Event Recap: Tomorrow’s Tech Empowering Business

On Thursday September 18, Norwich Business Improvement District (BID) hosted our annual City Conversations conference focusing on how tomorrow’s technology is empowering businesses. Held at The Assembly House, the event explored how emerging technologies from AI to quantum computing are reshaping the way we work, live and do business.

Refining Progress: Industry 4.0 and 5.0

Following an introduction by the BID’s Executive Director Stefan Gurney on the latest projects we have been undertaking over the past year, Ojay MacDonald, CEO of the Association of Town and City Management, opened the event by examining the ongoing tension between Industry 4.0 and 5.0.

Ojay highlighted the democratisation of technology, where advances in “plug and play” systems are enabling innovation not just from global tech giants but from everyday users. DeepSeek, the Chinese AI model created at a fraction of the cost and computing power of its Western counterparts, is an example of how quickly the field is evolving. AI is revolutionising healthcare, urban planning, and more by enhancing efficiency and sustainability.​

Yet alongside the opportunities there are several risks which cannot be ignored, including the risks of polarisation, manipulation, and the blurring of truth and fiction.  AI-generated personas and misinformation pose ethical and societal challenges.​ Ojay therefore noted that the transition from Industry 4.0 to 5.0 will not be a smooth one, but rather a “fractious tug of war.”

Next up, there was a lively panel discussion exploring how emerging technologies are being applied across different sectors. Hayley Johnson from Artlist told how AI is freeing up the team to focus on more complex tasks, Inspector Jim Stevenson from the Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre explained how business can stay secure in a rapidly evolving threat landscape, and John Farley (IBoxit, Zyvex, Ankose, Ediform) spoke of how his businesses leverage technology to accelerate scientific innovation.

Unlocking AI for Your Business

Speaking after the coffee break, Giancarlo Erra, Lead AI Consultant at Altaire, offered practical guidance for businesses beginning their journey with artificial intelligence.

Giancarlo advised businesses to look at their own operations and identify the simplest, most repetitive tasks, and ask whether these could be automated. Starting small makes adoption more manageable and less daunting.

From there, he encouraged experimenting with free, accessible tools that are already available. Businesses don’t necessarily need a developer to get started; what matters is trying out prototypes and seeing how they work in practice. Finally, when deploying AI more widely, Giancarlo stressed the importance of privacy and security. Integration must always be done in a compliant and secure way to protect both businesses and their customers.

Here are the 4 tips Giancarlo gave for unlocking AI for your business…

• Understand It – Demystify the technology and its limits.
• Start Simple – Identify simple, repetitive processes that could be automated.
• Test It – Experiment with free tools and rapid prototypes.
• Be Aware of Security – Integrate solutions securely and in compliance with regulations.

Future Forward: Technology Trends Shaping the Next Decade

Naily Makangu, Director at Athena Leaders, looked ahead to the technologies set to transform business over the coming years. She noted that adoption of AI among UK SMEs is rising quickly, with 39% now using the technology compared with 26% in 2024. The scale of change is not limited to AI alone; by 2030, there are expected to be 40 billion connected Internet of Things (IoT) devices worldwide, more than double the 18.8 billion in 2024. Meanwhile, quantum computing is beginning to move from theory to practice, with Phasecraft recently securing a £1.2 million UK Government contract to develop a quantum-based solution for energy grids.

To illustrate how quickly technology can change society, Makangu reflected on the pace of past innovations: “Back in 1903 we were wondering whether the horse and cart was going to take over, and now we are about to see self-driving cars in London.” The future is arriving faster than many expect, whether through renewable energy technologies, quantum computing, or AI.

Despite her enthusiasm for technological progress, Makangu stressed the importance of taking a measured approach. By experimenting with a single technology, simplifying the workflow, and gradually bringing teams along, organisations can upskill staff and embrace digital transformation in a safe and sustainable way.

Here are 3 practical tips Naily gave to safely start with AI…

• MAP before you leap → Don’t start with tools. Start with your processes. Where is time being lost? Where do mistakes happen? The best AI projects begin with clarity on how things REALLY work today and how you can improve how you deliver to your customers.
• Pick ONE thing → The biggest mistake SMEs make is trying to “do AI everywhere.” Start small. Choose one process, then one slice of that process, and experiment there first.
• EXPERIMENT… but make it FUN → AI adoption isn’t just about efficiency, it’s about mindset. One way I help my clients is by running short “experimentation labs”, e.g. a Friday afternoon once a month where the team tackles one specific task but also has space to play. This builds confidence, connection, surfaces ideas you wouldn’t expect, and keeps adoption safe.

The morning painted a picture of rapid technological change, brimming with both opportunities and challenges. From democratised AI tools to quantum computing breakthroughs, tomorrow’s tech is already here. For businesses, the key is to start small, stay secure, and harness innovation in a way that brings people and processes along for the journey.

Photo credits: Beth Mosely Photography