Editor's Note

We are at the cusp of a turning point in history, where man and machine are making the leap into an era of advanced technologies. It has been evident across the years, with the development of smartphones, rise of e-wallets, expansion of the sharing economy, usage of wearable technologies and other integrated devices.

The 4th Industrial Revolution is here. Awareness of its presence is critical in order to harness its full potential. Every aspect of our lives, from the moment we wake till the moment we sleep, will be affected by these new technologies, changing the way we interact with one another, with our environment and with ourselves.

Everywhere we go, we are carrying a supercomputer in our hands, which has – if not already – become a basic need for survival in this digital age. With the availability of e-hailing apps, we are able to summon our ride with a touch of a finger, and discard our wallet for a more convenient and secure e-wallet app to pay for services.

As governments and organisations look to ascend the value chain, emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud Computing, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) have become household names, and are now essential.

Our inaugural issue of The Fourth Leap magazine connects the dots between fundamental digital quake of technological change and the opportunities available to businesses, those that can adapt to the disruptive agents of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

This isssue’s cover story features Mr Nicholas Davis, Head of Society and Innovation, and Member of the Executive Committee of the World Economic Forum. In our exclusive interview, he shared that adoption of relevant technology is key to advancing the business, and also extends his well wishes and positive outlook on the recently launched, Industry4WRD National Policy on Industry 4.0 by Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

How will we make sense of this convergence of man and machine? How will complex industrial environments such as those encompassing energy, oil & gas, utilities, chemical and materials, manufacturing – automotive, power grids, solar, medical equipment – and related sectors be transformed? Will this technological shift promise more productivity and efficiency? And how will it create the jobs of the future?

There are more questions than answers, but the Fourth Leap Magazine will assist you, business leaders and decision-makers, manoeuvre this exciting journey! What’s more, our Fourth Leap 2018 Conference serve as a platform for decision-makers, thought-leaders as well as the movers and shakers of the industry to discuss and share ideas regarding the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Let’s look for new ways to grow and stay relevant in our respective industries!

In the words of Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Chairman of the World Economic Forum, he says, “In this new world, it is not the big fish which eats the little fish, it’s the fast fish that eats the slow fish.”

The question that companies need to be asking themselves, is where they stand in the food chain and how close are their competitors to putting them out of business?

– Sritharan Vellasamy
(sri@wordlabs.com.my)