Technology Strategy and Business Planning Manager at the National Commercial Bank Financial Group, Arvel Grant, has always been passionate about technology. His love for tech began when his father bought the family’s first computer when he was a child. Grant started his academic career in information technology, securing a BSc in Computer Science and Electronics and then an MSc in Information Systems at The University of the West Indies. One of the courses, called onformation systems in organisations focused on how companies use technology to improve operational efficiency and led to several roles at the intersection of business and technology.

In Grant’s current capacity as technology strategy and business planning manager at the NCB Financial Group, he liaises with the business operations and technology teams to align the company’s technology strategy and implement initiatives to drive its digital agenda.

During the first nine years of his career, Grant gained valuable experience in big data, information systems, and analytics, working at companies such as Digicel and Pan Caribbean Financial Services (now Sagicor Investments). These experiences broadened his scope and shaped his perspective on how technology can enable an organisation’s strategy and drive its growth. Grant pursued more strategic technology roles in government, working in the Ministry of National Security as the director of technology transformation. He was instrumental in implementing technology systems to modernise police systems, such as JamaicaEye.

Grant sees Jamaica’s digital development as being built on four core pillars — broadband access, digital identity, e-payment systems, and digital literacy. He highlighted that as Jamaica transitions to a digital economy, it would require that society have widespread Internet access to exchange information and services electronically. He noted that there has been progress as telecommunication providers and the Government committed to establishing 189 wireless access points to facilitate free Internet access islandwide. Grant further pointed out that the main risk to access is vandalism of communication infrastructure, whereby an entire community could lose connectivity due to the destruction or theft of telecommunication equipment. He recommends harsher penalties to combat vandalism which he sees as a significant threat to Jamaica’s digital progress.

He also believes that the National Identification System (NIDs) is a critical enabler because it will provide a layer of trust by allowing electronic verification. He regards the digital ID as beneficial in other ways, for example, reducing the need to have a justice of the peace verify a person’s identity. Grant expects the public awareness campaigns will help address the concerns regarding data privacy and that the country will see the benefits of having digital identification.

Grant sees e-payment systems as critical to a digital society and regards the response to the pandemic as positive since it influenced companies to provide digital payment solutions to facilitate ease of doing business online. Grant observed that start-up companies and FinTechs developed and deployed these solutions across the region and predicts these solutions will have much wider adoption.

Grant is convinced that there is a greater need for more initiatives geared toward digital literacy. However, he feels that people need to learn more about how technology can improve their lives daily, while protecting themselves from the risks of the Internet age.

Ultimately, Grant wants to continue implementing technology solutions that impact society. He sees many opportunities for technology to drive Jamaica’s growth. He dedicates himself to advocating for technology solutions to grow the economy and helping support the next generation of tech-savvy youth to ultimately develop Jamaica’s digital society.