The 21st century is the age of innovations. It is marked by their rapid growth – they have become an integral part of life, helping people solve problems and fully recognised as the foundation for global sustainable economic development. Digital transformation is taking place in nearly all sectors of the world economy – manufacturing, finance, services, education, infrastructure and the social sphere, among others.
The main tools to enable digital transformation are the creation of the IT sector, the development of innovative methods and cybersecurity. This transition to a brand new economy is done by automating all processes of data processing. The Internet of things, big data, artificial intelligence, monitoring systems, blockchain, neural networks, 3D modelling, virtual reality, cloud computing and many other tools contribute to the integration of all data flows to create an information society.
For this purpose, Turkmenistan is implementing the Digital Economy Conception for 2019–2025 and the State Digital Economy Programme for 2021–2025. The Turkmen leader notes the transition to a digital platform is one of the key vectors of the state policy. Its main aim is to create an effective management system capable of meeting the needs of the economy and modern society.
Undoubtedly, digitalisation is the key to fulfilling the priority tasks of sustainable development. The digital market is one of the world’s fastest growing and most popular employment sectors, particularly among young people.
This means the adoption of information and communication technologies in all sectors in order to increase the competitiveness of Turkmen economy. Among the essential provisions of the Digital Economy Conception is the strengthening of its foundations, i.e. Internet support services. This is a key factor for the transition to digitalisation. Studying and adopting advanced international practices and progressive approaches, Turkmenistan has set the goal of developing its own digital model, i.e. based not only on the import of ready-made solutions and know-how, but also on its own research, technological and intellectual potential.
Innovative technologies are designed and updated annually. For example, smart terminals are smart online cash registers that can perform a sales analysis, forecast demand, automate inventory and perform other operations. It is also a type of online cash registers with a touch screen. Externally, the smart terminal resembles a tablet with a built-in printer for printing receipts. Smart terminals developed by Turkmen specialists have a wide range of functionality: contactless payment, mobile use and the opportunity to make transactions with any payment card and, importantly, to receive reports instantly, to support 2G/3G/4G mobile Internet and process online payments. Thus, it simultaneously works as a banking terminal and a cash register.
Today, digitalisation covers all areas: from shopping at online stores to the construction of a smart city. The national leader notes, in line with the ongoing large-scale reforms in the country and the Economic Digitalisation Conception, the connection between science, education and production should be strengthened, and special attention should be paid to training highly qualified personnel and introducing and studying new specialities.
Maral Gulmyradova.
lecturer of the Department of Applied Mathematics and Informatics
of the Turkmen State University named after Magtymguly.