“When basketball was first invented, there was a basket, and someone had to climb up to take the ball out every time a point was scored. Then one day, someone decided to cut a hole in the bottom of the basket. People said, ‘Oh no, the guy who takes the ball out will lose his job.’ But look at basketball today—how many jobs has it created? Players, coaches, referees, broadcasters, marketers. That’s the power of innovation.”
— Jack Ma
From the ancient world to the medieval to the modern, there has always been a defining force shaping humanity’s destiny. From discovering fire to inventing the wheel, from producing electricity to manufacturing robots—humanity has always found ways to exceed its own expectations. The latest wave of this revolution is Digitalization!
From QR codes scanned at roadside stalls to mothers video-calling their sons abroad, from products sold online to robots building robots—these moments are building blocks of an efficient, convenient, empowered, and connected future. A digital future.
The real question is no longer whether digitalization will define our lives—it’s how we choose to define digitalization. Will it be a bridge or a barrier? The answer lies in the hands of its wielders: us.
Digitalization’s Progress and Economic Impact
From cloud computing to AI-powered mobile payments, the digital shift has moved beyond knocking at our doors—it’s already inside, transforming how we live, work, and connect. Over 25% of the global economy now operates digitally, and this is projected to reach 50% within the next decade.
A simple example: 40% of a car today is digitally controlled. Nations are investing heavily in digital transformation, with global spending expected to hit $3.9 trillion by 2027, the US alone contributing over $1 trillion.
“The future of the world is digitalisation, and it’s unstoppable. Embrace it, or be left behind.”
— Tim Cook
Companies like FANUC in Japan have robots building other robots autonomously, working in teams like human project groups. KUKA in China has slashed robot production time from 30 minutes to under one minute. Xiaomi’s “Lights Out” factories produce smartphones around the clock without a single human on the floor.
3D printing has also revolutionised manufacturing—GE Aerospace reduced its turboprop engine components from 780 to just 12 by leveraging digital tools to test and experiment with alternatives.
Digitalization’s benefits aren’t limited to billion-dollar corporations. Educational platforms bring quality learning to students anywhere. Virtual internships and online certifications empower youth. Women-led microenterprises thrive on platforms like Meesho, where over 80% of sellers are women. Healthcare apps like Mfine and 1mg provide virtual consultations for seniors. Mobile money platforms such as Kenya’s M-Pesa have lifted nearly 194,000 families out of poverty—without the need for a bank account.
Why Digitalization is Crawling, Not Sprinting
Despite its promise, 70–80% of digital initiatives fail to meet goals. In the US, only 35% of the economy is fully digital. In India, large companies operate at around 25% digital capacity, while smaller ones range from just 10–15%.
Much like the early critics of the Wright Brothers, digital progress faces challenges:
Resistance to Change: Employees, particularly those nearing retirement, fear new technologies. Only 35% of transformation efforts succeed due to internal resistance and poor policy-making.
Budget Constraints: Digital tools are costly, especially in developing nations. Without clear roadmaps, companies hesitate to invest in training and infrastructure. Just 26% of people in economically weaker countries are online, compared to 90% in developed ones.
Low Digital Literacy: In the early 2000s, only 15% of US jobs required digital skills—this rose to 34% by 2016. Today, 82% of US manufacturing roles require medium-to-high digital competence.
Fear of Job Loss: The narrative that AI and robots will take over jobs fuels resistance. One study predicts that 47% of US jobs are at risk of computerization.
Looking Forward
“I told my team that Alibaba is not a company that is designed to win every game. We are like a basketball team. We lose some games, but we win the championship. We are here to create jobs, not to kill jobs.”
— Jack Ma
While headlines warn of AI taking over, history shows that humans adapt. Studies reveal that robots and humans working together achieve over 85% higher productivity than working separately.
The future lies in collaboration—dividing tasks into human-only, robot-only, and hybrid roles. Automation will reshape industries, but it will also give birth to new ones, creating creative, hybrid, and entirely novel professions.
Change is the only constant—and in this game, the winners are those who ride the tide, not those who try to stop it.