Author: Khutso Nkadimeng
31 May 2020
This reflection is written with an assumption that the reader is familiar with the first three Industrial Revolutions at least in broad terms. These three events were characterised by technological, cultural and socioeconomic changes [2]. Although the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has those three features, it is driven mainly by the same technological changes of the Third Industrial Revolution. The only major difference is the higher rate of change. The term is effective as a marketing and political tool, the only way to benefit from a revolution is to be a revolutionist, it is no surprise why government officials and business leaders are pushing this rhetoric.
4IR is not a revolution [1], it is a term used to define potential changes from a set of technologies that include artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous vehicles, 3D printing, biotechnology, 5G, cyber-physical systems, Internet of Things, quantum computing, nanotechnology, robotics and industrial internet of Things (IIoT) [1]. “Complex policies have proved difficult for South African governments, both their development and implementation”, although still difficult, choosing to focus on one of these technologies is more doable [1]. China is the manufacture of the world; India has taken a decision long time to focus on technology and business process outsourcing, they now dominate the world’s outsourcing market [3]. South Africa should focus on the industrial internet of Things (IIoT).
Why IIoT? My decision to enrol for BEngSc (Digital Arts) was to address my interest in engineering and art, Digital Arts was the only course combining the two. IIoT will address some major obstacles to economic growth in South Africa.
1. Infrastructure development.
Internet is a basic requirement for IIoT and is either inaccessible or very expensive in South Africa. Addressing this problem will have a positive domino effect.
2. Power Generation.
For South Africa to become a go-to supplier or service provider of the world, there needs to a stable supply of power. The neighbouring countries are already customers. A surplus of electricity can be sold to more African countries. Power shortage is one of the biggest opportunities in Africa, and a big enough capacity to address it will result in many job opportunities.
3. Education.
Skilled labour is one of the reasons why many companies are not bringing manufacturing to South Africa [1]. With IIoT, the country can focus on skills in areas like Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, Data Analytics, industrial Software and Hardware production.
4. Policy Certainty.
“In South Africa, the legal and policy frameworks for infrastructure have been problematic, with changes being made slowly, with poor quality drafting and inadequate parliamentary scrutiny of legislation, weak regulation, and excessive reliance on poorly controlled and financed state-owned enterprises” [1]. Many investors have in most cases stated policy uncertainty as a major reason why they are not investing in South Africa. “Even MTN uses Mauritius as the base for its holding company for African assets and tax reduction.” [1]. A clear direction from the government will also inform private enterprise on what problems to address and opportunities pursue. The government must change its ‘nanny state’ [1] attitude towards business and focus on being a developmental state.
In conclusion, focusing on just IIoT, South Africa will address four major problems simultaneously and be able to industrialise the economy more with the current classes of workers in the country all included some part of the value chain from mining to processing, manufacturing to software as a service. Now that would be a true revolution.
References
1. Ewan Sutherland (2019): The Fourth Industrial Revolution – The Case of South Africa, Politikon, DOI: 10.1080/02589346.2019.1696003
2. Britannica