Tech Titans Present $1 Billion Savings Plan to Trump

Grasping the opportunity to promote their businesses to a new administration, a band of tech CEOs, including IBM's Ginni Rometty, has presented a report to Donald Trump outlining how their products could save the government more than $1 trillion over the next 10 years.

istock-494940062-compressor-1While tech CEOs, more broadly, have reacted coldly to Trump’s election over the last two months, they now appear to be warming to growth opportunities posed by the former businessman and self-described deal-maker.

Rometty stood out from the crowd in November by writing a letter congratulating Trump and detailing how the computer company could help his administration. She has continued this approach as part of the Technology CEO Council, which also includes Dell’s Michael Dell, Intel’s Brian Krzanich and Oracle’s Safra Catz.

When Trump met with industry leaders in New York last month, Rometty handed him a copy of the report, entitled The Government We Need, which can be viewed in full here. The initiative isn’t entirely new: tech titans presented a similar report to the incoming Obama administration eight years ago.

“These trends can make our government more efficient, with a potential $1 trillion in savings, and can empower agencies to provide faster, modern, more personalized services.

“We are living through a period of profound change, where cognitive computing systems and the efficiency of the cloud are transforming entire industries,” Rometty said in a statement. “These trends can make our government more efficient, with a potential $1 trillion in savings, and can empower agencies to provide faster, modern, more personalized services.”

Around $500 billion of savings could be achieved by using technology to improve supply-chain operations, while another $270 billion could be saved by preventing fraud and improper payments, the report said.

Big data analytics combined with cognitive computing could weed out a further $205 billion, while $100 billion could be recouped through the modernization of IT systems. Other measures mentioned by the report include utilizing shared services, improving energy use efficiency and protecting against cyber attacks.

It also recommends that the government appoint a chief information office to spearhead the transformation efforts.

“Advanced information technologies are providing dramatic competitive advantages to businesses in virtually every industry imaginable,” said Micron Technology CEO Mark Durcan, who also is chairman of the council. “Modernizing our infrastructure is critical to out future as a nation.”

The other report signatories include Akamai Technologies’ Tom Leighton, Qualcomm’s Steve Mollenkopf and Xerox’s Jeff Jacobson.


MORE LIKE THIS

  • Get the CEO Briefing

    Sign up today to get weekly access to the latest issues affecting CEOs in every industry
  • upcoming events

    Roundtable

    Strategic Planning Workshop

    1:00 - 5:00 pm

    Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process

    Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:

    1. Lack of systematic approach (70%)
    2. Laundry lists without prioritization (68%)
    3. Decisions based on personalities rather than facts and information (65%)

     

    Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns.  They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning.  Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process.  This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented.  If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form.  The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

    To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

    New York, NY: ​​​Chief Executive's Corporate Citizenship Awards 2017

    Women in Leadership Seminar and Peer Discussion

    2:00 - 5:00 pm

    Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations. 

    Limited space available.

    To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $495 will be added to your total.

    Golf Outing

    10:30 - 5:00 pm
    General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
    Sponsored by UBS

    General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.

    The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.

    To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $295 will be added to your total.