Will Roebuck is Co-Founder of the Pennine Kids Company – a social enterprise that works with businesses and schools through CSR – and has over 25 years of experience in global business, law, and technology. He is a private sector member of the Leeds City Region’s Digital Board and an advisory board member of the IORMA global consumer commerce centre. Views his own.

At this time of year, I enjoy reading about people’s predictions on how digital technologies will develop over the next few decades.

Many forecasts are just mind-blowing and pure science fiction to those unfamiliar with the tech industry. From biological cells that store data, through artificial intelligence and virtual reality to provide highly-personalized cognitive learning experiences, to spray-on power sources that end the burning of fossil fuels, it really is rocket science!

Technology the enabler

Digital technology is simply an enabler, never a solution. The real challenge is how we use digital to unlock the opportunities and benefits of electronic business, information society, and the knowledge economy for everyone to enjoy.

We cannot do this without first understanding the real world and the local communities in which we live. Taking into account too the natural resources and assets that help build opportunity, strength, and resilience into every local economy.

For example, how do we get traditional offline businesses online and trading well? Yorkshire is just one UK region which has an amazing variety of businesses, from food and drink producers through arts and crafts manufacturers to engineering and technology companies. But, do we have enough local skills to manage the traditional supply chain and then develop e-commerce that gives businesses access to over 4 billion global online consumers? Does the workforce have the basic skills to manage money or understand financial processes to help build a Fintech (financial technology) capability? How does the local butcher, baker, barber, hairdresser, charity shop, rural law practice, or farmer maximise their potential through the so-called digital economy?

Grassroots policies

Digital technologies must drive a local opportunities economy. High-level government strategies, policies, and frameworks – such as the UK’s Industrial Strategy or the Leeds City Region’s Digital Framework – will only work if they are implemented bottom-up from grassroots in local communities. If digital technologies don’t improve our individual day-to-day lives for the better, reduce mental health and stress, end rough-sleeping on our streets, address the food bank crisis, reduce climate change or encourage people to look after the environment around them they have all failed.

Thankfully, policy-makers across Yorkshire absolutely understand the need to embed at a local level the value unlocked from digital. The challenge is that some councils are more reluctant than others to partner with local businesses and community groups. But, it’s shared reward, shared risk! Digital demands collaboration and honest dialogue since no single organisation knows all the answers. There is no point striving to be the best if your heart isn’t in it. People just won’t engage with you.

Value people over technology

We, therefore, cannot allow technology to devalue people, drive fear through political ideologies, divide communities, threaten job security, or take away pride in work. When digital technologies encourage online addictions, force hard-working people into bankruptcy, or increase suicide rates we have reached a new low in our relationship with each other.

People will never replace technology because we all need to live. But, we do have some urgent ethical, moral and difficult questions to ask ourselves. Finding the answers – if there are answers – will require us to search deep into our hearts and souls to understand what makes us human. We may not like what we find. We are not all equal, can’t all be astronauts or famous, life is unfair and no-one owes us a living. We all have a private life and society doesn’t own us. There are evil people around us who won’t change, can’t change. That’s why every person, business and organisations needs cybersecurity when interacting online and why we must give our intelligence and security services the appropriate tools to bring them to justice.

Most people are good, decent citizens who just want things to work properly and for people to feel included. We can all learn from each other, be kinder, more considerate and make that small difference that leads to big change. One of society’s biggest assets is young people, our next-generation employees, employers, entrepreneurs, consumers, citizens, and taxpayers. They are already thinking, acting and using digital technologies in much smarter ways.

Political complacency

Political, business and community leaders should ignore their voices at their peril! When leaders become complacent, detached and do not take people on the journey with them they lose power and control. Cue Sweden’s climate change activist Greta Thunberg and the European Union’s failure to win over Brexit supporters! Research already shows that 80 percent of young people will only work for organisations that have strong corporate social responsibility. The push towards local devolution, democracy, and accountability is already gathering momentum – we know around 40% of young people up to 35 years old still living in the family home due to the rising costs of living.

Digital technologies must inspire a ‘local enterprise nation’ which builds the skills and knowledge base to allow businesses to compete in global markets, public authorities to deliver better and more efficient public services, and enable us all to take responsibility and deal with the challenges closer to home. Globalisation may become a thing of the past as more top brands follow the examples set by Amazon, Ebay, Mastercard and Visa to move into local markets, sourcing and supporting goods and services originating from here. The UK has become an enterprising, one nation of back-bedroom, kitchen-table-top, garage and garden-shed businesses physically situated everywhere.

Let’s hope 2020 is the start of a new decade which brings profound changes in our use of digital technologies that have far-reaching consequences to improve all our lives. Digital technologies are breaking down outdated political, economic and social barriers that prevent us all from achieving our full potential. Let’s work smarter when using them, with a bit more tolerance, respect, and understanding towards each other.

A happy and prosperous new year to you all.