IDC Directions 2021 Canada

Delivering Digital Resiliency in a Changed World

Canada, April 22, 2021
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Overview

As we navigate the challenges of a changing world, digital resiliency will be critical for Canadian organizations transitioning to the next normal. Over the next two years, leading enterprises will focus on digital resiliency: the ability to rapidly adapt to business disruptions, leverage digital capabilities to accelerate business operations, and automate processes to quickly take advantage of changed conditions and capitalize on new market opportunities. By 2022, their workforces, products and services, anywhere and everywhere, must be based on a digital delivery model or leverage AI/ML-based digital augmentation to remain competitive.

Thank you for joining us on the afternoon of April 22 as IDC Canada's thought leaders presented their expert insights, intelligence and guidance for finding success in the next normal. This virtual event is focused on the Canadian tech market and explores how digital transformation and the pandemic are changing both businesses and customers in Canada. Key topics addressed include: the future enterprise, digital resiliency, digital innovation, and the future of digital infrastructure. We also explore the status of Canadian organizations on the road to recovery, look at shifting priorities and provide an update on the status of spending in the Canadian tech market. There was also a CXO panel focused on real-life examples of Canadian companies using tech to transform themselves and become more resilient for what lies ahead. In addition, we've added a popular feature from our past events in a new virtual format - there was a Live AskIDC Q&A panel at the conclusion of the event, where the audience could pose questions about the Canadian tech market to our expert analysts. 

With 65% of global GDP digitalized by the end of 2022, let IDC help ensure that you are positioned to help organizations achieve the digital resiliency required to not just survive business disruptions, but to thrive. Did you know that the majority of large Canadian businesses are already thinking beyond the pandemic? Join us on April 22 to better understand what's happening in the Canadian market and how you can help your customers succeed in 2021 and beyond.

This year's IDC Directions Canada Virtual Event is being offered complimentary to all registrants (a C$200 value).


Event Highlights


We would like to thank all the delegates and the partners who participated at this event.

A selected group of IT and business leaders came together to network and learn from IDCs analysts, inspiring speakers and dedicated advisory board members, who were at the forefront of the lively and interactive discussion.

If you missed the event or if you would like more information on any of the topics we discussed, click the button below to watch a recording or access the post-event content.


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Key Topics

The IDC Directions 2021 Canada virtual event will provide essential guidance on:

 

 

Future Enterprise

 

Future of Digital Innovation

 

Future of Digital Infrastructure

 

Future of Intelligence

 

Digital Transformation

Agenda

All agenda times listed below are Eastern Daylight Time (or UTC-4). Click on the arrow (v) beside each session title to see the related session description.

 

Time Event & Speakers
13:00

Opening Comments from IDC and TECHNATION

Lars Goransson

Managing Director, IDC Canada

Angela Mondou

President and CEO, TECHNATION
13:10

Digital Resiliency: Adapting to Competitive Forces & Creating an Autonomous Enterprise

Richard Villars

Group Vice President, Worldwide Research

Join IDC’s Group Vice President, Worldwide Research, Rick Villars as he provides IDC’s outlook for overall IT demand and discusses how this is being shaped by companies moving from a singular focus on digital transformation to digital resiliency. He will look at the role technology will play as organizations adapt their work, security, apps and infrastructure in a digitally driven economy. Rick will also discuss the implications of new technology solutions built on an adaptive, self-regulating, cloud-centric foundation and the use of proactive AI/ML-powered analytics. These will become the basis for enabling digital resiliency and digital transformation at the IT, business, and even industrywide levels.

13:35

Balancing Innovation & Resiliency in Canada

Megha Kumar

Research Director, Software & Cloud Services

The need to be digitally resilient is now more critical than ever before. However, Canadian organizations are under pressure to innovate while sustaining business operations. Increasingly, cloud services are crucial to drive transformation and build out innovations that will take them forward in the next normal. IDC Canada's Megha Kumar will exam research into cloud services, and innovation. She will also introduce the framework that organizations can consider when they seek to build out their digital innovation supply chain. 

14:00

Shifting Digital Priorities & Technology Spending in Canada

Tony Olvet

Group Vice President, Research

In response to the pandemic and its impact on the economy, customer demands, employee workspaces and supply chains, organizations have had no choice but to adapt and rapidly transform. Even with the prospect of a post-pandemic recovery on the horizon, many of the digital-centric behaviours we have adopted will be permanent, influencing business priorities and a corresponding shift in IT decision-making and spending in Canada. Investments in digital technologies surged during the pandemic and IDC forecasts that this trend will continue, but the application of these vital technologies will vary across industries and functional areas. Join IDC Canada’s Tony Olvet as he shares compelling insights and trends to watch in Canada in 2021 and beyond. 

14:25

Expo & Digital Networking Break (10 mins)

14:35

Canadian Executive Panel: Perspectives for 2021 and Beyond - Actions, Opportunities and Challenges

Alizabeth Calder

Research Adjunct Advisor, IDC

Rita Lazar-Tippe

Director of Information, Data Insights, AI Innovation & IT Operations, Alberta Pensions Services Corp.

Cam Crosbie

Chief Information Officer, Equitable Life

John Comacchio

Senior Vice President & CIO, Teknion

Mike Glover

Head of Technology (Fractional), AECO Innovation Lab

What’s on the minds of Canadian executives to succeed as vaccines role out and the economy reopens? 

Our Canadian executive panelists will discuss the actions, opportunities and challenges they anticipate for the rest of 2021 and into 2022. Join us to uncover: 

  • Actions to prepare for the rest of this year 
  • Expected opportunities and responses
  • Anticipated customer demands and actions 
  • Impact of reopening on employee dynamics
  • Digital Vision for 2022.

Audience questions are encouraged! Don’t miss your chance compare your future digital outlook with our those of our panel. The Canadian executive panel will be moderated by IDC's Alizabeth Calder, Research Adjunct Advisor.

Canadian Executive Panelists (Confirmed):

  • Rita Lazar-Tippe, Director of Information, Data Insights, AI Innovation & IT Operations, Alberta Pensions Services Corp.
  • Cam Crosbie, CIO, Equitable Life
  • John Comacchio, Senior VP & CIO, Teknion
  • Mike Glover, Head of Technology (Fractional), AECO Innovation Lab

 

 

15:20

Break (5m)

15:25

AskIDC Live Q&A Panel

Richard Villars

Group Vice President, Worldwide Research

Megha Kumar

Research Director, Software & Cloud Services

Jason Bremner

Research VP, Industry and Business Solutions

Nigel Wallis

Research Vice President, IoT & Industries

Tony Olvet

Group Vice President, Research

Come prepared to ask our team of analysts your burning questions about the Canadian tech market via the chat function and watch as our knowledgeable experts respond during this live session. Today’s presenters will be joined by 2 of IDC’s most sought after experts, Jason Bremner and Nigel Wallis. Our AskIDC panel will consist of the following senior IDC analysts: Rick Villars, GVP Worldwide Research; Tony Olvet, GVP Canada Research; Jason Bremner, Research VP, Business & Industry Solutions; Nigel Wallis, Research VP, IoT & Industries; and Megha Kumar, Research Director, Software & Cloud Services. If you have research question, we’ll engage the team to try to answer it, similar to our AskIDC Inquiry Desk for subscription clients.

15:50

Closing Comments

Lars Goransson

Managing Director, IDC Canada
16:00

Expo & Digital Networking Available (30 minutes)

Partners

Strategic Partner
Strategic Partner
Strategic Partner

General Information

 

Thursday, April 22, 2021

 

 

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET

 

 

Virtual Event on Hopin

 

 

Language
English

Registration Fee
This year's IDC Directions Canada Virtual Event is being offered complimentary to all registrants (a C$200 value). 

 

 

 

Event Benefits

This year’s attendees will benefit from the following:

  • An interative virtual event experience on the Hopin platform, including presentations, digital networking and virtual booths in our Expo Area
  • Get intelligence and guidance to identify growth opportunities in the Canadian market
  • Accelerated knowledge of trends, current solutions, services and strategies to stay ahead of your competitors
  • Connect with IDC analysts through presentations and digital Q&A 
  • Opportunities to digitally network, learn and share with colleagues, analysts and potential business partners
  • Forward-thinking keynotes and candid panel discussions from industry leaders, peer executives and visionaries in the digital transformation space
  • Post-event, online access to Directions presentations

 

Who Attends: 

IDC Directions Canada is attended by executives from ICT companies, technology professionals, and members of the investment community, interested in the Canadian tech market, including those in: Executive management, IT, marketing/business development, product management, strategy and planning, financial services, and more.

Awards

In December 2020, IDC was named as the Analyst Firm of the Year, 2020 from the Institute of Industry Analyst Relations (IIAR) based on its breadth of research, global coverage, and the quality of insights.

More firms trusted IDC for guidance last year than any other analyst firm.  

Trust IDC to be your strategic partner in 2021.

 

Contact Us

Barbara Hall

Associate Vice President

+1 (416) 673-2296

Cristina Santander

Manager, Marketing & Customer Experience

+1 (416) 673-2235

About IDC

57 Years | 1300 Analysts | 110 Countries

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,300 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading media, data and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com.