‘The added value of digital transformation will be very significant’

Organized since 2012 by Capital, Ekonomist and Start Up magazines, the International Economy Summit (UEZ 2026) is being held for the 15th time this year, hosting respected politicians, business leaders, and academics from Türkiye and around the world.

Held under the theme ‘The Great Transformation: A Compass for the Transition to a Resilient and Sustainable Global System’, the second day of the summit also saw strong participation.

The third panel of the second day, sponsored by Tera Finance Group, was titled ‘Digital Transformation Leaders: Building the Company of the Future.’

The panel, sponsored by Mia Teknoloji, was moderated by Mehmet N. Erten, Founding Partner of Erten&Erten and former Chairman of the Board of Tekfen Holding. Erten said, “Digital transformation continues to be one of the key topics in the business world today. In the next three years, a large portion of technology investments will be directed toward artificial intelligence. We will discuss together what the companies of tomorrow will look like.”

Speaking at the opening of the panel, Turkcell CEO Dr. Ali Taha Koç said; “5G technology is known for its high speed—that is one dimension. Its economic dimension is that it can be used in critical and industrial sectors. It makes very important contributions to efficiency. 4G was a communication technology. 5G is a technology designed for both people and machines. With 5G, we have reached a level where billions of devices can be connected. What does this mean? It means efficiency. Decision-making speed also increases. If we are thinking about efficiency and long-term profitability, we need to use this. We can now perform remote and autonomous operations. There will be a distinction between factories with 5G and those without. Fast internet is required to increase commercial production in homes.”

KOÇ: DATA MUST BE PROTECTED AND STORED SECURELY

Koç emphasized the importance of data; “Today everyone talks about artificial intelligence, but for AI to work, you first need to collect data. And to collect data, sensors must be connected. Artificial intelligence is the next stage. First, you need to make your factory smart and connected in order to truly create added value and a multiplier effect. We believe the added value of digital transformation will be very significant. Because you can move much more easily from idea to product. For example, if you have a capital of 10 units and spend it entirely on infrastructure, you cannot invest in anything else. We say: keep that 10 units. With a pay-as-you-go model, test your ideas with low costs, generate new ideas, but don’t be forced to make large investments upfront. There are technologies required to generate data—5G is one of them. Once this data is created, it gains value. You must protect it and store it securely. We have invested €600 million in data centers. Creating value from data happens through artificial intelligence and cloud computing. The strategic value generated from this data will be built by our companies and startups.”

GÜLER: AS TELECOM GROWS, IT DRIVES ECONOMIC GROWTH

Google Cloud Country Manager A. Önder Güler said; “Our collaboration with Turkcell has become one of the best examples globally. Google Cloud will invest $2 billion in Türkiye over the next 10 years. This investment reflects confidence in Türkiye’s economy. If you have concerns about keeping your data within Türkiye, this is a very important investment. As your telecom network grows, it brings growth to the economy. You redefine technology from the ground up. Managing companies with real-time data makes a real difference. You can bring technologies here that solve problems on a planetary scale. The presence of these platforms will enable greater adoption in regulated sectors such as banking and healthcare. We will deliver significant benefits across all institutions within the next 1–2 years.”

ACAR: WITHOUT TRUST, EVERYTHING YOU DO BECOMES WORTHLESS

MediaMarkt Türkiye CEO Hulusi Acar spoke about the company’s operations; “We connect customers with products from various suppliers. We operate with a 50-year-old retail model. We have been adapting our retail model for 50 years. Essentially, we deliver a product manufactured somewhere to another person. Our business model is based on this. If there is a lack of trust, everything you do becomes worthless instantly. In retail, our most important investment is in personalization. We are shifting from price competition to trust competition. When a customer shops with you, they want to know: I can buy online, send it to any address; if it breaks, I can return it to the store, they will repair it, and if I wish, send it to my winter home. When I return a product, the refund is instantly credited to my account. I face no difficulties throughout the process; everything runs smoothly. Artificial intelligence affects us in several ways. AI is essential for us to ensure the right product is available in the right place. In our sector, price is highly sensitive for customers. You may build trust, but if the price is high, customers will question it. You must invest in all technologies and optimize them.”