A host of technologies such as IoT, artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, 3D printing has unleashed a technological revolution. Also, miniaturization, faster computer processing and broadband network expansion are playing a big role in all this. As these technologies mature, they will have a great impact on the agriculture and food habits, climate and environment, medicine and health, and much more. I believe all that is identifiable as local and regional will be better understood in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. To be pragmatic in preparing for the 4IR, we must begin to align with businesses that complement in capabilities and resources to better face the changes when they come.
Google has shown the remarkable ability to use geospatial to dominate; this has more to do with its business model than innovation. Today, location information has penetrated all spheres of our lives, but in an unobtrusive way. Till recently, before the advent of Cloud platforms, IT and engineering companies had to share internal data with geospatial companies to generate maps and reports. And this was usually a situation that these companies did not want. Today, that is changing, and you will find many big companies developing their own geospatial capabilities.
