TECH Derby, in partnership with the University of Derby, hosted the Ask the Expert TECH Derby Network event on March 3rd, 2023, with a focus on Digital Transformation. The event brought together Tech experts from various industries to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in digital transformation. Participants included current students and alumni of the University of Derby, startup CEOs, and Tech enthusiasts.

The keynote speaker, Jonathan Branch, the Head of Delivery (Maximo – Group IT) with a specialism within the Project Delivery and Change Management at Rolls Royce, addressed the issues, challenges, and opportunities involved in the digital transformation of businesses and industries. The presentations were followed by an interactive Q&A session, where attendees asked questions about the issues, challenges, and opportunities presented by the digital transformation of businesses and industries.

The presentation highlighted the importance of understanding the business needs, culture, and size of any change to ensure success. The presentation also discussed whether a change had to be difficult, costly, or require the latest innovation and why change projects sometimes fail. A case study on Rolls-Royce Engine Testing was presented, demonstrating how digital transformation can improve the quality of products while minimizing costs.

Finally, the presentation discussed the future of digital transformation, which is here to stay. Three areas that companies are expected to invest in over the next 10 years were identified as being the biggest drivers of change:

• Artificial intelligence and machine learning.
• Cloud computing and storage.
• Cybersecurity and data privacy.

In conclusion, the Ask the Expert TECH Derby Network event on Digital Transformation was a success, providing valuable insights into the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in digital transformation. The event demonstrated that businesses need to understand the need for change and the size of the change needed to ensure success. Finally, the presentation highlighted the importance of embracing digital transformation and investing in emerging technologies to stay ahead of the curve.