Page 195 - Contributed Paper Session (CPS) - Volume 8

CPS2237 Fadzilah Aini Mutaffa et al.

Towards measuring the digital economy:
initiative and challenges
Fadzilah Aini Mutaffa, Yusrina Mohd Yusoff, Malathi Ponnusamy 1
Department of Statistics Malaysia

Abstract
The aim of this paper is to study the digital economy and to share Malaysia’s
experiences in development towards a digital economy. The rapid growth of
digital technologies has become increasingly challenging due to the
transformative impacts on economic activity. The innovations through digital
technology have changed the way products are produced, consumed and
traded; jobs and income are generated, and investments are financed. The
businesses are taking more innovative ways to maximize and utilise digital
technology to their business activities. The new technology such as the
Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud Computing, Big Data Analytics (BDA), Artificial
Intelligent (AI) which all of these technologies will drive towards to digital
economy. The criteria for the digital economy was included how the
transaction is made (digitally ordered, enabled or delivered), what is
transacted (goods, services or data), and who is involved (consumer, business
or government). Therefore, this paper highlighted the definition; scope and
coverage; and data sources for measuring the digital economy. The current
international statistical initiatives in measuring digital economy for selected
countries and also for Malaysia in the context of Department of Statistics,
Malaysia (DOSM) will be discussed at the last part of this study and
subsequently followed by challenges and conclusions.

Keywords
Digital economy, digital technology, new technology

1. Introduction
The rapid growth of digital technologies has transformed the way operation
of businesses and indirectly has affected the pattern of human life. This growth
has become increasingly challenging due to the transformative impacts on
economic activity. The businesses are taking more innovative ways to
maximise and utilise digital technology to their business activities. The new
technology such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud Computing, Big Data
Analytics (BDA), Artificial Intelligent (AI) was driving the digital economy
(Kylasapathy, Hwa, & Mohd Zukki, 2018).

The views expressed in this paper are solely the responsibility of the author and should not
1
be interpreted as reflecting the views of Department of Statistics, Malaysia
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