The physical and digital worlds will converge, co-mingle, and spring into action as businesses and government agencies demonstrate the latest in transformative technologies at GITEX, October 14–18, at the Dubai World Trade Center-the biggest technology exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

As MENA governments and businesses take a bigger leadership position on transformative technologies, GITEX is attracting a larger global audience. Last year, more than 470,000 professionals attended, and each year attracts more attendees from outside the region.

This year we expect to see a maturation of the physical-to-digital transformation taking place in the public and private sectors, with a big step toward tangible applications of blockchain, intelligent automation, digital simulation, predictive analytics, and other game-changing technologies. Specific GITEX sessions are planned around the themes of augmented/virtual reality, smart cities, Industry 4.0, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

The cloud also will be a frequent topic of discussion, and our message for finance professionals will be simple: To use these advanced technologies, you need cloud systems as your digital core, a foundation on top of which you can build and expand. Without cloud-based ERP and EPM, it's extremely challenging to leverage these new technologies.

This, too, is a maturation. While on-premises ERP and other business applications might still technically "work" at the enterprise level, companies clinging to them are missing out on more valuable benefits-including higher ROI, lower costs, and the competitive advantages of always-up-to-date finance technology.