The document discusses key opportunities and challenges in the digital economy globally. It notes that the digital economy is paving innovative ways for corporations to improve business through easier collaboration, communication, search, and planning. Communications technology spending and use is increasing around the world, with countries investing to boost their economies. The adoption of cloud technology is allowing businesses to cut costs while improving security. Social media use is also growing rapidly globally and presents opportunities for businesses to engage with consumers, though creating distinctive content is a challenge.

1. Navigating the Digital Economy
Key Opportunities & Challenges
Central &
Eastern Europe
Asia/Pacific Middle East/AfricaWestern Europe
$753B $162B $1T $228B
The digital economy paves innovative ways for corporations on a global scale to improve the traditional business
world. By providing easier B2B collaboration, communication, search, and strategy planning, the digital economy
will change the way we do business altogether.
Communications Technology
Digital is increasingly becoming the leading form of communication, especially for businesses. Countries are recognizing that they
need to invest in communications technologies, such as internet servers, telephone lines, and wireless signals, in order to boost
their own economies.
Latin America
$302B
North America
$1T
Communications Technology Spending by Country (USD in billions)
Spend

2. Global Cloud Traffic
With the expanding development of cloud technology, businesses will be able to cut down on costs that initially stemmed from IT
obstacles. Additionally, businesses can consolidate their data using this technology, which will then improve cyber security and
information security.
Year
GlobalCloudTraffic(inexabytes)
Global Cloud Traffic 2013-2018
2013
0.00
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

3. Social Media Users Worldwide
Social media goes beyond social sharing or reputation management. It’s a way for businesses to engage with consumers. The global
number of social network users is projected to be 2.4 billion in 2018, a 24% increase from 2015.
The challenge for businesses now is to create original and unique social content that will stand out from the crowd.
2011 2012 2013 2014
Year
SocialNetworkUsers(inmillions)
0.00
100.00
200.00
300.00
400.00
500.00
600.00
700.00
800.00
900.00
Growth of Social Network Users Worldwide from 2011-2014

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Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter
Frequency(%)
0.00
50.00
100.00
Frequency of Social Media Use by Platform
People spend an average of 2
hours & 3 minutes on social
media every day
77% of those people use social
media on a mobile device
28%of the global population is
on social media