EY Tech Connect

In this episode of the EY Tech Connect podcast, Adrian Baschnonga, Cedric Foray and Christina Winquist delve into top risks that will shape the future of telecommunication companies in 2025.

Christina Winquist is joined by Adrian Baschnonga and Cedric Foray to discuss the top 10 risks that telecommunication operators will face as they prepare for 2025. The conversation focuses on the evolving landscape of the telecom industry, highlighting critical issues, such as trust, digital skills and the implementation of responsible artificial intelligence (AI).

The speakers explore how telecom companies can effectively transform their operations and leverage new technologies to enhance efficiency and drive growth. They delve into the necessity of adapting to new business models and fostering strategic partnerships, while also addressing the importance of talent management in navigating these challenges. As the telecom sector continues to evolve, this episode provides valuable insights and actionable strategies for operators looking to thrive in an increasingly competitive environment.

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Click to review the full article: Top 10 risks for telecommunications in 2025

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In this episode of the EY Tech Connect podcast, we explore the pressing challenges that the telecommunications sector is currently tackling. Some of the critical topics covered are: effective management of data security and privacy requirements, the ever-growing importance of relevant talent acquisition and upskilling amid rapid technological advancements, and the absolute necessity to respond to consumers' demands efficiently while being cost conscious. A walkthrough of the EY organization’s annual report on the top 10 risks in telecommunications uncovers the industry's current concerns, from underestimated changing imperatives and privacy to the need for new talent acquisition strategies to match the pace of technology developments. Emerging challenges like the sustainability agenda and harnessing the potential of new business models also take center stage in the discussions. Beyond merely identifying the risks, the conversation provides insightful strategies to mitigate them and highlights potential opportunities they might unlock. Wrapping up this insightful episode, we discuss upcoming trends and steps the industry needs to take to secure a profitable future.

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As telecom operators continue to navigate a complex and shifting global industry landscape, we examine the top 10 risks they face in 2024. Click below to review the EY rankings: https://www.ey.com/en_gl/insights/telecommunications/top-10-risks-for-telecommunications

Join us as we take a closer look at a few of the most intriguing topics from the EY article Top 10 Opportunities for Technology Companies in 2024. Dive into this fascinating discussion in the latest EY Tech Connect Podcast episode. Listen as we explore some of the key areas of positive impact that tech companies should be exploring in the coming year, including GenAI centric strategies, the essential role of digital infrastructure, and the evolving risks in this ever changing market landscape. Our host, Tracy Watt, alongside Ken Englund and Olivier Wolf, delve into the impact of the AI revolution, the crucial influence of energy resources in shaping business models, and the eminent role of sustainability in today’s corporate strategies. Tune in as they discuss the great strides made in the digital transformation journey and the potential of tech companies to create significant competitive advantages with informed decision-making models and strategic investment choices. Don't miss this engaging discussion filled with valuable insights and perspectives.

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The vital role of emerging tech, including GenAI, in shaping future business strategies and the rise of the Edge economy. The increasing need for sustainability initiatives, focusing primarily on energy usage due to the surge in data centers, and the significant impact of efficient investments in digital infrastructure in capturing the potential of Gen AI environments. The episode underlines the importance of proactive measures in addressing emerging risks and underlines the vast growth opportunities in 2024 for tech firms.

Click here or below to review the EY rankings of the significant opportunities for technology companies in 2024:

https://www.ey.com/en_gl/tmt/top-10-opportunities-for-technology-companies-in-2024

Join us as we talk about how the software economy and the businesses that power it have evolved, the disruption that the pandemic and macroeconomic environment are causing in the industry, and how decision-makers can proactively manage and leverage this disruption to move their long-term growth strategy forward.

For the industry, flexibility is one of the key watchwords, especially as workers demand more flexibility in when and where they work. Companies need to think differently about how that flexibility affects not just the way they develop products, but their entire operating model. Leaders also need to think very intentionally about how they impart the organization’s culture to new joiners in the workforce. If you don’t get the culture right, you won’t be able to do anything else right.

The elements of flexibility and culture are also essential when considering potential mergers and acquisitions (M&A). How the target is adapting to a new operating environment is a key indicator of how well it might fit in and help advance an organization’s long-term strategy.

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Key takeaways include

Join us as we take a closer look at a few of the most intriguing topics from the EY article Top 10 opportunities for technology companies in 2023. The episode begins with an exchange on the importance of technology in today’s business landscape and views on the current and future market for mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

The hosts discuss how companies are focused on the profitability of their core business and how an agile mindset is needed to deal with the current challenges with Talent and workplace models. They then delve into the impact of supply chain challenges. Followed by dialogue on the perpetually increasing significance of sustainability for tech companies.

The hosts expand on how companies are transforming their business models to meet customer needs and improve revenues. Then they dive into topics that include cloud computing, cybersecurity measures, data analytics and automation. They expand on each of these and their potential impact on business operations. The hosts stress the need for the ongoing evaluation and updating of technology to stay ahead of the curve and remain competitive.

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The hosts believe the tech sector is fundamentally strong and will overcome adverse conditions as a driver of economic growth, even though they expect the volatility levels to remain high on most fronts. Click here to review the EY rankings of the significant opportunities for technology companies in 2023: Top 10 opportunities for technology companies in 2023.

Join us as we discuss how tech companies need an agile operating model to thrive and accelerate growth in this constantly changing business environment. Developing an agile operational structure; reimagining the workplace; redefining global compliance policies; and embracing environmental, social and governance (ESG) needs are all key principles in the drive to a future-fit operating model. This focus has a massive impact on the organization and workforce, specifically in tech organizations.

In this episode, we explore the importance of organizational resiliency and the need for companies to identify vulnerabilities, including those related to talent, and really be purposeful in how they go about reshaping their operating models and workforce to mitigate those vulnerabilities.

We review the need for tech companies to be more agile, including through a staffing approach that first leverages new talent-sourcing technologies and capabilities and second relies on skills and competencies rather than just roles or departments.

Over the past few years, the changes and challenges of the workforce have intensified the need for companies to navigate generational shifts and focus on employee well-being to differentiate themselves as a great place to work.

Finally, in terms of operational models, it’s clear that transformation requires constant change, and for the talent agenda, that includes new forms of collaboration and building a winning culture. A workforce that has humans at the center can position companies for success.

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To gain deeper insights into the growing risks and challenges that technology companies must overcome while operating in a truly global environment, EY teams conducted a research survey of more than 750 technology company executives around the world, taking a representative view of companies by scale, geography and the technology subsector in which they sit. Explore the results: https://www.ey.com/en_gl/technology-sector/how-do-you-stay-on-course-when-the-direction-keeps-changing.

To learn more about the EY Humans at the Center Study, please visit: https://www.ey.com/en_us/workforce/humans-at-the-center.

For your convenience, a full-text transcript of this podcast is also available. Read the transcript.

Join us as we talk about how to improve the customer experience within the gaming industry at the center of the metaverse. We discuss how gaming organizations are preparing themselves for an asset-driven metaverse, including the challenges and potential regulatory concerns.

We’ll also hear how gaming businesses can operate, be profitable and collaborate with each other in the same space and same digital economy.

For gaming organizations to collaborate, assets must be exchanged. A digital economy is vital to the next generation of the gaming industry and to create unique customer experiences.

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Ernst & Young LLP recently surveyed a group of executives from leading gaming companies to gain their insights about the impact of and outlook for the metaverse. Explore the results: What’s possible for the gaming industry in the next dimension?

Join us as we talk about asset-right strategies for telcos, considering how they can maximize the value of their assets and the key considerations when reviewing levels of infrastructure ownership.

We start by exploring why an asset-right strategy is essential. What’s the rationale behind it, and why do telcos need to take action now?

Many telcos own a range of assets across fixed and mobile infrastructure, and there is also a broader Information and Computer Technology (ICT) ecosystem to consider. We review how geography and the market affect which domains are key as telcos move toward becoming asset-right.

For many telcos, becoming “asset-right” is a phased and continuous journey that will evolve over a period of years. We review what telcos need to consider for their asset-right strategies to be fit for the future.

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For a transcript of this episode please visit: http://www.ey.com/eytechconnect

Join us as we discuss capital operations and the imperatives for TMT companies as they continue to recover from the pandemic. Never has capital investment been more significant, and a robust approach to capital planning and deployment can translate into a significant competitive advantage.

A recent EY survey of global TMT executives revealed that 87% of respondents said the success of their recovery depends on maintaining certain levels of capital investment. But, perhaps surprisingly, 70% of those TMT leaders said they struggle to demonstrate the value of their capital investments.

We hear from EY TMT leaders Loren Garruto and Daniel Theander as they discuss why TMT companies often struggle to hit their capital investment objectives and what approaches they can take to overcome this.

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For a transcript of this episode please visit: http://www.ey.com/eytechconnect

In this episode, we discuss how consumer behavior has changed regarding content consumption and access. The rise in streaming bolstered by the COVID-19 pandemic has media companies following the customer by launching new streaming services.

Media companies are watching customers cut the cord and lean toward digital; they realize that streaming solutions can give them a competitive edge. However, the cost of keeping content relevant, marketing to make customers aware of services, and the heavy technology investment required for streaming platforms may mean we see some future consolidation in the market, whether that is through partnering and joint ventures or acquisitions.

We also touch on the overlap with adjacent channels such as e-gaming, e-sports and the metaverse to understand how media companies can scale and expand their revenue models. There is momentum behind the convergence of all these worlds as companies continue to innovate and create other channels of engagement with their end users.

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For a transcript of this episode please visit: http://www.ey.com/eytechconnect