The tagline of Andicom 2017, “Reinventing Yourself: The Transformation Is Now,” reflects the theme of the event, which is organized by Bogotá-based CINTEL (Center for Research and Development in Information Technology and Communications) and will be held in the Cartagena Convention Center from August 23-25.

“For CINTEL, it is important that every sector includes ICT and can reinvent themselves to be more competitive,” said Manuel Martínez Niño, executive director of CINTEL.

The Andicom 2017 pre-event ceremony in Bogotá this month highlighted this year’s digital transformation-focused program, which will be headlined by Colombia ITC Minister David Luna. (Credit: Jared Wade)

Keynote speakers — including Colombia’s Minister of Information Technology and Communications David Luna, former head of Kenya’s ICT strategy Bitange Ndemo, and Travelocity Founder Terry Jones — will lead the way in providing invaluable real-world perspectives on how they were able to create major change within their organizations.

Others who will give presentations include: David Rogers, global strategist in digital transformation and author of the bestseller The Digital Transformation Playbook; Mitch Lowe, CEO of MoviePass and a Netflix co-founder; John Howkins, author of The Creative Economy; and Marina Díaz Ibarra, a strategist and former general manager of Mercado Libre.

Through these presentations, on top of many academic sessions, case studies, and networking opportunities, CINTEL is attempting to show attendees how to determine which digital technologies can boost innovation, how to operate within an economy that is undergoing major evolution, and how to establish a more productive internal ecosystem in their organization for transformation.

The event will also include four targeted initiatives under the overall theme: Social ICT, IT Clusters 4.0, Tourism and ICT, and the PwC-CINTEL Business Digital Transformation Award presentation.

Overall, CINTEL lists the following key facts about Andicom 2017:

• More than 900 participating organizations
• More than 2,800 participants from more than 25 countries
• 7 out of 10 attendees are buyers from the private sector, government, and telcos
• More than 120 exhibition areas
• More than 50 academic sessions
• More than 30 business tracks
• More than 40 success stories

The PwC-CINTEL Business Digital Disruption Award will be handed out for the first time this year. The two awarding organizations are aiming to honor Colombian companies that have made significant and tangible changes in terms of improving their digital capabilities and transforming their initiatives, projects, and overall organization.

The application process will remain open through July 31, and the awards will be presented to the winners on August 25 in Cartagena during Andicom 2017.

Specifically, PwC and CINTEL, the acronym of the Bogotá-based Center for Research and Development in Information Technology and Communications, are looking to award Business Digital Transformation Awards to Colombian companies that have made significant and tangible changes in terms of improving their digital capabilities and transforming their initiatives, projects, and overall organization.

The application process will remain open through August 8, and the awards will be presented to the winners on August 25 in Cartagena during Andicom 2017, this year’s edition of Colombia’s largest information and communications technology conference. The spirt of the awards, which are being handed out this year for the first time, align with the digital transformation theme of the 2017 edition of Andicom.

The first ever Business Digital Transformation Awards will be handed out at Andicom 2017 on August 25. (Credit: CINTEL)

Winners will be selected in four categories: large companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, social impact, and digital business of the year. PwC says that the award judges will be looking for success stories that demonstrate six different criteria: impact on people, adoption of digital culture, strategic vision, business models, sustainable models, and use of platforms.

Organized by CINTEL, Andicom 2017 will be held from August 23-25 at the Cartagena Convention Center. With a focus on digital transformation, this year’s event will be headlined by keynote speakers David Luna, the technology minister of Colombia; Bitange Ndemo, the former technology minister of Kenya; Terry Jones, founder of Travelocity; and David Rogers, Columbia Business School professor and author of The Digital Transformation Playbook.

Photo credit: Jared Wade