise will be crucial in shaping Africa’s industrial future, enabling the continent to thrive in a rapidly changing world and unlock new opportunities for sustainable development.
How is Africa positioned to take advantage of industrial automation, and what’s Siemens’s role in it?
Africa has the potential to accelerate growth and development by prioritizing infrastructure investments through strategic public-private partnerships. By embracing digitalization, the continent can unlock vast opportunities for inclusive growth.
Siemens is committed to supporting Africa’s sustainable development in key areas, including manufacturing, rail and road transportation, and end-to-end electrification. With tailored solutions and projects, Siemens aims to drive progress and prosperity across Africa, leveraging local expertise and innovation to create a brighter future for the continent.
What role will Siemens play in ensuring a seamless transition to new-age technology?
Through partnerships with universities and technical institutions across Africa, Siemens promotes digitalization and advanced automation awareness. By leveraging technologies like data analytics, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT), Siemens helps clients boost productivity across their entire value chain. Siemens’ investment in education and skills development spans the African continent, fostering a brighter future for the next generation of innovators and leaders.
How is Siemens contributing to preparing the workforce for the Fourth Industrial Revolution?
To thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, companies must prioritize education and digital skills development. Siemens is driving this effort through a multi-faceted approach, integrating digital skills into internal processes, investing in workforce upskilling to ensure employees stay ahead of the curve, and offering vocational training programs for youth to equip them with in-demand skills. By prioritizing digital skills development, Siemens is helping to bridge the skills gap, foster innovation, drive economic growth, and create a more digitally literate and adaptable workforce.
What’s your perspective on the future of African industry, particularly with regards to automation and its development?
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is a transformative era that goes beyond technology, requiring a shared vision for economic growth and development. For Africa to succeed, it needs integrated policies that drive digitalization, ensuring consistency and standards across the continent. With the right approach, Africa can leapfrog traditional systems and create a new, tailored framework that leverages regional integration, promotes economic diversification, and benefits individual economies. This would enable Africa to harness the full potential of digital technologies, drive innovation, and achieve sustainable economic growth.
How do you think automation will impact existing businesses and models, and what are the key challenges?
Automation poses a significant threat to businesses if they don’t upskill their workforce. To stay ahead, companies like Siemens invest heavily in professional training – we’re talking about 500 million euros annually. This requires a fundamental shift in how we approach education and training, with a focus on collaboration and inspiring creativity. Even our schools need to adapt to equip students with the skills and mindset for a rapidly changing world.
What do you envision for the future of work, and how will Siemens contribute to it?
The future of work will feature a multi-generational workforce enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI), dynamic work environments, and increased agility and flexibility. Siemens will drive digital innovation, creating smart offices that attract talent, foster innovation, and boost productivity. By leveraging digitalization, the company will shape the future of work, making it more efficient, collaborative, and appealing.
How might disruptive technology impact economic systems?
Disruptive technology drives development and progress in Africa. To harness its potential, we need to simplify complexities around digitalization, raise awareness, and promote its benefits. Imagine a digitally linked smart city with efficient transportation, clean energy, sustainable buildings, personalized manufacturing, and affordable healthcare. This vision is being pursued through collaborations with governments and customers across Africa.
Will new jobs be created to offset those lost to automation, and how can employment balance be maintained?
Digitalization presents both challenges and opportunities for society. While automation may impact certain jobs, it also gives rise to new roles that require distinct skills and expertise. At Siemens, we envision digitalization leading to the creation of “grey collar” jobs, where humans and machines collaborate seamlessly. This synergy enables workers to focus on high-value tasks, leveraging technology to augment their capabilities.
To succeed in this evolving landscape, businesses must prioritize upskilling and reskilling their workforce, ensuring employees are equipped with the knowledge and competencies needed to thrive in a digitally driven environment. By doing so, we can unlock the full potential of digitalization and create a more adaptable, innovative, and productive workforce.
What sets Siemens systems apart in solving everyday business problems?
Siemens drives societal progress through cutting-edge technologies in electrification, automation, and digitalization. By leveraging these innovations, we transform industries, enhance energy efficiency, and improve transportation systems. Our digital analytics platform enables us to develop tailored solutions for clients, addressing their unique needs and challenges. Although our work often operates behind the scenes, its impact is profound, influencing various industries and everyday life in meaningful ways.
As a global company, how do you stay relevant to local needs in a continent that is so diverse?
We believe that it is our core values and substance that keeps us relevant in Africa. Our employees across the continent work hard to ensure that we bring lasting value to our clients and society. With a footprint and presence of 157 years on the continent, it’s not just about where we have come from but rather where we will go alongside the ambitions of the continent, I now call home.
