The COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years has contributed to accelerating financial digital transformation and spreading cultural awareness to customers, and has demonstrated the critical importance of digital technology in all aspects of life, which will affect traditional employment.

Digital transformation was an option for many governments after long periods of closure, bans and divergence, as it was a real test of their digital capabilities and ability to absorb employment, which was discussed in one of the sessions of the Fintech Financial Technology Conference in the Middle East organized by the Qatar Association of Certified Public Accountants.

The future of the human element in light of the expansion of digital services seems unclear, and some believe that it will abolish some traditional jobs, while others say that it will not significantly affect employment, especially in light of finding a new type of worker commensurate with digital development.

The head of the investment department at Qatar Development Bank, Mohamed Al-Emadi, confirms that the crisis of the Corona pandemic has benefited the State of Qatar well in accelerating business, whether in institutions, banks or companies, by relying on digital services, considering that it caused the emergence of great opportunities that contributed significantly to the economy, It helped improve the business model of many companies, as well as the shift to more technology.

Al-Emadi ruled out that there would be negative effects on the human element (Al-Jazeera)

Al-Emadi said, in a statement to Al-Jazeera Net, that there will be no negative impact on the human element from the expansion of the use of digital services, but rather it will create many opportunities, whether for individuals or companies to benefit from them and provide innovative and new services.

positive side

He adds that the risks of implementing digital services exist in any new experience, but in the presence of appropriate governance in any technology, we will overcome these risks and take advantage of the positive side of technology and move away from its negatives.

The great challenge in implementing digital services is the rapid adaptation of the human element to the changing world of technology, which is constantly and rapidly evolving, according to Al-Emadi.

In turn, the regional director of business development in the Middle East for the British Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Malik Sarie El-Din, believes that the Corona pandemic has affected all countries, governments and all sectors, especially financial, in light of the importance of financial technology "fintech" and its role in the conduct of daily life.

Sarie Al-Din said, in a statement to Al Jazeera Net, that the pandemic contributed at the same time to customers' acceptance of digital service, but there is a large gap in the financial technology sector, digital services and the skills of employees who are in dire need of acquiring new skills to keep pace with digital development.

The digital services session witnessed interaction from the attendees (Al Jazeera)

new opportunities

Sarie El-Din believes that the expansion of the use of digital services and the creation of digital branches by some banks would affect one way or another on the human element without causing unemployment, but he stressed at the same time that this matter, as it will reduce some opportunities, will create new opportunities.

The human element is the one who produces digital technology, and it is he who sets the rules and laws for it, and its use may reduce traditional employment, but it will produce other job opportunities, especially since technology needs a human element in order to manage it, according to Sarie Al-Din.

Technology and digital transformation threaten the disappearance of some traditional jobs in the financial sector "Fintech", especially administrative ones, to be replaced by artificial intelligence and electronic services via the Internet, in exchange for the emergence of a new type of jobs that keep pace with digital systems.

Jawad calls on society to eradicate its technological illiteracy to keep pace with digital services (Al-Jazeera)

Transformation acceleration

For his part, the Vice President of the Omani Accountants Association, Dr. Muhammad Rida Jawad, believes that the Corona pandemic has contributed greatly to accelerating digital transformation and reliance on digital and electronic systems in light of the interruption of communication between the world.

Jawad said, in a statement to Al Jazeera Net, that digital transformation and artificial intelligence will have a role in influencing traditional jobs in the financial sector in the coming years, but slightly, especially when appropriately dealing with the matter.

He ruled out completely dispensing with human resources in favor of digital systems, expecting to dispense with only some categories and job titles, while creating new titles and opportunities at the same time.

According to Jawad, the risks of digital services are many and varied in light of the lack of experience for many, so we urgently need to have strict regulations and laws that apply to those who violate the use of these systems.

Technological literacy

As for the member of the Kuwait Society of Accountants and Auditors, Ali Owaid, calls on the society to eradicate its technological illiteracy in order to keep pace with the digital transformation in various sectors, especially the financial, and not to be affected by this matter in the future and forcing the employee to lose his job or his functional advantages.

Owaid told Al Jazeera Net that the use of digital services will affect the human element in a different way, and its impact will only be on those who are ignorant of technology, but those who master it will be in greater demand.

He added that technology over time will lead to the gradual disappearance of some traditional jobs in the next stage, such as what happened before with the disappearance of some skills and professions, and then they will be replaced by tasks related to technology.

He believes that the Corona pandemic was the password to accelerate digital transformation and rely on electronic systems in all aspects of life, especially in light of saving time and effort and maintaining safety.