BUSINESSES must play catch-up with emerging technologies if they want to remain relevant in this era of artificial intelligence, automation and e-commerce, with top brass’ adoption of latest trends crucial to driving growth.

Speaking at the BusinessWorld Economic Forum 2019 on Thursday, Ayala Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said businesses must be proactive in adapting to new technologies, lest they run the risk of becoming irrelevant.

“Businesses should realize that what brought us success in the past will not be the same issues or factors what will bring us success in the future… Technological infrastructure has introduced a whole new way of addressing consumer needs quickly and efficiently,” Mr. Zobel said in his keynote speech during the forum held at the Grand Hyatt Manila hotel in Taguig City.

Mr. Zobel said his group has consistently embraced innovation, enabling it to remain in business for the last 185 years.