Omid Shakeri said Monday that digital transformation is a fundamental global shift requiring understanding and collaboration. “If we fail to grasp and accompany this movement, we risk falling behind global developments,” he said at an event on technology-based partnerships for digital transformation in the gas industry.

 A Global Megatrend

Shakeri said the pace of technological change in recent years has been “astonishing.” Recalling his student days in 1999, he said accessing academic papers once took a month, while today students use artificial intelligence to write research papers — a sign of how quickly technology has evolved.

Digital transformation, he said, is one of the defining megatrends of the modern era, marked by universality, longevity, fundamental change and cross-sector impact. “This transformation extends beyond industry to all societies and serves as the driving engine for other global changes,” he said.

Forecasts suggest the digital transformation era will last between 30 and 50 years, and “we are only at the beginning,” Shakeri said, emphasizing the need for preparation to keep pace.

He added that digital transformation is occurring alongside two other major global trends — the energy transition and rapid urbanization. Together, they form a triangle in which digital transformation acts as the “brain” managing the energy systems of the future.

 Data, Digitization and Cybersecurity

Shakeri warned that as data centralization and digitalization grow, so do cybersecurity vulnerabilities. “Cybersecurity must be an inseparable part of any digital transformation plan — especially for us, as we face greater threats than many other countries,” he said.

He noted that while cyberattacks and malware are global challenges, Iran must ensure security from the very beginning of its transformation journey.

Shakeri said he had even consulted an artificial intelligence system on implementing digital transformation in the gas industry. The AI offered several key recommendations: building belief among staff and managers, assessing the current situation through a digital scan, mapping digital assets, evaluating digital maturity, and selecting low-resistance pilot projects that yield early results.

 Building a Culture of Learning and Innovation

Starting small is key to success, Shakeri said. “Launching low-risk, small-scale projects helps build organizational trust and culture without letting early setbacks damage confidence,” he explained. To succeed, organizations must foster learning, innovation and openness to change.

“Just as teachers start with simple problems to prepare students for harder ones, we too should begin with smaller projects to build the maturity needed for larger steps,” he said.

He credited Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad and NIGC Managing Director Saeid Tavakkoli for creating a supportive environment for innovation and digital progress. “The minister’s consistent advice is that we must innovate in our areas of work,” Shakeri said.

Shakeri noted that NIGC and other major subsidiaries of the Oil Ministry have already begun implementing digital initiatives, strengthening national data centers, and developing a comprehensive digital transformation roadmap. All four key oil companies have been directed to draft their own plans.

 A Continuous and Future-Shaping Journey

“Digital transformation is not a short-term project but a long-term journey that requires persistence, planning and collective effort,” Shakeri said.

Quoting AI’s final piece of advice, he concluded: “The digital transformation of the National Iranian Gas Company is a journey — one that begins by addressing real pain points, selecting small, demonstrable projects, and nurturing a culture of learning and innovation. With patience and determination, this challenging yet rewarding path will lead us to remarkable outcomes.”