Mishal Alzahrani

ID: 202211674

College of Business (CoB)

MIS 201 Introduction to MIS

Assignment
Marks: 2.5%

Research Question

“Since the launch of Vision 2030, unprecedented changes throughout Saudi Arabia have
reshaped what it means to live in the Kingdom. Such remarkable change and growth are
driven in part by the National Transformation Program. From digitizing government
services to save time and effort, to promoting an inclusive private sector which prioritizes
your financial security, the Program is creating a diversified, innovative, and world-leading
nation… The Program is accelerating the Kingdom’s digital transformation, too: from
starting an online business in just three minutes to attending court sessions from the comfort
of your home, changes like these help meet your needs, wherever you are.”

Discuss the above quote and describe some major digital transformation in Saudi Arabia.
Present your personal experience in discussion.

Purpose: It is to enable students become aware of Digital Transformation Program and 2030
Vision in general.

Grading Guideline:

1% Content
0.5% words; 500 max
1% Recent Reference; 2 max
*No assignment will be accepted after the due date.

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Mishal Alzahrani
ID: 202211674
The above quote discusses the role of digital transformation in achieving goals of vision 2030
(e.g., becoming a knowledge-based economy instead a natural resources-based economy), this
is achieved mainly through innovation. Saudi Arabia has been a leader in innovation especially
in the oil and gas industry, but since the launch of vision 2030 in 2016, Saudi Arabia has been
striving to become a leader, and has become a leader in digitization of government and public
services, in addition to initiatives to embrace evolving technologies (e.g., 4th industrial
revolution technologies) which are major drivers and enablers of digital transformation in Saudi
Arabia. Some of the digital transformation examples in Saudi Arabia are:

Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) online services:

- National single sign-in services (Nafath): access to government and private services,
biometric verification service, activation of digital national service [Absher]
- Ehsan services (Quick donation, Zakat, Orphan sponsorship)
- Tawakkalna services (Dashboard, digital documents, organ donation, my resume)
- I personally used Absher to renew my passport in minutes, and get it delivered to my
home, without the need for multiple visits to the General Directorate of Passports.

Use of machine learning, artificial intelligence:

- Used by Saudi Aramco for industrial applications to improve effectiveness of existing
“advanced process control systems.” (Saudi Aramco, 2024).
- Used by SDAIA in data collection and AI applications throughout Saudi government
and private sectors, for better analytics, to help make Saudi a leader in AI and achieve
Saudi 2030 vision, through reliance on data and analytics to make better informed
decisions. (SDAIA, 2024).

Big data and supercomputing:

- 2021 unveiling of Aramco-STC Dammam-7 supercomputer; 10th most powerful
publicly known supercomputer in the world.

Drones and robotics:

- Used by Aramco in routine safety-check operations of industrial gas emissions.
- Military applications (Sea and Air drones)

Internet and Industrial Internet of things (IoT and IIoT):

- Tawakkalna warning of near-by people that might have COVID-19
- Used by Aramco to monitor and improve oil-well performance (Saudi Aramco, 2024)

3D printing (additive manufacturing):

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Mishal Alzahrani
ID: 202211674
- printing of prototypes/spare parts on site, without having to wait for spare part
delivery, which can sometimes take 1 year. (Saudi Aramco, 2024).

Blockchain technology:
- Secure method for storing records and exchanging documents.
- Used by Aramco in oil fields and refineries to “improve performance”, and “reconcile
smart contracts with vendors.” (Saudi Aramco, 2024)

Digital twin:
- Digital twin of an asset or a process that can be used for research and testing
purposes.
- Used by Aramco in R&D, and is being investigated by health experts, since the idea
of creating a digital human twin to improve patient quality of care is appealing.

Cloud computing:
- “… Our cloud-based platform solution, eMarketPlace, aims to deliver crucial digital
capabilities across supply chains in the Kingdom.” (Saudi Aramco, 2024)

References:

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Mishal Alzahrani
ID: 202211674
1. Saudi Aramco (2024). Digital technologies: Digital transformation is blurring the lines
between the physical, digital, and biological spheres. https://www.aramco.com/en/what-
we-do/energy-innovation/digitalization/digital-technologies
2. Saudi Data & AI Authority (2024). Services and Products Directory.
https://sdaia.gov.sa/en/Services/Pages/ServicesGuideline.aspx

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