| |December 20168CIOReviewIN MY OPINIONThe Data Only GenerationBy Amitabh Ray, Managing Director, Ericsson Global Services India was travelling for the last two weeks and I suddenly discovered that I have stayed connected quite regularly with colleagues and my near and dear ones every day and yet my phone bill wasn't overwhelming in any way. I was mostly communicating through Wi-Fi and consuming data. I was, as I discovered, a member of the Data Only Generation. This is a generation that intuitively relies on data and algorithms to drive just about every choice they make. From researching high-ranking restaurants on Trip Advisor, to harnessing crowdsourced GPS data to optimize their driving route onWaze, millennials don't view data as a nice to have; rather, they see information and analytics as necessary resources to help them thrive as citizens and consumers. They want data available to them at all times to make the most informed decisions possible, and they expect the same access to information and insights to guide decisions in their professional lives. They won't accept an organization that chooses to go with their gut instinct over data to drive key business decisions. And technology has done more than simply build a generation of data-dependent decision makers; it is IAmitabh Ray is an astute professional with 20 years cross-functional rich experience in corporate strategy, management consulting, program & engagement management, change management & systems integration. Presently, he is working as MD at Ericsson Global Services India and is responsible for managing operations in the areas of R&D, product development, pre-sales & sales support, services delivery and a number of global shared support functions.also responsible for creating the most collaborative generation in history. Immersed in social media, millennials are accustomed to being connected at all times. They eagerly publicize their choices and opinions online, and they crave constant dialogue and feedback from their personal and professional networks. They expect the same data-backed, cross-departmental connection and collaboration to help them drive innovation and optimize outcomes in the workplace.This has been fueled by the growth in smartphone usage. It took over five years to reach the first billion smartphone subscriptions, a milestone that was passed in 2012, and less than two years to reach the second billion. This growth will continue, fueled by massive growth in markets such as the Middle East and Africa, where smartphone subscriptions are expected to increase more than 200 percent in 2015­2021 according to Ericsson Mobility Report. According to Deloitte Global more than a quarter of smartphone users in developed markets
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