The human element should not be forgotten in the pursuit of technology, says Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams.

As digital platforms are leveraged to drive the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), there is an opportunity for Africa to ensure it does not miss this revolution and that it taps into the future potential of the digital era.

“When we unpack the critical components of 4IR, we, as South Africa, have committed to putting the people at the centre. We must own and create our own futures by embracing technology, but we must not forget the human element,” she says.

It is critical to ensure that 4IR is driven by the people who are living it, with the continent making its own mark in delivering the economic benefits of 4IR.

“This is not just another revolution. The reason 4IR is so powerful, so transformative, is that it is the intersection of the technological revolution transforming society and [the] changing ways of doing government and business,” said University of the Witswatersrand 4IRSA initiative chairperson Dr Brian Armstrong at a Ministerial engagement on 4IR and the creative industry.

“When we have a conversation about 4IR, it cannot just be about the technology. We want everybody to [join the] discussion and understand the narrative about 4IR,” he said.

Owing to the impact the revolution will have on everyone, the discussions need to be inclusive, coherent, fact based, structured and diverse, as well as human centred, as opposed to technology centred.

Further, there is a need to understand the impact on the future of work and what it means for employment, new modes of employment and new ways of engaging between employers and employees.

“It is critical that we focus on the opportunities and understand the critical success factors,” Armstrong said, noting that creative roles, for example, were less vulnerable to technological disruptions and automation.

“Computers struggle to do three things at the moment and will continue to do that. “These include roles that are high in creative intensity and creative intelligence, roles that are high relations intelligence and roles that are high in construction dexterity.

“The more technological the world becomes, the more important it is to focus on our humanity to differentiate ourselves from the machines and retain value in the economy going forward,” Armstrong said.

Minister of Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu highlighted the importance and impact of 4IR on the small business sector in South Africa, and that the technological shifts were embraced by small, medium- sized and microenterprises (SMMEs).

“[This revolution] is redefining how we function, as governments, business and society overall. We need to ensure that such dialogues are inclusive as they will inform policy direction for the betterment of all,” said Zulu.

It is believed that 4IR will empower business models and reinvent entire business ecosystems, and, while not every business is digitally focused, digital now forms part of every business.

“SMMEs and cooperatives [need] to embrace the radical reshaping of the relationship between technology capabilities and business opportunities,” she urged.